Just days before Kyle Busch’s tragic death, he and his family celebrated his young son’s birthday.
Busch died Thursday, NASCAR confirmed, just hours after the race car driver’s family said he was hospitalized due to a “severe illness.”
He was 41.
Just three days before his passing, Busch took to Instagram to fete his son, Brexton, for his 11th birthday.
“Happy Birthday Brexton!!! Your mom & I are so proud of who you’re turning out to be! You’re the best kid on & off the track, you amaze us every day. Keep doing what you’re doing and there is no limit to what you’ll accomplish! Love you buddy!” Busch wrote in the caption of his photo carousel on Instagram. Brexton, like his dad, is a racer.
Busch is one of the most accomplished drivers in NASCAR history. He won the 2009 Nationwide Series and twice took home the Cup Series title (2015, 2019).
Earlier Thursday, three days before Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600, Busch’s family announced that he was pulling out of the race and was being hospitalized with an unspecified health issue.
“Kyle has experienced a severe illness resulting in hospitalization,” the statement read. “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.”
Shortly before 6 p.m. ET, NASCAR announced that Busch had died.
“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,” NASCAR wrote in a statement. “He was 41 years old. We extend our deepest condolences to the Busch family, Richard Childress Racing and the entire motorsports community.”
During a May 10 race at Watkins Glen, Busch radioed for medical help, asking for a “shot” after the race.
On Saturday, one day after winning the ECOSAVE 200 at Dover Motor Speedway in the Craftsman Truck Series, Busch said he was still not feeling “great.”
“You can still kinda hear it, I’m still not great,” he said when asked about the medical call. “The cough was pretty substantial last week.”
