NASCAR icon Kyle Busch dies at 41 after sudden illness, leaving racing world in shock. The two-time Cup Series champion was hospitalized earlier Thursday before NASCAR confirmed the heartbreaking news later in the day. Known for his fierce driving style and record-setting career, Busch leaves behind a legacy few drivers in the sport’s history could ever match. Fans across “Rowdy Nation” are now remembering a driver who spent more than two decades at NASCAR’s highest level.