Family Shares What Led to Kyle Busch's Death

NASCAR issued a statement from Kyle Busch's family, stating what led to the 234-time national series winner's death.

"The medical evaluation provided to the Busch Family concluded that severe pneumonia progressed into sepsis, resulting in rapid and overwhelming associated complications," the statement read. 

Busch passed away suddenly Thursday at age 41. That same day, his family stated he was hospitalized for a severe illness. 

Multiple sources obtained a 911 call sharing symptoms Busch experienced when he reportedly collapsed Wednesday at the Chevrolet simulator in Concord, North Carolina. 

The death was a shock to fans, drivers, team owners and all industry members, as well as people around the world. 

NASCAR CEO Steve O'Donnell described Busch as a "true racer" and said all series will race on his memory this weekend, adding Busch would "be pretty p-ssed off... if we didn't." 

O'Donnell added there are many tributes on the table for Busch, including the possibility of fast-tracking his induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame to be among the newly-announced Class of 2027. However, that will require further discussion beyond this weekend and the initial shock of his death. 

Busch's No. 7 truck was awarded the pole for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It was set to run Friday night but rain pushed the race to Saturday.

Corey Day will drive the truck Busch won with just last Friday at Dover Motor Speedway to claim his 69th NCTS win and his 234th win overall in NASCAR's national series. 

"You never know when the last one will be so you cherish them. Trust me," Busch said after getting out of the truck. 

Day is looking for his third national series win. He won at Dover a day after Busch in the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series, beating veteran Justin Allgaier for the win. 

A day later, Busch competed at Dover in the NASCAR All-Star Race, which was unofficially his final NASCAR start. 

Busch's final points race finishes were the win at Dover in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, sixth at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 2024 in the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series and, fittingly, eighth in the NASCAR Cup Series at Watkins Glen International earlier this month in the No. 8 car. 

Richard Childress Racing renumbered the No. 8 car to the 33, reserving the No. 8 for Brexton Busch for when he is ready to race in NASCAR. 

Austin Hill will drive the No. 33 in the Coca-Cola 600. It's unclear who else will drive the car beyond then.