NASCAR driver Kyle Busch experienced shortness of breath, felt he was overheating and was coughing up blood the day before his death, according to a 911 call obtained by The Associated Press.

Busch died Friday morning (AEST) at age 41. No cause of death has been given, though his family said earlier he had been hospitalised with a “severe illness” three days before he was to compete in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Busch was testing in the Chevrolet racing simulator in Concord the day before his death when he became unresponsive and was transported to a hospital in Charlotte, several people familiar with the situation told the AP.

The people spoke on condition of anonymity because details have not been disclosed by Busch’s team or family.

During the emergency call placed late that afternoon from the General Motors training facility, an unidentified caller calmly told the dispatch: “I’ve got an individual that’s (got) shortness of breath, very hot, thinks he’s going to pass out, and is producing a little bit of blood, coughing up some blood.”

Busch was lying on the bathroom floor inside the complex and the caller told dispatch “he is awake,” according to audio provided by the Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office.

The man then gave directions on where emergency responders should go and asked that they turn off any sirens upon arrival.

NASCAR CEO Steve O’Donnell addressed reporters at a news conference on Saturday morning but declined to answer any questions about the cause of death or any health problems that might have plagued Busch.

“We are 24 hours from getting a phone call and out of respect for the family, and they have asked for privacy, I am not going to address anything,” O’Donnell said. 

“But transparency is something that we all believe in. So in due time I think that everyone will be comfortable with where things stand.”

O’Donnnell talked at length about Busch’s legacy, his rebellious nature and even his feuds with NASCAR, while calling him “an American bad-ass”.

“We certainly had our battles but I would give a lot of money to have a few more battles,” O’Donnell said.

He joked about the time Busch pretended to be seriously hurt when NASCAR had ordered him to go to the infield care centre after hitting the wall at Texas.

“He laid flat out on a pit cart, made fun of us,” O’Donnell said. 

“I was mad at the time, but I look back and that was damn funny — and that was Kyle.”

O’Donnell mentioned NASCAR might consider adding Busch to this year’s list of Hall of Fame Class of 2027 inductees, which was determined earlier this week with Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton and Larry Phillips being voted in.

The news of Busch’s death sent shock waves across the motorsport world on one of racing’s biggest weekends, which also features the Indianapolis 500.

The NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes honoured Busch with a moment of silence before the Eastern Conference Finals game against the Montreal Canadiens.

Vice-President JD Vance took to social media, saying: “I had the opportunity to meet Kyle, one of NASCAR’s greatest racers, on the campaign trail in 2024. Usha and I are praying for him and his family. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord.”

Richard Childress Racing announced plans to suspend use of Busch’s No.8 Cup Series car until his 11-year-old son, Brexton, is old enough to begin NASCAR racing.

Gloomy, grey skies hung over the track on an unseasonably cool day in Concord, which seemed a fitting background for the in memoriam photo of Busch on the video board.

Christopher Bell was among the drivers planning to run in the NASCAR Trucks Series race, one that Busch had been scheduled to compete in. 

Busch won last week’s Trucks race at Dover — the final win of his career — giving him 234 victories across NASCAR’s three national series, the most of any driver.

“It’s going to be very strange to be out there without Kyle in the field,” Bell said. 

“It’s going to take a long time before things feel back to normal”.

Bell called Busch’s death a “gut-wrenching feeling”.

He said he spoke to Busch before the last Trucks Series race and said he seemed “normal, like completely normal.”

On Monday, Busch posted a birthday message to Brexton on Instagram, saying, “Your mom & I are so proud who you’re turning out to be!”

The father and son spent Tuesday night in Durham, North Carolina, with the Andretti family at the opening of a go-kart facility.

“I guess it is a very stark reminder of how fragile life can be,” Bell said.

O’Donnell said NASCAR never seriously considered cancelling the Coca-Cola 600.

“Kyle Busch would probably be pretty (upset) if we didn’t race,” O’Donnell said. 

“So we’re going to honour his memory and make sure people know what he was all about.”

AP