2-time NASCAR champ Kyle Busch dies at 41 after 'severe illness'

Kyle Busch, a two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and the winningest driver across the sport’s three national series, has died. He was 41.

The Busch family, Richard Childress Racing and NASCAR said in a joint statement Thursday that Busch died after being hospitalized. No cause of death was released.

Earlier Thursday, his family said he had been admitted to a hospital with a “severe illness,” just days before he was set to compete in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Busch became unresponsive while testing in a Chevrolet racing simulator in Concord on Wednesday and was taken to a hospital in Charlotte, according to several people familiar with the situation who spoke to The Associated Press (AP) on condition of anonymity because details had not been made public by his team or family.

He was the younger brother of NASCAR Hall of Famer Kurt Busch. He is survived by his wife, Samantha, and their children, Brexton and Lennix.