Kyle Busch, a two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and one of the most successful drivers in history, has died at age 41 after being hospitalized for a severe illness.

He reportedly became unresponsive while testing a racing simulator and was later taken to a hospital in Charlotte, though no official cause of death was released.

Busch won 63 Cup Series races and a record number of wins across NASCAR’s national series, earning widespread recognition as one of the sport’s greatest talents.

His career included championships in 2015 and 2019, major rivalries, and a reputation as a fierce and controversial competitor known as “Rowdy,” the AP has reported.

NASCAR, his team, and fellow drivers expressed shock and grief, calling his death a major loss for the sport and its fans.