Key takeaways:
- Kyle Busch was coughing up blood and experiencing shortness of breath while lying on a bathroom floor at a General Motors facility in North Carolina the day before his death.
- Busch was hospitalized with a severe illness, but the official cause of death has not been revealed.
- He held 63 NASCAR Cup Series wins and a record 19 consecutive seasons with a victory from 2004 to 2023.
Kyle Busch, a celebrated NASCAR driver, was coughing up blood and experiencing shortness of breath the day before his sudden death at age 41, according to a 911 call obtained by NBC News and CBS News. The emergency call, placed around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the General Motors Charlotte Technical Center in Concord, North Carolina, described Busch as very hot, thinking he was going to pass out, and lying on a bathroom floor while awake.
The caller, whose name was redacted, calmly informed dispatchers about Busch’s condition and requested an ambulance, also asking responders to turn off sirens upon arrival. NASCAR CEO Steve O’Donnell confirmed Busch was using the Chevrolet racing simulator when he got sick but stated there is no evidence linking his death to racing or the training activity.
Busch was hospitalized with a severe illness, according to his family, but the official cause of death has not been disclosed. NASCAR announced Busch’s death on Thursday, prompting expressions of shock and sadness within the racing community.
Busch had recently competed despite health struggles. Eleven days before his death, he radioed his crew near the end of a Cup Series race at Watkins Glen, New York, requesting a doctor to administer a “shot” after the race. He had been battling a sinus cold worsened by the intense G-forces and elevation changes of the road course, yet still finished eighth. Five days later, he won the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race in Dover.
In a post-race interview on May 15, Busch reflected on the uncertainty of racing, saying, “You take whatever you can get, man. You never know when the last one is going to be, so cherish them all — trust me.” A week later, he acknowledged ongoing symptoms, stating, “I’m still not great. The cough was pretty substantial last week.”
Busch’s career achievements include 63 NASCAR Cup Series wins and a record 19 consecutive seasons with at least one victory from 2004 to 2023, according to Richard Childress Racing. The team described him as “a rare talent, one who comes along once in a generation,” known for his fierce competitiveness and deep care for the sport and its fans.
Off the track, Busch was known for his fiery personality, earning nicknames like “Rowdy” and “Wild Thing” due to his post-race confrontations and feuds with other drivers. NASCAR CEO O’Donnell said Busch relished playing “the villain role” and sometimes leaned into it.
Retired driver Jimmie Johnson, a former teammate, described Busch as a “spirited, ruthless competitor on track” who raced hard but clean, earning respect from peers. Johnson also highlighted Busch’s devotion to his wife Samantha and their two children, saying Busch’s death “really just rocked us all in many different layers and levels.”
Be First to Comment