The family of NASCAR champion Kyle Busch has disclosed that the racing star’s death resulted from serious pneumonia that developed into sepsis, based on information released Saturday.
“The medical evaluation provided to the Busch Family concluded that severe pneumonia progressed into sepsis, resulting in rapid and overwhelming associated complications,” the family statement read. “The Family asks for continued understanding and privacy during this difficult time.”
Dakota Hunter, vice president of Kyle Busch Companies, confirmed the family received the medical findings Saturday.
The 41-year-old driver, who captured two NASCAR Cup Series titles and is regarded as among the sport’s greatest competitors, passed away Thursday.
His family, along with Richard Childress Racing and NASCAR, announced his passing just hours after revealing he had been admitted to a hospital during the week and would be unable to compete in Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
According to a 911 emergency call that USA Today obtained Friday, Busch had been experiencing difficulty breathing and coughing up blood on the day prior to his death.
The racing champion leaves behind his spouse Samantha, along with 11-year-old son Brexton and 4-year-old daughter Lennix. He was the younger sibling of NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Kurt Busch, who is 47.
Throughout his career, Busch accumulated 234 victories spanning NASCAR’s three premier divisions: 63 Cup Series wins, 102 in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, and 69 in the Craftsman Truck Series. His final triumph came at Dover’s truck race last Friday, just six days prior to his passing.
The driver from Las Vegas claimed NASCAR Cup Series championships in both 2015 and 2019. While the Daytona 500 victory eluded him, he earned his first pole position for the race this year before placing 15th.
Notable victories in Busch’s career included the 2008 Southern 500, back-to-back Brickyard 400 wins in 2015 and 2016, and the 2019 Coca-Cola 600.
