Kyle Busch died after severe pneumonia progressed into sepsis, family says
His family previously said he was hospitalized with a ‘severe illness’
NASCAR champion Kyle Busch died after severe pneumonia progressed into sepsis, resulting in rapid and overwhelming complications, according to a statement from his family. Busch died on Thursday, a day after he became unresponsive in a racing simulator . The two-time champion was 41 years old.
His family received the medical information Saturday, according to Dakota Hunter, vice president of Kyle Busch Companies. Sepsis is a life-threatening medical emergency where the body's extreme response to an infection causes the immune system to damage its own tissues and organs, according to the CDC. This overactive response can lead to widespread inflammation, microscopic blood clots, and leaky blood vessels.
Busch had been preparing to race in Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway when he collapsed during a test session in a Chevrolet racing simulator in Concord on Wednesday. He was rushed to a hospital in Charlotte. An emergency call placed that afternoon described an individual with "shortness of breath, very hot, thinks he’s going to pass out, and is producing a little bit of blood, coughing up some blood.
" An in memoriam photo of former driver Kyle Busch is displayed on the video board of the backstretch at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Friday, May 22, 2026 (AP Photo/Matt Kelley) The unidentified caller, whose audio was provided by the Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office, stated Busch was lying on the bathroom floor but "he is awake," and requested that emergency responders arrive without sirens. Earlier in May, Busch had reportedly suffered from a sinus cold while racing at Watkins Glen, radioing his team to request a "shot" from a doctor after the race. He bounced back to win the Trucks Series race at Dover last weekend, and then he finished 17th in the All-Star race on Sunday.