North Carolina Governor Josh Stein ordered all U.S. and state flags lowered to half-staff in honor of Kyle Busch after the racer died in Charlotte on Thursday. The flags will be flown at half-staff from sunrise Saturday until sunset Sunday.
By sunrise on Saturday, North Carolina’s flags will be lowered to half-staff—an immediate, statewide sign of mourning after Kyle Busch’s death in Charlotte.
Governor Josh Stein announced the order Friday, directing officials to lower all U.S. and state flags to half-staff to honor Busch’s legacy. The flags were set to half-staff at sunrise Saturday and will remain that way until the sun sets on Sunday.
Stein said, “Kyle Busch was not just a talented and record-setting driver; he was also a kind person. His loss will be felt throughout the entire NASCAR community and well beyond … may his memory be a blessing.”
Busch primarily resided in Denver, North Carolina, a Charlotte suburb. He died in Charlotte on Thursday.
The family said Busch died of severe pneumonia, which progressed into sepsis. Before he was taken to the hospital, Busch was in a racing simulator and reportedly became unresponsive. 911 audio obtained by MISRYOUM includes a caller telling a dispatcher that the patient was coughing up blood and looked like they might pass out.
Even as the state prepares for this weekend’s half-staff observance, the timing of Busch’s final appearances still lands sharply for fans. Busch won a Truck Series race less than a week before he died, and he appeared in NASCAR’s All-Star Race a few days before his death.
The order keeps the focus on remembrance across the state as North Carolina marks the days ahead—sunrise to sunset—setting a visible tone for what his family, friends, and the wider NASCAR community are now facing.
Kyle Busch North Carolina Governor Josh Stein flags half-staff NASCAR Truck Series All-Star Race Charlotte Denver North Carolina pneumonia sepsis 911 audio