UPDATED 5/23, 1:25 p.m. ET: The official cause of death for late NASCAR driver Kyle Busch has been revealed.
In a statement provided to ESPN, Dakota Hunter, vice president of Kyle Busch Companies, said that Busch’s family finalized a medical evaluation on Saturday (May 23). The evaluation concluded that Busch died from severe pneumonia that progressed into sepsis.
The family stated that Busch’s decline in health caused "rapid and overwhelming associated complications." "The Family asks for continued understanding and privacy during this difficult time," the statement concluded.
Hours before his death, Busch passed out in a Chevrolet simulator. The health emergency occurred after the athlete was hospitalized for "severe illness" days before being scheduled to participate in the Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The day before Busch's passing, the race car driver experienced shortness of breath, overheating and was coughing up blood. During a May 10 race at Watkins Glen, Busch was thought to have a sinus cold and requested a shot after the event.
According to Cleveland Clinic, sepsis is a life-threatening reaction to an infection that can develop quickly into organ failure, tissue damage or death. In honor of Busch, on Sunday (May 24) at the Coca-Cola 600, the 39 competitors will have a black No. 8 decal on their cars.
See original story below.
Kyle Busch, a two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion who spent 22 full-time seasons at the sport's highest level, died on Thursday at the age of 41, according to NASCAR.com.
Earlier on Thursday, Busch's team had disclosed that he was hospitalized with a severe illness. The death was announced jointly by the Busch family, NASCAR, and Richard Childress Racing.
"On behalf of the Busch family, everyone at Richard Childress Racing and all of NASCAR, we are devastated to announce the sudden and tragic passing of Kyle Busch," the joint statement read.
The statement went on to say: "Our entire NASCAR family is heartbroken by the loss of Kyle Busch. 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. Throughout a career that spanned more than two decades, Kyle set records in national series wins, won championships at NASCAR's highest level and fostered the next generation of drivers as an owner in the Truck Series.
"His sharp wit and competitive spirit sparked a deep emotional connection with race fans of every age, creating the proud and loyal 'Rowdy Nation.' Our thoughts are with Samantha, Brexton and Lennix, Kyle and Samantha's parents, Kurt and all of Kyle's family, Richard and Judy Childress, everyone at Richard Childress Racing, his teammates, friends and fans. NASCAR lost a giant of the sport today, far too soon."
Busch racked up a total of 63 Cup Series victories, placing him ninth on the all-time list, while 102 wins in the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series and 69 Craftsman Truck Series triumphs both stand as all-time records. He captured his Cup championships in 2015 and 2019.
Busch is survived by his wife Samantha, their children Brexton and Lennix, his parents, and his brother Kurt. The joint statement asked that the public "respect the family's privacy and continue to keep them in your thoughts and prayers."
