Late Thursday afternoon the motorsports world was shocked to learn that two time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch had died suddenly of what was being termed a ‘severe illness”.
The shock and disbelief of the news travelled as quickly as his race cars on the track.
On Saturday, the family released the news that the official cause of Kyle Busch’s death was due to severe pneumonia and sepsis.
Sepsis can be a life-threatening medical emergency. The body’s immune system overreacts to an infection and begins to attack itself; which can lead to vital organs shutting down.
Two weeks ago while racing on the road course at Watkins Glen International, Busch came over the radio to tell his crew chief Andy Street that he needed them to find the doctor and have him meet Busch at the motorhome after the race; because Busch said he needed a shot. At the time the issue was being described as a sinus cold.
Last week, Busch ran in the Craftsman Truck Series race and the All-Star race at Dover Motor Speedway where he won the Truck Series race for career Truck Series win number 69 and overall career win number 234. When asked about the excitement of winning, Busch responded with enjoy every one because you never know when it will be the last one. Words that turned out to be prophetic.
Busch was preparing for this weekend’s race – The Coca-Cola 600, the longest race of the season – in the simulator when he became ill and first responders were summoned. It was then that Busch was taken to the hospital. He died the following day.
The death of Kyle Busch marks the second time that Richard Childress Racing has lost an All-Star champion driver. In 2001, Dale Earnhardt Sr died on the last lap of the Daytona 500 when serving as blocker for son Dale Jr and Michael Waltrip who were in front of him, Earnhardt’s car hit the retaining wall head-on; breaking his neck.
Rowdy’s death has brought back many of those painful memories from some 25 years ago.
Over the past three years, Kyle Busch has become synonymous with the number eight car. RCR owner Richard Childress has announced that he is retiring – for now – the number eight and is reserving it for Busch’s son Brexton who just turned eleven but is expected at some time in the not too distant future to join NASCAR. It is at that time that RCR will revive the number eight.
As a tribute to Kyle Busch, the drivers will carry number eight decals on the cars for the race.