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Kyle Busch, the two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and one of the most accomplished drivers in stock car racing history, has died at the age of 41.<\/span><\/p>\n NASCAR, Richard Childress Racing, and the Busch family announced his death Thursday in a joint statement<\/a>, calling his passing a \u201csudden and tragic\u201d loss for the sport. Earlier in the day, Busch\u2019s family revealed he had been hospitalized with a \u201csevere illness\u201d and would miss race weekend activities at Charlotte Motor Speedway while undergoing treatment.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOur entire NASCAR family is heartbroken by the loss of Kyle Busch,\u201d NASCAR, Richard Childress Racing, and the Busch family said in a joint statement. \u201cA future Hall of Famer, Kyle was a rare talent, one who comes along once in a generation.\u201d<\/p>\n Busch spent more than two decades at the top level of stock car racing and became one of the most polarizing and successful drivers in NASCAR history. Known to fans as \u201cRowdy,\u201d Busch won 63 Cup Series races, ranking ninth on NASCAR\u2019s all-time wins list, and captured Cup championships in 2015 and 2019. He was also the winningest driver in the history of NASCAR\u2019s secondary national series, recording 102 wins in what is now the O\u2019Reilly Auto Parts Series and 69 wins in the Craftsman Truck Series.<\/p>\n Just six days before his sudden death, Busch delivered what now reads as a hauntingly poignant final victory lane interview after winning the 2026 Ecosave 200 at Dover Motor Speedway.<\/p>\n Speaking with reporters after the race, Busch reflected on why winning never lost its meaning despite decades of success. \u201cBecause you never know when the last one is, you know?\u201d Busch said.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause you never know when the last one is\u201d<\/p>\n \u2013 Kyle Busch, last week<\/p>\n\n