Two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch died from pneumonia that progressed into sepsis, according to a new statement from his family.Busch died at the age of 41 on Thursday, one day after he passed out in a Chevrolet simulator. He previously planned to compete in the Coca-Cola 600 race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Sunday.“The medical evaluation provided to the Busch Family concluded that severe pneumonia progressed into sepsis, resulting in rapid and overwhelming associated complications,” the family said on Saturday, asking for “continued understanding and privacy” after his death.
Charlotte Motor Speedway was the venue where Busch won the Coca-Cola 600 in 2018.
The first sign of Busch’s illness manifested on May 10 when he raced at Watkins Glen International in New York. At the time, he asked a doctor for a “shot.” He was thought to have had a sinus cold, which developed into pneumonia.
Sepsis occurs when the body has an extreme reaction to an infection, causing the immune system to go into overdrive. The result is widespread inflammation that can damage the body’s own tissues and organs. The life-threatening medical emergency requires immediate medical treatment.
The sudden illness likely stemmed from Busch’s racing at the New York course, where he sustained intense G-forces and elevation changes.
