Kyle Busch obit

Kyle Busch, two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, dies at 41

 

He was not on the list.

May 21 (Reuters) - Kyle Busch, a generational talent ‌whose aggressive driving style earned him the nickname "Rowdy" and won him two NASCAR Cup Series championships, has died at the age of 41, his family announced on Thursday.

News of his death came just hours after ​Busch's family released a statement saying he had been hospitalized with a severe ​illness.

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"We are devastated to announce the sudden and tragic passing of ⁠Kyle Busch," his family, Richard Childress Racing and NASCAR said in a joint statement.

"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."

Busch was ​in his 22nd full-time season in NASCAR's top division, where he won two Cup ​Series titles (2015, 2019) and 63 races - a figure that ranks ninth on the circuit’s all-time win ‌list.

"Absolutely cannot ⁠comprehend this news," fellow driver and rival Denny Hamlin said on social media.

"We just need to think of his family during this time. We love you KB."

Born in Las Vegas, Busch entered the sport as a brash teenager with the nickname "Shrub" as the younger brother ​to Hall of Fame ​driver Kurt Busch.

But ⁠the alias of "Rowdy" - a nod to one of the main characters in the film "Days of Thunder" due to his aggressive style - ​is what stuck with him.

Busch got his start with Hendrick Motorsports ​as a ⁠heralded rookie, joined Joe Gibbs Racing in 2008, establishing a long-running partnership that made him the face of Toyota’s NASCAR endeavors, and spent the final stages of his career with ⁠Childress, ​arriving in 2023 and taking the reins of the ​No. 8 Chevrolet.

Busch is survived by his parents and his wife, Samantha, and children Brexton and Lennix.

He most notably driving the No. 18 (for the NASCAR Cup Series), No. 51 (primarily for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series), and No. 54 (for the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series and occasionally the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series) Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing and Kyle Busch Motorsports between 2008 and 2023; Busch last competed full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 8 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Richard Childress Racing and part-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado RST for Spire Motorsports. Busch was the younger brother of 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series champion Kurt Busch.

Born and raised into a racing family in Las Vegas, Nevada, Busch began helping work on race cars as a child before moving into competitive driving in go-karts and short-track racing during his adolescence. By his early teens, he was already winning local championships; Busch’s rapid rise through stock car racing caught the attention of major teams. He made his national NASCAR debut in 2001 in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, competing for Roush Racing. In 2003, he joined Hendrick Motorsports as a development driver and later advancing to NASCAR's major touring series. Busch remained with Hendrick Motorsports through the 2007 season before joining Joe Gibbs Racing in 2008, where he competed through 2022 and achieved the most successful stretch of his career. In 2023, he moved to Richard Childress Racing, continuing his career with the organization until his death in 2026.

Known for his dominance across NASCAR's top three divisions series, Busch is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished and talented drivers in motorsports history. At the time of his death, he ranked ninth on the all-time NASCAR Cup Series wins list and first in overall wins between the top three NASCAR divisions. Amongst his various accolades, Busch was the 2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series champion and a two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, winning titles in 2015 and 2019, and was named as one of the NASCAR's 75 Greatest Drivers class in 2023. He was also the recipient of several awards, including two NASCAR Rookie of the Year awards and two ESPY Awards for best driver. Outside of stock car racing, Busch briefly held the WWE 24/7 Championship. His aggressive driving style and demeanor led to Busch earning several nicknames over the course of his career. In addition to his driving career, Busch owned and operated Kyle Busch Motorsports, a race team that competed in the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series from 2011 to 2013 and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series from 2010 to 2023.

On May 24, 2011, Busch was cited for reckless driving and speeding near Troutman, North Carolina, after driving 128 mph (206 km/h) in a 45 mph (72 km/h) zone while test-driving a Lexus LFA. He later apologized, admitting he had gotten "carried away." On August 23, 2011, he pleaded guilty to speeding and received a US$1,000 fine, a 45-day license suspension, 30 hours of community service, and one year of unsupervised probation.

On April 29, 2014, Busch was cited for driving 60 mph (97 km/h) in a 45 mph (72 km/h) zone on NC 73 in Denver, North Carolina. He said he believed the speed limit was 55 mph (89 km/h).

On February 6, 2023, news reports revealed that Busch had been arrested in Cancún, Mexico, in January for handgun possession. According to the prosecutor, Busch was sentenced to 42 months in prison and fined US$1,100, though details about how the sentence would be served were not disclosed. Busch later issued a statement apologizing for his lack of awareness of Mexican laws and said he considered the matter resolved.

Rowdy Energy was an energy drink company based in Del Mar, California, founded in 2019 by NASCAR driver Kyle Busch and beverage entrepreneur Jeff Church.

 

Achievements 

2015, 2019 NASCAR Cup Series Champion

2018, 2019 NASCAR Cup Series Regular Season Champion

2009 Nationwide Series Champion

2008 Southern 500 Winner

2015, 2016 Brickyard 400 Winner

2018 Coca-Cola 600 Winner

2017 Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race Winner

2012, 2021 Busch Clash Winner

2026 Daytona 500 pole winner

2009, 2013, 2016 Daytona Duel Winner

2009, 2017 Snowball Derby Winner

2011 Slinger Nationals Winner

All-Time Wins Leader in the top three NASCAR series overall (234)

All-Time Wins Leader in the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series (102)

All-Time Wins Leader in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (69)

1st driver in the NASCAR Cup Series to win on every track competed (as of May 27, 2018)

1st driver to complete a Triple Threat in one weekend (twice)

Streak of 19 consecutive seasons in the NASCAR Cup Series with at least one win (series record)

Awards           

2004 NASCAR Busch Series Rookie of the Year

2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Rookie of the Year

2016 ESPY Awards Best Driver

2019 ESPY Awards Best Driver

Named one of NASCAR's 75 Greatest Drivers (2023)

NASCAR Cup Series career

762 races run over 24 years

2025 position   21st

Best finish       1st (2015, 2019)

First race         2004 UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 (Las Vegas)

Last race          2026 Go Bowling at The Glen (Watkins Glen)[a]

First win          2005 Sony HD 500 (California)

Last win          2023 Enjoy Illinois 300 (Gateway)

Wins    Top tens           Poles

63        395      35

NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series career

367 races run over 21 years

2024 position   88th

Best finish       1st (2009)

First race         2003 Carquest Auto Parts 300 (Charlotte)

Last race          2024 BetMGM 300 (Charlotte)

First win          2004 Funai 250 (Richmond)

Last win          2021 Credit Karma Money 250 (Atlanta)

Wins    Top tens           Poles

102      267      70

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series career

184 races run over 29 years

2025 position   76th

Best finish       14th (2008, 2010)

First race         2001 Power Stroke Diesel 200 (IRP)

Last race          2026 Ecosave 200 (Dover)

First win          2005 Quaker Steak and Lube 200 (Charlotte)

Last win          2026 Ecosave 200 (Dover)

Wins    Top tens           Poles

69        148      24

ARCA Menards Series career

9 races run over 3 years

Best finish       22nd (2003)

First race         2002 EasyCare Vehicle Service Contracts 150 (Charlotte)

Last race          2004 Advance Discount Auto Parts 200 (Daytona)

First win          2003 PFG Lester 150 (Nashville)

Last win          2004 Advance Discount Auto Parts 200 (Daytona)

Wins    Top tens           Poles

3          3          3

ARCA Menards Series East career

1 race run over 1 year

Best finish       44th (2009)

First race         2009 Long John Silver's 200 (Iowa)

First win          2009 Long John Silver's 200 (Iowa)

Wins    Top tens           Poles

1          1          1