CONCORD, N.C. — The family of Kyle Busch has disclosed that the NASCAR legend’s death was a result of severe pneumonia that escalated into sepsis, leading to rapid and severe complications. This information was shared in a statement from the family.
Dakota Hunter, who serves as the vice president of Kyle Busch Companies, confirmed in a press release that the family received the medical evaluation on Saturday.
Busch, who clinched the NASCAR championship twice, passed away at the age of 41 on Thursday. His death came just a day after he lost consciousness while in a Chevrolet simulator.
Sepsis is a critical medical condition that arises when the body has an extreme and aggressive response to an infection, causing the immune system to attack its own tissues and organs, as explained by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Normally, the immune system releases chemicals to combat invaders like bacteria, viruses, or fungi. However, with sepsis, this response becomes uncontrollably intense, resulting in widespread inflammation, the formation of tiny blood clots, and leaking of blood vessels.
It was believed that Busch had been battling a sinus cold while competing at Watkins Glen on May 10. He communicated over the radio to his team, requesting a “shot” from a doctor after the race.
Busch, who was preparing to race Sunday at the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, was testing in the Chevrolet racing simulator in Concord on Wednesday when he became unresponsive and was transported to a hospital in Charlotte, several people familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.
During the emergency call placed late that afternoon, an unidentified caller calmly told the dispatch: “I’ve got an individual that’s (got) shortness of breath, very hot, thinks he’s going to pass out, and is producing a little bit of blood, coughing up some blood.”
The caller said Busch was lying on the bathroom floor inside the complex and told dispatch “he is awake,” according to audio provided by the Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office. The man then gave directions on where emergency responders should go and asked that they turn off any sirens upon arrival.
Busch won 234 races across NASCAR’s top three series, more than any driver in history.
All 39 drivers in the field for Sunday’s race will race with a black No. 8 decal on their car to honor Busch.
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