Kyle Busch coughed up blood, short of breath day before his death, 911 call reveals
The 911 call was obtained by The Associated Press.
Olivia Bennett 
New, sobering details have emerged regarding the final hours of NASCAR legend Kyle Busch. A 911 call obtained by The Associated Press sheds light on the medical distress the 41-year-old driver faced just one day before his untimely passing.
The 911 Call
According to audio provided by the Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office, an unidentified caller alerted emergency dispatchers that Busch was suffering from extreme shortness of breath and overheating. The caller reported, “I’ve got an individual that’s (got) shortness of breath, very hot, thinks he’s going to pass out, and is producing a little bit of blood, coughing up some blood.” At the time of the call, Busch was found lying on a bathroom floor inside the complex, though he remained conscious.
A Sudden Loss
The revelation of these distress signals follows reports that Busch was testing in a Chevrolet racing simulator in Concord on Wednesday when he became unresponsive, leading to an emergency transport to a Charlotte hospital. Busch passed away on Thursday at the age of 41.
While an official cause of death has not been released, family members previously shared that Busch had been hospitalized due to a “severe illness” just three days before his scheduled appearance at the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
A Decorated Career
Kyle Busch leaves behind a monumental legacy in motorsports. A two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion (2015 and 2019), he secured 63 Cup Series victories, the ninth-most in the history of the sport. His success extended across all national touring divisions, including a record-setting 102 wins in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and 69 victories in the Craftsman Truck Series.
Over his 22-year tenure in NASCAR’s top division, Busch competed for legendary organizations, beginning with Hendrick Motorsports in 2005, defining the Toyota era at Joe Gibbs Racing starting in 2008, and ultimately moving to RCR in 2023.
Remembering the Icon
Busch, the younger brother of NASCAR Hall of Famer Kurt Busch, is survived by his wife, Samantha, and their children, Brexton and Lennix. NASCAR CEO Steve O’Donnell is expected to address the media during a press conference at Charlotte Motor Speedway later Friday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
