In his final NASCAR win before his shocking death, Kyle Busch left fans with a chilling comment that now has many questioning.
The sudden death of the 41-year-old two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion left the sports world reeling.
Busch’s family said Thursday that he was hospitalized with a “severe illness,” three days before he was to compete in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
The news came 11 days after Busch radioed into his crew near the end of a Cup Series race at Watkins Glen asking a doctor to give him a “shot” when he finished the race. According to the TV broadcast, Busch had been struggling with a sinus cold exacerbated by the intense G-forces and elevation changes at the New York road course. Busch finished that race in eighth place.
He then went on to compete at Dover last weekend, where he won the Trucks Series race for Spire Motorsports. After earning his win at Dover, Busch was asked how many races he wanted to win in his career.
“You take whatever you can get, man,” Busch said. “You never know when the last one is going to be, so cherish them all — trust me.”
The comment is now being scrutinized in wake of Busch’s passing, where few details have been released.
“Eerily prophetic,” one user commented.
“Those words just became immortal,” another wrote.
Busch was testing in the Chevrolet racing simulator in Concord on Wednesday when he became unresponsive and was transported to a hospital in Charlotte, several people familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because details have not been disclosed by Busch’s team or family.
His family, NASCAR and Richard Childress Racing issued a joint statement following Busch’s death.
“Our entire NASCAR family is heartbroken by the loss of Kyle Busch. A future Hall of Famer, Kyle was a rare talent, one who comes along once in a generation. He was fierce, he was passionate, he was immensely skilled and he cared deeply about the sport and fans. Throughout a career that spanned more than two decades, Kyle set records in national series wins, won championships at NASCAR’s highest level and fostered the next generation of drivers as an owner in the Truck Series. His shapr wit and competitive spirit sparked a deep emotional connection with race fans of every age, creating the proud and loyal ‘Rowdy Nation.’ Our thoughts are with Samntha, Brexton and Lennix, Kyle and Samantha’s parents, Kurt, and all of Kyle’s family, Richard and Judy Childress, everyone at Richard Childress Racing, his teammates, friends and fans. NASCAR lost a giant of the sport today, far too soon.
“During this incredibly difficult time, we ask everyone to respect the family’s privacy and continue to keep them in your thoughts and prayers. Further updates will be shared as appropriate.”
Busch is survived by his wife Samantha and his children Brexton and Lennix, as well as his brother Kurt.
