Kyle Busch, a highly accomplished NASCAR driver, passed away from severe pneumonia that advanced into sepsis. This information was confirmed in a statement from his family released on Saturday. According to the family, a medical evaluation revealed that the pneumonia led to sepsis, which resulted in rapid complications.
Busch, who holds the record for the most race wins across NASCAR’s top three series, died unexpectedly on a Thursday after fainting during a session in a driving simulator at a General Motors facility located in Concord, North Carolina.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explain that sepsis is a critical medical condition. It occurs when the body’s response to an infection damages its own tissues and organs, posing significant threats to health.
This statement marks the first communication from the Busch family since the incident. On Thursday, they had announced on social media that he experienced a serious illness leading to hospitalization. He was scheduled to miss the upcoming Coca-Cola 600 race, a prominent event on the NASCAR calendar.
A tribute to Kyle Busch was displayed on an LED screen before the practice session for the Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR Cup Series event on May 23, 2026, at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C.
According to a 911 call obtained by CBS News, Busch showed signs of difficulty breathing, overheating, and coughing up blood the day prior to his passing. During the call, an unidentified individual described Busch’s symptoms to dispatch calmly and mentioned that he was conscious while lying on the bathroom floor. This information was corroborated by audio from the Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office.
Just two weeks before, Busch participated in a Cup race at Watkins Glen. He was overheard on radio instructing his team to have a doctor ready at the race’s end due to sinus cold symptoms. Despite these health concerns, he managed to clinch a victory in the Craftsman Truck Series race at Dover Motor Speedway on May 15, barely a week before his untimely death.
Busch was a two-time Cup Series champion, winning titles in 2015 and 2019 with Joe Gibbs Racing. He also led the rankings in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series with 102 victories and 69 wins in the Craftsman Truck Series. Along with 63 victories in the Cup Series, Busch holds a total of 234 wins across NASCAR’s three main divisions, making him the driver with the highest number of wins in NASCAR history.