CHARLOTTE — Kyle Busch died on Thursday, May 21, 2026, at age 41 from complications of bacterial pneumonia that progressed to sepsis. He had become unresponsive the previous day during a Chevrolet racing simulator test in Concord, North Carolina.

According to his death certificate, Busch’s cause of death was hemorrhagic shock and disseminated intravascular coagulation following bacterial pneumonia that led to sepsis. The manner of death was listed as natural.

On Wednesday, May 20, at 5:30 p.m. Miami time, a 911 call was placed from a training center in Concord reporting that Busch had difficulty breathing, was very hot, thought he would pass out, and was coughing up blood. The caller stated Busch was lying on the bathroom floor and was awake at the time. Emergency responders were asked to approach the building without sirens. Busch was transported to a hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina, following the incident.

Busch’s family had announced earlier that week he would not compete in the Coca-Cola 600 due to a “severe illness.” He won the NASCAR Truck Series race at Dover and finished 17th in the All-Star race five days before his death. He had also attended the opening of a go-kart track with his 11-year-old son, Brexton, the week prior. At the Watkins Glen race on May 10, Busch had a sinus cold and radioed his team after the race requesting a “shot” from a doctor.

Busch was a two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and held the record for most wins across NASCAR’s top three national series with 234 victories. He raced primarily with Joe Gibbs Racing before joining Richard Childress Racing. NASCAR, Busch’s family, and Richard Childress Racing announced his death approximately 24 hours after the 911 call.

“The family asks for continued understanding and privacy during this difficult time,” said Dakota Hunter, vice president of Kyle Busch Companies.

Busch was cremated in Mooresville, North Carolina, following an autopsy. Sepsis, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is the body’s extreme response to an infection and can lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death. It can be triggered by any infection, including minor ones, when germs enter the body and multiply.