Kyle Busch hospitalized with severe illness – Will not race this weekend

Kyle Busch will sit out the NASCAR Cup Series’ Coca-Cola 600 and the Craftsman Truck Series race at Charlotte after he was hospitalized with an undisclosed severe illness.

As a result, Busch who has previously won the 2018 Coca-Cola 600 and eight NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races at Charlotte will not compete in either race he was scheduled to race in.

Austin Hill will race in Busch’s place in the NASCAR Cup Series. He’ll driving the #8 Chevrolet sporting a new patriotic scheme for Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen.

Hill has never made a Cup start at Charlotte Motor Speedway. But he does have five starts each in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and Truck Series respectively.

Busch, who is fresh off a win at Dover Motor Speedway in the Truck Series was scheduled to drive the #7 Chevrolet for Spire Motorsports this week at Charlotte but will also miss Friday’s race too. A substitute driver has not been announced yet for that truck.

Both Busch’s family and Richard Childress Racing have put out statements on the situation. They are requesting prayers and privacy at this time.

His health is the top priority of the team as said in RCR’s statement.

“Kyle Busch’s health is our upmost priority and he and his family have the full resources of RCR behind them.”