NASCAR champion Kyle Busch reveals cause of death: 41-year-old man dies after pneumonia turns into sepsis | Today’s news
Kyle Busch, the NASCAR Cup Series champion who died Thursday, died after severe pneumonia turned into sepsis, resulting in rapid and overwhelming complications, according to a statement released by his family.
Dakota Hunter, vice president of Kyle Busch Companies, said in a news release that the family received a medical evaluation Saturday, the Associated Press reported.
Read also | Two-time NASCAR Cup Series winner Kyle Busch has died at the age of 41
Busch, a two-time NASCAR champion, died at the age of 41, a day after passing out in a Chevrolet simulator.
Here’s what you should know about Kyle Busch’s death
On Wednesday, Busch was testing a Chevrolet racing simulator in Concord when he became unresponsive and was taken to a Charlotte hospital. According to reports, Busch had a sinus infection on May 10 at Watkins Glen when he called his team to say he needed a “shot” from the doctor after the race.
During a 911 call made later in the afternoon, an unidentified caller calmly told dispatchers that the person was short of breath, feeling extremely hot, believed he was going to pass out and was coughing up a small amount of blood.
According to audio released by the Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office, the caller said Busch was lying on the bathroom floor inside the complex but was still awake. The caller also provided instructions for emergency responders, asking them to turn off the sirens upon arrival.
According to the telecast, Busch was dealing with a sinus cold made worse by the intense G-forces and elevation changes of the New York road course. However, he won the Truck Series race at Dover last weekend and then finished 17th in the All-Star Race, his final race. Busch was expected to participate in Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Will the Coca-Cola 600 be postponed or canceled?
NASCAR officials confirmed the 400-lap race at the 1.5-mile Charlotte Motor Speedway will go ahead as scheduled Sunday night.
Earlier in the day, Richard Childress Racing (RCR) announced that Austin Hill will replace Busch in the No. 8 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1.
Read also | New AI tool could help predict sepsis and save lives
What is sepsis?
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), sepsis is considered a life-threatening medical emergency that occurs when the body has an extreme, overactive response to an infection that causes the immune system to damage its own tissues and organs.
The immune system usually releases chemicals to fight infections caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi. However, in cases of sepsis, the body’s response becomes excessive and uncontrolled. This can lead to widespread inflammation, tiny blood clots, and leaking blood vessels throughout the body.
Kyle Busch’s record
Busch has 234 victories in NASCAR’s three national series, the most of any driver in the history of the sport. He also won the 2015 and 2019 NASCAR Cup Series championships while racing for Joe Gibbs Racing.
His 2015 title was particularly notable. After missing the first 11 Cup races of the season due to a crash at Daytona that left him with a broken right leg and left leg, Busch came back to win five races, secure a playoff spot and eventually win the championship at Homestead.
