Kyle Busch, 13-time Dover winner and winningest driver in NASCAR history, dies at age 41

DOVER, Del. (May 21, 2026) - NASCAR announced Thursday evening that Kyle Busch, a two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and the winningest driver in NASCAR national series history, passed away following a brief illness.

Busch built one of the most remarkable careers the sport has ever seen through his unapologetic passion for winning, regardless of the vehicle he drove. Between the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, Busch accumulated 234 career victories, the most by any driver in NASCAR history.

"Our team at Dover Motor Speedway extends our deepest condolences to Samantha, Brexton, Lennix and the entire Busch family," said Mike Tatoian, president and general manager of Dover Motor Speedway. "Kyle Busch was one of the fiercest competitors our sport has ever seen, and his impact on NASCAR is immeasurable. His success at Dover Motor Speedway speaks to the incredible talent, toughness and determination he brought every time he took the track. He will forever be part of the history of The Monster Mile."

His final victory came just last Friday in the ECOSAVE 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Dover Motor Speedway. Busch, as he did so many times throughout his career, took command of the race and never relinquished control. It was a vintage performance and one final reminder of the talent and determination that defined his legendary career.

Some of Busch's most memorable performances at Dover came in the Truck Series, where he routinely controlled races by leading the majority of laps. His final victory at the Speedway saw him lead 147 of 200 laps to secure his record fifth Truck Series win at Dover and the 69th Truck Series victory of his career. It ultimately became the final NASCAR victory of his life.

Busch's legacy at Dover Motor Speedway is unmatched by nearly any driver. The concrete mile became one of the defining tracks of his career, a place where his aggressive style, precision and raw talent repeatedly overwhelmed the competition.

Across NASCAR's three national series, Busch earned 13 victories at The Monster Mile - the most of any driver - cementing his place among the most successful drivers in the Speedway's history. His success at Dover spanned more than two decades and every level of NASCAR competition, with three Cup Series wins, five O'Reilly Auto Parts Series wins and five CRAFTSMAN Truck Series wins.

Dover was one of the rare tracks where Busch dominated through multiple eras of his career, from his early years with Hendrick Motorsports to his time at Joe Gibbs Racing and later with Richard Childress Racing.

Busch often spoke about his appreciation for Dover because of the challenges it presented. The steep banking, high-speed corners and unforgiving concrete surface rewarded drivers willing to attack every lap, a style that perfectly matched Busch's approach.

In many ways, Dover Motor Speedway became a reflection of Kyle Busch himself: intense, relentless and unforgettable. Long after the checkered flags fade into history, his dominance at The Monster Mile will remain one of the defining chapters of an all-time NASCAR career.