All-time Nascar great Kyle Busch has tragically died at the age of 41, it has been confirmed.
The two-time Nascar Cup series champion had been scheduled to race this weekend at the Coca Cola 600 in North Carolina, but pulled out due to "severe illness", his team announced.
Mr Busch stormed to victory in 234 races across Nascar's top three series and won two Cup series titles in 2015 and 2019.
In a joint statement from Nascar, Richard Childress Racing and the Busch family, they paid tribute to a "giant of the sport".
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It read: "We are devastated to announce the sudden and tragic passing of Kyle Busch.
“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.
"Throughout a career that spanned more than two decades, Kyle set records in national series wins, won championships at Nascar’s highest level and fostered the next generation of drivers as an owner in the Truck Series.
Nascar described the 41-year-old as a 'future Hall of Famer' and a 'rare talent, one who comes along once in a generation'
|NASCAR
"His sharp wit and competitive spirit sparked a deep emotional connection with race fans of every age, creating the proud and loyal ‘Rowdy Nation.’
"Our thoughts are with Samantha, Brexton and Lennix, Kyle and Samantha’s parents, Kurt and all of Kyle’s family, Richard and Judy Childress, everyone at Richard Childress Racing, his teammates, friends and fans.
"Nascar lost a giant of the sport today, far too soon."
They added: “During this incredibly difficult time, we ask everyone to respect the family’s privacy and continue to keep them in your thoughts and prayers. Further updates will be shared as appropriate.”
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The two-time Nascar Cup series champion had been scheduled to race this weekend at the Coca Cola 600
|GETTY
Although no cause of death has yet been disclosed, it is believed he was hospitalised earlier on Thursday.
His family said in a previous statement that he had been "undergoing treatment and will not compete in any of his scheduled activities this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway".
Mr Busch was born in Las Vegas in May 1985 to a racing family.
His father Tom was mechanic who raced in the Nevada area, and his older brother Kurt also competed professionally, participating in the Nascar Cup Series from 2000 until 2022, retiring just a year later.
Mr Busch was known for his signature bow, which he would perform after each victorious race
|GETTY
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where the 41-year-old achieved success in the Brickyard 400 in 2015 and 2016, hailed Mr Busch as a "fan favorite, loved for his competitive spirit and passion".
Often described as one of the sport's most polarising figures, Mr Busch was known for his signature bow, which he would perform after each victorious race.
This season - his fourth competing for Richard Childress Racing - saw him ranked 24th in this year's Cup series standings.
His absence at this weekend's Coca Cola 600 will be the first time in over a decade that Mr Busch has not been involved in a Cup series race.
In 2015, he was forced to miss the first 11 races of the season after suffering a compound leg fracture and broken foot following a horror crash at the Xfinity Series opening race at Daytona International Speedway.
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