NEED TO KNOW
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Kyle Busch’s name is no longer listed in NASCAR’s official points standings after his death at age 41 on May 21
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The decision to remove the late driver’s name was made with empathy by his team, Richard Childress Racing, and NASCAR, according to Fox Sports
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Busch was a two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and widely regarded as one of the sport’s most talented drivers
Kyle Busch‘s name no longer appears in NASCAR’s official points standings, but his memory will live on.
The late NASCAR driver, who died at age 41 on May 21 after suffering from pneumonia, was removed from the official points standings after a thoughtful and empathetic decision made between his team, Richard Childress Racing (RCR), and the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing.
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“NASCAR has removed Kyle Busch from its point standings, a decision made following conversations with RCR about how to handle Busch’s death and being empathetic of the impact to those who would see his name in the standings,” according to motorsports reporter Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports.
Kyle Busch of Richard Childress Racing on April 11, 2026.
Credit: Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty
Busch’s name no longer appears on NASCAR’s 2026 Cup Series Standings & Stats website, which lists the current ranking for this season.
On May 21, Busch’s family announced the tragic news of his death hours after he had been hospitalized.
Busch’s family announced his passing on May 21, hours after he had been hospitalized. He had been battling illnesses for “weeks” before his death, according to his death certificate obtained by PEOPLE.
Kyle Busch with his wife Samantha and their kids, daughter Lennix and son Brexton, celebrate in the victory lane after winning on Feb. 21, 2026.
Credit: Sean Gardner/Getty
The NASCAR icon died 24 hours after being rushed to an undisclosed hospital in Charlotte, N.C., when his sinus infection worsened into severe bilateral pneumonia and sepsis, the certificate, released on Wednesday, May 27, shows.
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On May 20, Busch was coughing up blood and lying on the floor of a bathroom after he passed out while practicing on a racing simulator when an ambulance was dialed on his behalf, according to audio from a 911 call obtained by PEOPLE.
The racing star had been scheduled to compete in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race in Concord, N.C., on Friday, May 22, and in the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday, May 24, at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Kyle Busch and his wife Samantha embrace with their son, Brexton, on May 27, 2022.
Credit: Jared C. Tilton/Getty
After finishing a race on May 10 at Watkins Glen International, Busch was heard over the radio asking his team to have a doctor ready to meet him at his bus because he was going to “need a shot.”
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During the television broadcast, it was said that the NASCAR star was struggling with a sinus cold that was exacerbated by the “intense G-forces and elevation changes” at the course, according to The Associated Press.
Less than two weeks later, Busch died, leaving behind his wife, Samantha Busch, and their two children: son Brexton, 11, and daughter Lennix, 4.
Read the original article on People
