Those newly revealed details added more context to earlier reports about the illness Kyle had been battling in the days leading up to his death.Watch
His Final Days Included a Severe Illness
According to AP News, the Busch family said he had been hospitalized with a “severe illness” just three days before he was expected to compete in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
The report also stated that Kyle was testing in the Chevrolet racing simulator in Concord on Wednesday, May 20, when he became unresponsive and was transported to a hospital in Charlotte.
Several people familiar with the situation shared those details with AP on condition of anonymity because they had not been publicly disclosed by the team or family.
Kyle Busch and his No.5 Lowes Chevrolet Monte Carlo crew celebrating their victory at Carquest Auto Parts 300 in Concord, North Carolina on May 29, 2004.
That detail — Kyle becoming unresponsive while still connected to racing work — makes the news feel even more surreal. One moment, he was preparing for another race weekend, and the next, the NASCAR world is now trying to understand how one of its biggest stars is gone.
Additionally, in the weeks before his death, Kyle had been dealing with illness. USA Today reported that at Watkins Glen on May 10, 2026, FOX Sports noted during the broadcast that Kyle had been fighting a sinus cold. He was also overheard radioing for the track doctor during that race.
Kyle Busch at the NASCAR Busch Series Awards Ceremony in Orlando, Florida on December 10, 2004.
Still, Kyle finished eighth that day, which was his best result of the season. He then won a Truck Series race at Dover the following weekend.
Kyle’s Words Six Days Before His Death Now Feel Chilling
Kyle Busch at the Nextel Cup Sony HD 500 in Fontana, California on September 4, 2005.
One of the most emotional details came from something Kyle said just six days before his death. As USA Today noted, Kyle said on May 15: “Because you never know when your last one is.”
At the time, it may have sounded like a reflective comment about racing — the kind of thing a veteran says after years of understanding how quickly moments can disappear. But after his death, the words have become almost impossible to read casually.
Kyle Busch looks on at the NASCAR Cup Series 65th Annual Daytona 500 in Daytona Beach, Florida on February 15, 2023.
For many NASCAR fans, the Coca-Cola 600 tribute became more than a farewell to one of the sport’s biggest stars. The emotional reactions from Samantha, Brexton, and the rest of the Busch family became a major focus of the tribute for many fans watching online.
