Dale Earnhardt Jr. shared a touching tribute following the passing of Kyle Busch and revealed that Busch was planning to compete in one of his late model stock cars when the CARS Tour rolled into North Wilkesboro this summer.
It was announced at 5:40 PM by NASCAR that Kyle Busch had passed away. The series stated, “We are saddened and heartbroken to share the news of the passing of Kyle Busch, a two-time Cup champion and one of our sport’s greatest and fiercest drivers. He was 41 years old.”
“We extend our deepest condolences to the Busch family, Richard Childress Racing and the entire motorsports community,” NASCAR concluded.
We are saddened and heartbroken to share the news of the passing of Kyle Busch, a two-time Cup champion and one of our sport’s greatest and fiercest drivers. He was 41 years old.
We extend our deepest condolences to the Busch family, Richard Childress Racing and the entire… pic.twitter.com/FARIF6OKrw
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) May 21, 2026
Busch’s family had previously shared at 10:23 AM ET that he had been hospitalized after suffering a severe illness. The statement from the family read, “Kyle has experienced a severe illness resulting in hospitalization. He is currently undergoing treatment and will not compete in any of his scheduled activities this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. We ask for understanding and privacy as our family navigates this situation.”
Statement Regarding Kyle Busch from the Busch Family:
“Kyle has experienced a severe illness resulting in hospitalization. He is currently undergoing treatment and will not compete in any of his scheduled activities this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. We ask for…
— Kyle Busch (@KyleBusch) May 21, 2026
Junior reacted to the news of Kyle’s death in a touching post to social media, “Kyle and I had a really challenging existence for many years. But we luckily took the time to figure out our differences and that was something he instigated with a conversation in his bus around how we each managed our racing teams.”
“I was super eager for us to get on better terms. But it was he who made the effort for that to be possible,” he continued. “We did some media together also to laugh through some of the things we put each other through many years ago.”
Next, Junior shared that Busch was expected to compete in the CARS Tour race at North Wilkesboro on July 17th, “Most recently we had even been discussing him running my Late Model at Wilkesboro this summer. He seemed extremely happy and we had planned to meet up next Thursday to get his seat to the shop. He laughed over the idea of his fans and JRM fans having to cheer in unison during that race.”
Junior concluded, “Kyle was one of the greatest drivers in NASCAR history. No one can deny that. But he was also a father, a husband, brother, son, and a friend to many. My heart is broken for the Busch family. I will never be able to make sense of this loss but I am thankful that we had found a way to become friends.”
Kyle and I had a really challenging existence for many years. But we luckily took the time to figure out our differences and that was something he instigated with a conversation in his bus around how we each managed our racing teams. I was super eager for us to get on better…
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) May 21, 2026
In the wake of this profound loss, the NASCAR and racing community is reminded once again of the fragile line between the roar of the engines and the quiet moments that define a life. Kyle Busch’s passing at just 41 leaves an irreplaceable void on the track and in the hearts of those who knew him. As tributes continue to pour in from across the sport, his legacy will endure not only in the record books, but in the stories of reconciliation, the shared laughs, and the fierce rivalries and battles.
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