Kyle Busch Dead at 41: Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski and More Pay Tribute

And the NASCAR organization likewise mourned the loss of one of the sport’s greatest of all timers. 

“A future Hall of Famer, Kyle was a rare talent, one who comes along once in a generation,” the sport wrote in a statement shared to social media. “He was fierce, he was passionate, he was immensely skilled and he cared deeply about the sport and fans. His sharp wit and competitive spirit sparked a deep emotional connection with race fans of every age, creating the proud and loyal ‘Rowdy Nation.’”

As they put it, “NASCAR lost a giant of the sport today, far too soon.”

The suddenness of Kyle’s death also left those in and out of the racing world shaken.

“Absolute shock. Very hard to process. Hug your loved ones,” driver Brad Keselowski wrote, while media mogul Dave Portnoy noted, “What the hell? Awful out of nowhere news. RIP Rowdy.”