General Motors President Mark Reuss was “shocked” and “devastated” at news of the death of NASCAR racer Kyle Busch who had a medical emergency while training at the General Motors Charlotte Technical Center off Speedway Boulevard in Concord, North Carolina.
Busch, 41, had become unresponsive while testing in a Chevrolet racing simulator in Concord on May 20, the Associated Press first reported. He experienced shortness of breath, felt hot and coughed up blood while on site at the GM facility. According to the 911 call obtained by USA Today, Busch was lying on a bathroom floor and was awake before the ambulance arrived. He was transported to a hospital in Charlotte.
NASCAR announced May 21 that Busch died.
“Our hearts go out to Samantha, their children Brexton and Lennix and the Busch family, everyone at RCR (Richard Childress Racing), Kyle’s legions of fans and all of Rowdy Nation,” Reuss said in a LinkedIn post. “He was a fierce competitor who found success both as a driver and team owner, as well as a generous benefactor to countless families with the Bundle of Joy Fund he founded with Samantha. On top of all that, he found time to be a true friend to us all.”
A GM spokesman told the Detroit Free Press the company would not comment on Busch’s passing outside of Reuss’ public post.
According to NASCAR, Busch got his start racing with Hendrick Motorsports in 2005. In 2023, he joined RCR and raced the No. 8 Chevrolet.
Busch had raced as recently as May 17 when he took 17th in the All-Star Race at Dover. He had been preparing to race in the Coca-Cola 600, which is on Sunday, May 24. No cause of death has been released.
USA Today reporters Scooby Axson, Victoria Hernandez and Kristie Ackert contributed to this report.
Jackie Charniga covers General Motors for the Free Press. Reach her at jcharniga@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: In tribute, GM president calls Kyle Busch ‘a true friend to all of us’
Reporting by Jackie Charniga, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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