What is sepsis? NASCAR racer Kyle Busch's cause of death revealed

The NASCAR community continues to mourn the death of Kyle Busch , one of the sport’s most accomplished and popular drivers. Busch died on May 21 at age 41 after being hospitalized in Charlotte , North Carolina, with what had initially been described as a "severe illness. " The two-time Cup Series champion and 2009 Nationwide Series title winner was reportedly found unresponsive in a driving simulator the day before his death , according to The Associated Press.

His family has since announced in a statement that the cause of death was sepsis brought on by severe pneumonia. Celebrity death: Kyle Busch cause of death released. What we know about pneumonia, sepsis Memorials popped up in places like Daytona International Speedway in Florida, and well-wishes for his family continued to come in on social media a day after "Rowdy" suddenly passed .

"Our entire NASCAR family is heartbroken by the loss of Kyle Busch," read a joint statement from NASCAR, Richard Childress Racing and his family . "A future Hall of Famer, Kyle was a rare talent, one who comes along once in a generation. He was fierce, he was passionate, he was immensely skilled and he cared deeply about the sport and fans.

"NASCAR lost a giant for the sport today, far too soon. " Here's what we know about the cause of death of Kyle Busch. How did Kyle Busch die?