Kyle Busch, the two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, died Thursday at age 41 after being hospitalized with what his family described as a severe illness.
Now, 911 audio obtained from that emergency call is filling in the devastating details of his final hours.
According to the audio, a caller at the facility told dispatchers that Busch was experiencing shortness of breath, was very hot, thought he was going to pass out, and was coughing up blood.
He was found on a bathroom floor inside the complex, awake at the time of the call, while employees prepared for paramedics to arrive.
Kyle Busch's medical emergency has been partially revealed by 911 audio obtained by TMZ Sports, with a caller saying the NASCAR superstar was struggling to breathe, overheating and coughing up blood. 💔 pic.twitter.com/1SnwM58Y7d
— TMZ Sports (@TMZ_Sports) May 22, 2026
Busch had been testing in a Chevrolet racing simulator at the facility on Wednesday when he became unresponsive and was transported to a hospital in Charlotte.
He died the following day. No official cause of death has been released.
His family said earlier that he had been hospitalized with a severe illness ahead of the Coca-Cola 600.
TMZ Sports obtained the 911 audio and reported on the details of the call.
A caller said the NASCAR superstar was struggling to breathe, overheating and coughing up blood. The caller confirmed Busch was awake at the time and said he was lying on a bathroom floor inside the General Motors testing complex while employees prepared for paramedics to arrive.
The caller repeatedly told dispatchers that Busch was awake. He also asked responding crews to shut off their sirens as they approached the building, saying he would wait outside and flag them down at a side entrance.
Busch had become unresponsive Wednesday while testing in a Chevrolet racing simulator, one day before his death at 41. Officials had not confirmed the exact cause of death.
The audio gives the public a clearer look at the emergency without answering the medical question his family and officials have not yet answered. It also places the emergency inside the racing-preparation setting Busch used extensively after joining Richard Childress Racing.
TMZ also confirmed that officials have not released his exact cause of death.
AP separately corroborated the simulator and emergency-call details:
No cause of death had been given, though Busch’s family said earlier that he had been hospitalized with a severe illness before the Coca-Cola 600. Busch was testing in the Chevrolet racing simulator in Concord on Wednesday when he became unresponsive and was transported to a hospital in Charlotte, according to several people familiar with the situation.
During an emergency call from the General Motors training facility, the caller said Busch had shortness of breath, was very hot, thought he was going to pass out, and was coughing up blood. Busch was found on a bathroom floor, awake, while emergency responders were directed to the scene.
The emergency happened the day before NASCAR, Richard Childress Racing, and the Busch family announced his death. The details were not disclosed by Busch’s team or family before the emergency-call reporting surfaced.
The call adds new detail about what happened at the simulator facility, but it does not establish an official cause of death. The family had already said only that Busch was hospitalized with a severe illness.
NASCAR issued a joint statement with the Busch family and Richard Childress Racing announcing the loss.
The joint statement described Busch as one of the sport’s greatest and fiercest drivers, a future Hall of Famer, and a rare talent who came along once in a generation. NASCAR said Busch was fierce, passionate, immensely skilled, and cared deeply about the sport and its fans.
Busch won Cup Series championships in 2015 and 2019, took 63 Cup race victories, 102 O’Reilly/Xfinity Series wins, and 69 Craftsman Truck Series wins across his career. NASCAR also said Busch helped foster the next generation of drivers as an owner in the Truck Series.
ADVERTISEMENTHis career spanned more than two decades, including runs with Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, and Richard Childress Racing. NASCAR noted his sharp wit and competitive spirit helped create a loyal Rowdy Nation fan base.
The statement asked everyone to respect the family’s privacy during an incredibly difficult time and said further updates would be shared as appropriate. Busch is survived by his parents, wife Samantha, son Brexton, and daughter Lennix.
The numbers back that up. Busch won Cup Series championships in 2015 and 2019, took 63 Cup race victories, 102 O’Reilly/Xfinity Series wins, and 69 Craftsman Truck Series wins across his career.
Those are Hall of Fame numbers by any measure, and Busch was still actively competing at the time of his death.
🚨 NOW: Well-known NASCAR legend Kyle Busch passes away at just 41 after being hospitalized
True devastation. Pray for the family 🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/WaXKrq9pm3
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) May 21, 2026
He is survived by his parents, his wife Samantha, his son Brexton, and his daughter Lennix.
The family and NASCAR have asked for privacy as they grieve. The racing world, and millions of fans who watched Busch compete for nearly two decades, are mourning one of the fiercest competitors the sport has ever seen.
He was 41 years old.
Join the conversation!
Please share your thoughts about this article below. We value your opinions, and would love to see you add to the discussion!