A recently obtained 911 emergency call reveals that NASCAR champion Kyle Busch was suffering from severe breathing problems and coughing up blood just 24 hours before his passing, according to USA Today reports released Friday.
The racing legend, who claimed two NASCAR Cup Series championships and is regarded as among the sport’s greatest competitors, passed away Thursday at the age of 41.
His death was confirmed by the Busch family, Richard Childress Racing and NASCAR officials, coming just hours after they had announced his hospitalization earlier in the week and his absence from Sunday’s upcoming Coca-Cola 600 race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
The emergency call originated Wednesday from a General Motors facility located in Concord, N.C.
During the 911 call, an unidentified male caller described finding Busch collapsed on a bathroom floor in severe distress. The caller specifically requested that emergency vehicles arrive without sirens activated.
“I’ve got an individual that’s (experiencing) shortness of breath, very hot and thinks he’s going to pass out and he’s producing a little bit of blood, coughing up some blood,” the caller told the dispatcher.
Medical personnel transported Busch to a Charlotte-area hospital following the emergency response.
Officials have not yet disclosed the cause of death.
Busch leaves behind his wife Samantha, along with his 11-year-old son Brexton and 4-year-old daughter Lennix. He was the younger sibling of NASCAR Hall of Famer Kurt Busch, 47.
Throughout his career, Busch accumulated an impressive 234 victories spanning NASCAR’s three premier series: 63 Cup Series wins, 102 O’Reilly Auto Parts Series victories, and 69 Craftsman Truck Series triumphs. His most recent victory came at Dover in the trucks division on Friday, just six days prior to his death.
The Las Vegas-born driver captured NASCAR Cup Series titles in both 2015 and 2019. While the Daytona 500 victory eluded him throughout his career, he earned his first pole position for the race this season before completing the event in 15th place.
His most notable victories included the 2008 Southern 500, back-to-back Brickyard 400 wins in 2015 and 2016, and the 2019 Coca-Cola 600.
