Kyle Busch, NASCAR driver, passed away at the age of 41 on May 21, 2026.

The grieving family of American professional stock car racing driver and team owner, as well as NASCAR,  announced the news of his death in a joint statement. 

They revealed that he was admitted to the hospital due to severe illness but refrained from sharing his exact cause of death.

The family said in a statement, “On behalf of the Busch family, everyone at Richard Childress Racing and all of NASCAR, we are devastated to announce the sudden and tragic passing of Kyle Busch.”

“Our entire NASCAR family is heartbroken by the loss of Kyle Busch. A future Hall of Famer, Kyle was a rare talent, one who comes along once in a generation. He was fierce, he was passionate, he was immensely skilled and he cared deeply about the sport and fans.”

“His sharp wit and competitive spirit sparked a deep emotional connection with race fans of every age, creating the proud and loyal ‘Rowdy Nation.’ Our thoughts are with Samantha, Brexton and Lennix, Kyle and Samantha’s parents, Kurt and all of Kyle’s family, Richard and Judy Childress, everyone at Richard Childress Racing, his teammates, friends and fans. NASCAR lost a giant of the sport today, far too soon,” they shared.

They concluded the statement by demanding privacy during “this incredibly difficult time” and with a request to “keep them in your thoughts and prayers,” adding that “further updates will be shared as appropriate.”