New details begin to emerge in Kyle Busch death as NASCAR world remains in shock

Kyle Busch died Thursday at 41, becoming the first active NASCAR driver to die since Dale Earnhardt in 2001.

Busch's family released a statement hours before his death, only saying that the two-time Cup champion would miss Sunday's race at Charlotte after being hospitalized with a "severe illness." Busch died sometime Thursday afternoon, with no cause of death given.

The Associated Press has since reported that Busch collapsed in a Chevy simulator sometime Wednesday and was transported to a Charlotte hospital.