Kyle Busch’s Cause Of Death Revealed By Family
on May 23, 2026 • Updated May 23, 2026
The family of NASCAR great Kyle Busch has revealed the cause of his death.
Kyle Busch, two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, died Thursday (May 21) at the age of 41.
In a statement released by his family on Saturday, they revealed that he died due to complications related to “severe pneumonia [that] progressed into sepsis.”
Two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch died Thursday from complications related to “severe pneumonia [that] progressed into sepsis,” the statement read.
“The medical evaluation provided to the Busch Family concluded that severe pneumonia progressed into sepsis, resulting in rapid and overwhelming associated complications,” FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass reported.
Statement from Kyle Busch family on what caused his death: "The medical evaluation provided to the Busch Family concluded that severe pneumonia progressed into sepsis, resulting in rapid and overwhelming associated complications." @NASCARONFOX
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) May 23, 2026
Kyle Busch’s Death
Kyle Busch, 41, died Thursday after being hospitalized with a “severe illness.”
He was feeling unwell during his May 10 race at Watkins Glen, and radioed his team following the race to say that he needed “a shot” from the doctor. He came back to win the Truck Series race at Dover and was preparing to race Sunday, May 24, at the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
The AP reports that Busch passed out while testing a racing simulator on Wednesday and became unresponsive. He was takent to a Charlotte hospital for treatment, but never recovered.
The 911 call placed on Wednesday was released and revealed that Busch, the unnamed individual mentioned on the call, was suffering from shortness of breath, was very hot, and was “coughing up some blood.”
The called told dispatch that the NASCAR driver was on the bathroom floor inside of the GM Charlotte Technical Center in Concord, North Carolina, and was awake.
Kyle Busch Remembered
NASCAR fans and colleagues of Kyle Busch showed an outpouring of support for his family and for Busch’s legacy following his death.
Fans made a memorial for Kyle in front of the doors at Richard Childress Racing, where he had been a team member since 2023. Fans also paid tribute at speedways around the country by leaving flowers at the entry gates.
Late Friday, Richard Childress Racing announced that it will temporarily retire the No. 8 that Busch last drove until his son, Brexton, is ready to drive it.
As drivers arrived in Charlotte on Saturday for Sunday’s race, the mood was somber. Drivers and crew members stood silently as the No. 33 car that would replace Busch’s No. 8 was unloaded. Some men could be seen wiping their eyes.
All 39 drivers in the field for Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 will race with a No. 8 decal on their car in honor of Busch.
In addition, North Carolina Governor Josh Stein has ordered all U.S. and state flags to be flown at half-staff in Kyle Busch’s honor. The flags will fly at half-staff from sunrise Saturday until sunset on Sunday.
