UPDATE 2-Motor racing-NASCAR great Kyle Busch dies at 41 after sudden illness

Kyle Busch, ​one of the greatest ​drivers in NASCAR history ‌and a ​two-time Cup Series champion, has died at the age of 41, his family said ‌on Thursday.

News of his death came just hours after Busch's family released a statement saying he had been hospitalized with a severe ‌illness. "We are devastated to announce the sudden and tragic passing of ‌Kyle Busch," the Busch family, Richard Childress Racing and NASCAR said in a joint statement.

"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," the statement said. "He was fierce, he was passionate, he was ​immensely skilled and he cared deeply about the sport and ⁠fans."

Busch was in his 22nd full-time season in NASCAR's top division, where he ⁠won ​two Cup Series titles (2015, 2019) and 63 races - a figure that ranks ninth on the circuit's all-time win list, NASCAR ⁠said. "Absolutely cannot comprehend this news," fellow driver Denny Hamlin said on ⁠social media.

"We ⁠just need to think of his family during this time. We love you KB."

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)