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Maine Racing Community 'Stunned and Saddened' by Death of Kyle Busch
The two-time champion accumulated 232 wins across NASCAR's national series before his unexpected death prompted tributes at Charlotte and Indianapolis.
Two-Time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch died Thursday, May 21, 2026, at age 41 after a sudden illness, according to a joint statement from his family, Richard Childress Racing, and NASCAR.
Busch became unresponsive while testing in a Chevrolet racing simulator in Concord on Wednesday and was transported to a hospital in Charlotte, according to The Associated Press.
A future Hall of Famer, Busch won 232 races across NASCAR's three national touring series and captured Cup Series titles in 2015 and 2019, ranking ninth on the circuit's all-time win list.
The Coca-Cola 600 will continue Sunday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway, where officials plan to honor Busch, who is survived by his wife, Samantha, and two children.
NASCAR icon Dale Earnhardt called Busch "one of the greatest drivers in NASCAR history," while General Motors President Mark Reuss noted his fierce competitive spirit and philanthropic efforts.