Kyle Busch’s Death: Pneumonia, Sepsis and the Racing Community’s Response

Former NASCAR driver Kyle Busch, 41, died from hemorrhagic shock and disseminated intravascular coagulation after bacterial pneumonia progressed to sepsis, the death certificate shows. The certificate lists the manner of death as “natural” and notes that Busch was cremated in Mooresville, North Carolina, following an autopsy. Sepsis, described by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as an extreme immune response that can cause widespread inflammation, microscopic blood clots and leaky vessels, was the immediate cause of the fatal complications.

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Busch first reported a sinus-cold-like symptom after the Watkins Glen race on May 10, requesting medical attention but continuing to compete. He won the Truck Series race at Dover, then finished 17th in the All-Star race five days before his death. The week prior, he attended a go-kart track opening with his 11-year-old son, Brexton, and was preparing for the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway when his family announced he would miss the event due to a “severe illness.” On May 20, while testing in a Chevrolet racing simulator in Concord, Busch became unresponsive, was found on a bathroom floor, and was taken to a Charlotte hospital where he died the next day.

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NASCAR CEO Steve O’Donnell called Busch “a certain first-ballot Hall of Famer” and indicated that discussions were underway to add him to this year’s Hall of Fame class despite the selection process already being completed. No public memorial has been announced.

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• “-- Kyle Busch died last week from hemorrhagic shock and disseminated intravascular coagulation after complications from bacterial pneumonia led to sepsis, according to the former NASCAR star's death certificate.” — AP report

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• “He was a two-time Cup Series champion who won a record 234 races across NASCAR's top three national series.” — AP report

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• “ The caller said Busch was lying on the bathroom floor inside the complex and told dispatch "he is awake," according to audio provided by the Cabarrus County Sheriff's Office.” — AP report

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• “NASCAR CEO Steve O'Donnell called Busch a certain first-ballot Hall of Famer and said there was some conversation about adding him to this year's class even though the selection process had already been completed.” — AP report

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• “ The death certificate also said Busch, who was 41, was cremated in Mooresville, North Carolina, following an autopsy.” — AP report

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