ESPN reporter Marty Smith was visibly emotional while speaking on Kyle Busch’s NASCAR legacy after the two-time Cup Series champion died at 41 on Thursday, hours after being hospitalized for a “severe illness.”
During a “SportsCenter” appearance, Smith, one of ESPN’s lead NASCAR reporters, appeared to have tears in his eyes as he shared that he is praying for Busch’s wife Samantha and their two young children, son Brexton, 11, and daughter Lennix, 4.
“It’s genuinely impossible to articulate what an incredible talent that Kyle Busch was,” Smith said. “He came into NASCAR at 16 years old. They had to change rules because he was so good so young. And he ruffled a lot of feathers as young aggressive driver, drawing comparisons to the greatest to ever do it, Dale Earnhardt because he had so much talent within the garage area. He was certainly in the conversation for the most talented wheel men to ever hold a steering wheel.
“And again, to just see the evolution of the man, to see the way that he grew into such a wonderful advocate for all of the race drivers, for growing the next generation of drivers. And on top of that, he and his wife Samantha being such champions for couples struggling to have children through their [in vitro fertilization] work. He has been a bastion in that world as well.
“Rarely are we at a loss for words but this is a shocking tragic moment in the auto racing world. And I will just say that my genuine prayers are with Samantha and Kyle’s children his parents, [NASCAR Hall of Famer] Kurt [Busch] his brother, and all of us who loved him.”
The Busch Family, Richard Childress Racing and NASCAR issued a joint statement Thursday saying Busch died after being hospitalized.
No cause of death was given, as of early Friday afternoon.
Busch was testing in the Chevrolet racing simulator in Concord, N.C., on Wednesday when he became unresponsive and was transported to a hospital in Charlotte, according to The Associated Press.
He was on a bathroom floor and coughing up blood that day, according to a 911 call obtained by The California Post.
In the audio, a man can be heard asking for an ambulance to come to the General Motors Charlotte Technical Center in Concord, N.C. at around 5:30 p.m. ET Wednesday.
“I’ve got an individual that’s shortness of breath, very hot, thinks he’s going to pass out and is producing a little bit of blood — coughing up some blood,” the man told dispatch.
“He is awake,” the man later added. “He’s awake. He’s on the bathroom floor right now.”
Busch was preparing to race in the NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 this weekend, part of the “Greatest Day in Motorsport” alongside the Indianapolis 500, before he was hospitalized.
Earlier this month, the FOX Sports broadcast at the Watkins Glen International race on May 10 said Busch was dealing with a sinus cold.
Busch tallied a record 234 wins across NASCAR’s three national series.
