CONCORD, N.C. — Emergency dispatch recordings obtained Friday by The Associated Press reveal NASCAR star Kyle Busch suffered breathing problems, felt overheated, and was coughing up blood on the day prior to his passing.
The 41-year-old racing champion died Thursday. While no official cause of death has been announced, his family previously disclosed he had been receiving hospital treatment for a “severe illness” just three days ahead of his planned participation in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Sources with knowledge of the incident, speaking anonymously due to the sensitive nature of undisclosed details, told the AP that Busch collapsed while working in a Chevrolet racing simulator facility in Concord on Wednesday and was rushed to a Charlotte-area hospital.
The emergency call, made that Wednesday afternoon from the General Motors training center, captured an unidentified person calmly reporting to dispatchers: “I’ve got an individual that’s (got) shortness of breath, very hot, thinks he’s going to pass out, and is producing a little bit of blood, coughing up some blood.”
Audio released by the Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office shows the caller described finding Busch on a restroom floor within the facility, noting “He is awake.” The caller provided location details for emergency crews and requested they arrive without sirens.
NASCAR CEO Steve O’Donnell has scheduled a press conference for later Friday at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Busch’s sudden passing has devastated the racing community during one of motorsports’ most significant weekends, coinciding with the Indianapolis 500.
Thursday evening’s NHL conference final between the Carolina Hurricanes and Montreal Canadiens began with a moment of silence honoring the driver.
Vice President JD Vance posted on social media: “I had the opportunity to meet Kyle, one of NASCAR’s greatest racers, on the campaign trail in 2024. Usha and I are praying for him and his family. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord.”
Richard Childress Racing, Busch’s team for the past four seasons, announced they will retire his No. 8 Cup Series car and switch to No. 33 starting with Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 race.
The team stated the No. 8 will remain available exclusively for Busch’s son, Brexton, when he begins his NASCAR career.
At 11 years old, Brexton Busch has already gained recognition for his racing abilities.
“Kyle Busch was instrumental in the design of RCR’s stylized No. 8 and it has become synonymous with Kyle and an important symbol for fans and the NASCAR community,” RCR posted on X. “No one can carry it forward to the level that he did.”
Overcast conditions and unusually cool temperatures created a somber atmosphere at the track Friday, complementing the memorial tribute to Busch displayed on the venue’s video screen.
Driver Christopher Bell plans to compete in Friday night’s NASCAR Trucks Series event, a race Busch was originally scheduled to enter.
Busch claimed victory in last week’s Trucks competition at Dover — his final career triumph — bringing his total wins across NASCAR’s three national divisions to 234, more than any other driver in history.
His most recent Cup Series performance was a 17th-place finish in Sunday’s All-Star race.
“It’s going to be very strange to be out there without Kyle in the field,” Bell said. “It’s going to take a long time before things feel back to normal.”
Bell described Busch’s death as creating a “gutwrenching feeling.”
He recalled speaking with Busch before the recent Trucks Series race, saying he appeared “normal, like completely normal.”
Just Monday, Busch shared a birthday celebration post for his son Brexton on Instagram, writing “Your mom & I are so proud who you’re turning out to be!”
The father and son had spent Tuesday evening in Durham, North Carolina, attending the launch of a go-kart facility with the Andretti family.
“I guess it is a very stark reminder of how fragile life can be,” Bell reflected.
