Kyle Busch illness, explained: Why hospitalized NASCAR driver is missing Coca-Cola 600 race originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Veteran NASCAR driver Kyle Busch has been a regular at the Coca-Cola 600 since 2004, but he is set to miss Sunday’s race after being hospitalized.
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The 41-year-old is coming off his best finish of the 2026 season, finishing eighth in the Go Bowling at the Glen on May 10, and he has two top-10 finishes in his last three races. He also won a NASCAR Truck Series race on May 15.
A winner at Charlotte Motor Speedway in this race eight years ago, Busch finished top-10 in the Coca-Cola 600 for seven consecutive years from 2017-23 and hasn’t finished outside the top 15 in the race since 2016.
Here’s what you need to know about Busch’s illness and his status going forward.
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What happened to Kyle Busch?
Busch’s family released a statement Thursday revealing the 41-year-old “has experienced a severe illness resulting in hospitalization.”
Busch won the NASCAR Truck Series race in Dover on Friday, six days before his illness was disclosed, and raced in the NASCAR All-Star race on Sunday. It’s unclear when Busch started to not feel well or what type of illness the veteran driver is dealing with.
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Kyle Busch illness
Busch’s family didn’t disclose many details about his illness, only calling it “severe” and explaining that it required hospitalization.
Richard Childress Racing released a statement wishing Busch well and saying his No. 8 car will be “ready and waiting for him” when he can get back behind the wheel.
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Will Kyle Busch race this weekend?
Busch will miss the Coca-Cola 600 while undergoing treatment for an illness. His family announced he “will not compete in any of his scheduled activities this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway,” taking the race off the table.
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Busch has competed in every Coca-Cola 600 since 2004, earning 12 top-10 finishes and winning the race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 2018.
This year’s Coca-Cola 600 will also mark Busch’s first missed NASCAR Cup Series race since 2015.
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How old is Kyle Busch?
Busch is 41 years old, having turned 41 earlier in May. He made his NASCAR Cup Series debut in 2004 and remains one of the series’ most recognizable drivers.
