The thing equally worse about Kyle Busch's tragic passing was not knowing the reason for it. The two-time Cup Series champion’s passing was announced on May 21, and the cause has finally been revealed today.

“The medical evaluation provided to the Busch Family concluded that severe pneumonia progressed into sepsis, resulting in rapid and overwhelming associated complications. The Family asks for continued understanding and privacy during this difficult time,” read the statement from the Busch family.

Busch’s radio message from Watkins Glen two weeks ago had worried his fans and rightly so. Busch has requested that the doctor be present at his trailer at the end of the race, suggesting he needed medical attention. 

Busch was suffering from some kind of congestion during the race at Watkins Glen, which the broadcasters had proclaimed to be sinus infections.

The medical evaluations indicate severe pneumonia as the cause that led to Busch’s death. Even at the Dover race, Busch had mentioned that his cough wasn't healed and was "pretty substantial" the past week.

All the signs that came in the days leading up to Busch’s untimely death are starting to make sense. 

A distressed 911 call  

Busch was in Charlotte, gearing up to drive at the Coca-Cola 600, a race he won with great dominance back in 2018.

Busch was rushed to the hospital after an unidentified caller made a distress call to 911 from the General Motors Charlotte Technical Centre. What was heard on the call would have shocked everyone. 

The caller said that Busch was conscious, but he was on the bathroom floor, having coughed up blood and complaining of shortness of breath. The caller also said that Busch was heating up and was awake.

The symptoms of pneumonia are often shortness of breath, fatigue, and high fever. All these symptoms were exhibited by Busch before the Emergency Medical Services rushed him to the hospital. 

The possible complications that could have occurred in accordance with the medical report are linked with lung failure due to the combination of pneumonia and sepsis, with possible aggravated tissue damage and depleting oxygen, leading to the untimely death of one of NASCAR’s finest.

Read more at the RFK Racing Digest

Written by

Debrup Chaudhuri

Edited by

Suyashdeep Sason