Kyle Busch’s cause of death was severe pneumonia that progressed into sepsis, his family said, days after the two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion died at 41.
The Busch family said a medical evaluation found that pneumonia led to sepsis and caused “rapid and overwhelming” complications, according to the Associated Press. Busch died Thursday after a severe illness.
The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention describes sepsis as the body’s extreme response to infection. It can trigger tissue damage, organ failure and death without urgent treatment.
Pneumonia can lead to sepsis when infection spreads from the lungs into the bloodstream. It said symptoms can include confusion, fever, chills, fast heart rate, weak pulse and shortness of breath.
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NASCAR.com called Busch a two-time Cup Series champion and winner of 234 national series races. He also became one of the most successful drivers across NASCAR’s top three series.
Richard Childress Racing said it would temporarily retire Busch’s No. 8 car, with Austin Hill replacing him for the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the Associated Press reported
