The tragic loss of two-time NASCAR Cup Series championship winner Kyle Busch has left many shocked at his seemingly rapid and young passing.
Yesterday afternoon, the news broke that the 41-year-old father of two had suddenly passed away after being hospitalized with ongoing treatment of a “severe illness.” In a joint statement from NASCAR, Richard Childress Racing, and the Busch family, they announced, “Our entire NASCAR family is heartbroken by the loss of Kyle Busch. A future Hall of Famer, Kyle was a rare talent, one who comes along once in a generation. He was fierce, he was passionate, he was immensely skilled, and he cared deeply about the sport and fans.”
The news also broke just eleven days after the driving legend radioed to his crew at the end of the Watkins Glen Cup Series Race that he needed a shot post-race. Finishing eighth in the race overall, the TV broadcast also revealed that he had been actively battling a sinus cold, which was worsened by the intense G-forces and changing elevations of the course.
Now new developments are coming to light about Busch’s concerning passing, with TMZ Sports releasing the audio recording from an emergency call at a training facility in Concord, North Carolina, from the night prior to his death on Wednesday, May 21 at 5:30 pm. The caller told the 911 dispatcher, “I’ve got an individual that’s shortness of breath, very hot, thinks he’s going to pass out, and he’s producing a little bit of blood, coughing up some blood.”
Many sources have claimed that Busch was found unresponsive inside a Chevrolet racing simulator at the facility, which had been a common testing spot for the driver since joining the Richard Childress team. During the call, following these events, the man emphasized multiple times that Busch was awake and lying on a bathroom floor inside the facility, noting that when the ambulances arrive, they should shut off their sirens and the caller would flag them down at the side entrance.
Busch was then transported to a Charlotte-area hospital, with the number 8 driver’s family later announcing that he was hospitalized and would miss two upcoming North Carolina races (Craftsman Truck Series race on May 22 and Coca-Cola 600 on May 24). He passed away just a few hours later, with his exact cause of death still unknown.