As the motorsports world resumed racing Saturday, May 23, the Busch family revealed what killed Kyle Busch: severe pneumonia that progressed into sepsis, claiming the two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion at 41.
“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 in a statement released Saturday morning. “The Family asks for continued understanding and privacy during this difficult time.”
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Here’s what we know about Kyle Busch’s death:
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See the most heartfelt moments with Kyle Busch and his family.
Kyle Busch, driver of the #7 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, celebrates with daughter, Lennix Busch son, Brexton Busch and wife, Samantha Busch in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Fr8 Racing 208 at Echo Park Speedway on February 21, 2026, in Hampton, Georgia.
(Sean Gardner, Getty Images)
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See the most heartfelt moments with Kyle Busch and his family.
Kyle Busch, driver of the #7 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, celebrates with daughter, Lennix Busch son, Brexton Busch and wife, Samantha Busch in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Fr8 Racing 208 at Echo Park Speedway on February 21, 2026, in Hampton, Georgia.
(Sean Gardner, Getty Images)
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See the most heartfelt moments with Kyle Busch and his family.
Team owner Joe Gibbs, Samantha Busch, her husband, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Kyle Busch, and their son Brexton Busch are introduced at the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards show at Wynn Las Vegas on December 4, 2015, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
(Ethan Miller, Getty Images)
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See the most heartfelt moments with Kyle Busch and his family.
Kyle Busch, driver of the #7 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, celebrates with his daughter, Lennix Busch in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Fr8 Racing 208 at Echo Park Speedway on February 21, 2026, in Hampton, Georgia.
(Sean Gardner, Getty Images)
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See the most heartfelt moments with Kyle Busch and his family.
Kyle Busch, driver of the #7 Realtree Chevrolet, celebrates with his wife, Samantha Busch, and daughter, Lennix Busch victory lane after winning the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series SpeedyCash.com 250 at Texas Motor Speedway on April 12, 2024, in Fort Worth, Texas.
(Chris Graythen, Getty Images)
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See the most heartfelt moments with Kyle Busch and his family.
Kyle Busch, driver of the #7 Realtree Chevrolet, celebrates with his wife, Samantha Busch, and daughter, Lennix Busch victory lane after winning the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series SpeedyCash.com 250 at Texas Motor Speedway on April 12, 2024, in Fort Worth, Texas.
(Sean Gardner, Getty Images)
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See the most heartfelt moments with Kyle Busch and his family.
Jan 23, 2026; Charlotte, NC, USA; Kyle and Kurt Busch pose on the red carpet during the NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction at Charlotte Convention Center – Crown Ballroom. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
(Jim Dedmon, Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images)
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See the most heartfelt moments with Kyle Busch and his family.
NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Kyle Busch (54) celebrates in victory lane with his wife Samantha, and son, Brexton, after winning the Tennessee Lottery 250 NASCAR Xfinity Series race at the Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tenn., Saturday, June 19, 2021.
(Andrew Nelles / Tennessean.com via Imagn Content Services, LLC)
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See the most heartfelt moments with Kyle Busch and his family.
Kyle Busch, driver of the #7 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, eats a peach with son, Brexton Busch and wife, Samantha Busch in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Fr8 Racing 208 at Echo Park Speedway on February 21, 2026 in Hampton, Georgia.
(Sean Gardner, Getty Images)
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See the most heartfelt moments with Kyle Busch and his family.
May 8, 2022; Darlington, South Carolina, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Busch (L) poses for a picture with his mother Gaye Busch (C) and brother Kurt Busch (R) on pit road prior to the Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
(Jasen Vinlove, Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports)
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NASCAR Cup Series driver, Kyle Busch and wife, Samantha Busch pose for photos on the red carpet prior to the NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
(David Jensen, Getty Images)
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Kyle Busch, driver of the #07 Gainbridge Chevrolet, his wife, Samantha Busch, daughter, Lennix Busch and son, Brexton Busch bow their heads during pre-race ceremonies.
(David Jensen, Getty Images)
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NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Kyle Busch celebrates with girlfriend Samantha Sarcinella after victory in the Camping World 300.
(Kirby Lee-US PRESSWIRE)
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See the most heartfelt moments with Kyle Busch and his family.
DOVER, DE – MAY 16: Kyle Busch (R), driver of the #18 M&M’s Toyota, kisses his fiancee Samantha Sarcinella in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Autism Speaks 400 at Dover International Speedway on May 16, 2010 in Dover, Delaware. (Photo by Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR)
(Jason Smith, Getty Images for NASCAR)
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Jun 19, 2021; Nashville, TN, USA; NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Kyle Busch (54) is congratulated by his brother NASCAR Cup Series driver Kurt Busch (1) after winning his 100th career Xfinity race during the Tennessee Lottery 250 at Nashville Superspeedway. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
(Christopher Hanewinckel, Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODA)
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Nov 2, 2025; Avondale, Arizona, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Busch with son Brexton Busch during the NASCAR Championship race at Phoenix Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
(Mark J. Rebilas, Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images)
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Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 iK9 Toyota, poses with his wife, Samantha, and son, Brexton, after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series My Bariatric Solutions 300 at Texas Motor Speedway on March 30, 2019 in Fort Worth, Texas.
(Jared C. Tilton, Getty Images)
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Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M’s Toyota along with his wife Samantha and son Brexton pose with the trophy after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Homestead Speedway on November 17, 2019, in Homestead, Florida.
(Chris Graythen, Getty Images)
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NASCAR driver Kyle Busch, his son Brexton Busch and wife Samantha Busch pose for photos on the Las Vegas Raiders’ sideline before a game between the Raiders and the Denver Broncos at Allegiant Stadium on November 24, 2024, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
(Ethan Miller, Getty Images)
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Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Skittles Toyota, poses with his wife, Samantha, and son, Brexton, after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Crown Royal Presents the Combat Wounded Coalition 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 24, 2016 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
(Rey Del Rio, Getty Images)
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Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Busch poses with the winner’s trophy in victory lane with wife Samantha and son Brexton after winning the O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Texas Motor Speedway.
(Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports)
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NASCAR driver Kyle Busch, left, with wife Samantha and son Brexton pose on the red carpet for the “Rowdy” movie at the Regal Opry Mills Stadium 20 of the Opry Mill Mall on Jun 23, 2022.
(Alan Poizner / For The Tennessean)
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See the most heartfelt moments with Kyle Busch and his family.
AUSTIN, TEXAS – MARCH 02: Kyle Busch, driver of the #8 Rebel Bourbon Chevrolet, and son, Brexton Busch wave to fans as they walk onstage during driver intros prior to the NASCAR Cup Series EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas on March 02, 2025 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
(James Gilbert, Getty Images)
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NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – DECEMBER 04: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Champion Kyle Busch, along with his wife Samantha and son Brexton pose for a photo on Broadway with the Championship Trophy on December 04, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
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See the most heartfelt moments with Kyle Busch and his family.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – JULY 23: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 NOS Energy Drink Toyota, kisses the bricks with his wife, Samantha, and son, Brexton, after winning the NASCAR XFINITY Series Lilly Diabetes 250 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 23, 2016 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
What was Kyle Busch’s cause of death?
The Busch family confirmed Saturday that he had severe pneumonia that progressed into sepsis, resulting in rapid and overwhelming associated complications. No additional details were provided. The family has asked for privacy.
How does pneumonia kill?
While rare in otherwise healthy adults, the progression from viral pneumonia to a fatal bacterial infection can move with devastating speed, according to medical experts not connected with the case.
Viral pneumonia can leave the lungs vulnerable to secondary bacterial infections. Those bacterial infections are among the most dangerous organisms clinicians can encounter.
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What signs of illness did Kyle Busch have in the days before his death?
Busch had been battling respiratory symptoms for more than a week that we know of. At the Cup Series race May 10 at Watkins Glen, FOX Sports reported during its broadcast that Busch had been fighting a sinus cold. Busch radioed in during the race to have a doctor meet him at his bus afterward.
Less than a week later at Dover, after winning the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race May 15, Busch addressed his illness on video.
“I’m still not great,” he said. “The cough was pretty substantial last week.”
What we learned from the 911 call for Kyle Busch
Busch was coughing up blood when emergency responders were called to a General Motors facility in Concord, North Carolina, the day before he died, according to the call obtained by USA Today.
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In the call, a man tells a dispatcher that Busch was on the bathroom floor, awake but in distress. He said he was coughing up blood, short of breath and very hot.
The caller asked that the emergency responders turn off their sirens on arrival at the complex.
How has the sports world reacted to Kyle Busch’s death?
Tributes poured in from far beyond NASCAR, with athletes, major sports franchises, broadcasters and celebrities from across the sports world paying their respects.
The Carolina Hurricanes and Montreal Canadiens held a moment of silence for Busch before Game 1 of the Eastern Conference final at Lenovo Center in Raleigh.
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President Donald Trump also sent condolences to Busch’s wife Samantha, and their two children, Brexton, 11, and Lennix, 4.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kyle Busch’s death from pneumonia and sepsis: What we know
