Kyle Busch will miss this weekend’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway after being hospitalized with a severe illness. The two-time Cup Series champion’s family posted a statement on X Thursday confirming he won’t compete in any scheduled activities at the track.
“Kyle has experienced a severe illness resulting in hospitalization. He is currently undergoing treatment and will not compete in any of his scheduled activities this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. We ask for understanding and privacy as our family navigates this situation.”
The statement didn’t provide details on the nature of the illness or a timeline for Busch’s return.
Richard Childress Racing has named Austin Hill as Busch’s replacement for the race. Hill drives full-time in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and will step into the No. 8 car for the 600-mile event. RCR hasn’t said who would fill in if Busch misses additional races beyond this weekend.
A Season Already Going Sideways
The hospitalization is the latest setback in what’s been a rough 2026 campaign for the 41-year-old. Through 12 races, Busch has just two top-10 finishes – both coming in the last three events – and six finishes outside the top 20. He currently sits 24th in the points standings, 350 points behind leader Tyler Reddick.
That gap carries its own storyline. Reddick vacated the seat Busch now occupies to join Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing team.
The illness may not have come out of nowhere. Two weeks ago at Watkins Glen, Busch radioed his team mid-race to say he wasn’t feeling well and would need medical attention after climbing out of the car. Neither Busch nor his family have said whether that incident is connected to his current hospitalization.
UPDATE: Kyle Busch passed away Thursday at the age of 41.