NASCAR legend Kyle Busch died of severe pneumonia that advanced into sepsis and “overwhelming associated complications,” his family said in a statement Saturday.
Busch, 41, died Thursday. His death was a surprise. He was expected to compete this weekend at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.
His family also asked for continued privacy during a difficult time, according to the statement posted online by Matt Weaver, senior NASCAR editor for Motorsport.
Busch died the day after using a Chevy “Driver-in-the-Loop” simulator at the General Motors Charlotte Tech Center in Concord, North Carolina. The simulators are supposed to imitate the feeling of racing.
Busch reportedly was coughing up blood after using the simulator. He was then hospitalized.
GM President Mark Reuss said on social media that Busch’s passing is “devastating to me, and to everyone at Chevrolet and General Motors.” He expressed sadness for Busch’s family, fans and “Rowdy Nation,” the name for Busch’s fans.
“He was a fierce competitor who found success both as a driver and team owner, as well as a generous benefactor to countless families with the Bundle of Joy Fund he founded with Samantha,” Reuss said. “On top of all that, he found time to be a true friend to us all.”
Busch was a decorated race car driver, according to his USA Today obituary. He won 63 Cup Series and dozens of Xfinity and Truck Series races. He has the record for most victories across all of NASCAR’s national touring competitions at 234.
Busch embodied a swagger that some found off-putting and those in Rowdy Nation embraced with zeal, said USA Today sports reporter Mitchell Northam in a column about Busch. He brought the drama that professional sports needs to captivate new fans, which Busch helped to do when NASCAR’s audience was in decline around 2010, Northam wrote. And he wasn’t afraid to make enemies.
“Busch was a throwback to the drivers of the 1970s, 80s and 90s — drivers like Earnhardt — who only cared about winning and didn’t care whose feelings they hurt or whose cars they wrecked along the way,” Northam wrote. “But Busch was also perfect for this new era where internet memes and social media soundbytes rule the day.”
ckthompson@detroitnews.com
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: NASCAR legend Kyle Busch’s cause of death revealed in family statement
Reporting by Carol Thompson, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
