Jimmie Johnson remembers Kyle Busch after NASCAR champion’s death

Jimmie Johnson reached back to a long rivalry built on respect to honor Kyle Busch, the two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion whose death at 41 left the sport without one of its most polarizing and productive stars.

In an appearance on CBS Mornings, Johnson, the seven-time Cup champion and owner of Legacy Motor Club, remembered Busch as a “spirited, ruthless competitor” on the track. The tribute carried added weight because Johnson and Busch spent years as central figures in modern NASCAR, with Johnson tied with Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt at seven Cup titles and Busch widely regarded as one of the fiercest racers of his generation.

Busch died Thursday, May 21, 2026, after being hospitalized with what his family called a “severe illness.” He was 41. NASCAR described Busch as a generational talent and said he won 234 national series races across the sport’s three national divisions, including 102 victories in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and 69 in the Craftsman Truck Series.

The scale of Busch’s record made him a fixture at the top of NASCAR for more than two decades. His success and combative style also made him a driver fans rarely ignored. He was adored by many and booed by others, a reflection of how often Busch forced races to revolve around his pace, his precision and his willingness to challenge anyone on the track.

Busch was survived by his wife, Samantha, whom he married on New Year’s Eve in 2010, along with their two children, son Brexton and daughter Lennix. NASCAR, Richard Childress Racing and the Busch family said in a joint statement that they were devastated by his sudden and tragic passing. The loss closes a defining chapter in the sport, removing a competitor who shaped races, rivalries and expectations at every level of NASCAR.