Family reveals cause of death of NASCAR legend Kyle Busch
Kyle Busch’s family said medical tests confirmed severe pneumonia, which progressed to sepsis and ultimately led to his death.
CONCORD, N.C. — Like many NASCAR drivers, this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway was emotional for Bubba Wallace.
The drivers of the No. 23 Toyota of Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin’s 23XI Racing did not come to the driver bullpen to speak with reporters on Saturday, May 23. Before taking part in practice laps on Saturday, Wallace walked alone to the grassy area of the infield where Kyle Busch’s No. 8 is printed on his jersey. Wallace knelt down and spent some quiet time alone.
Mr. Bush died Thursday from what his family called complications from severe pneumonia that progressed to sepsis. His shocking death has shocked the motorsport world and left a somber mood in the garage on what would normally be a weekend of celebration of the sport.
Wallace finally spoke publicly about what Bush meant to him in an interview with ESPN’s Marty Smith on Sunday, May 24th.
“Obviously, the last few days have been tough. It’s never easy,” Wallace said. “What Kyle did for me… it’s a legacy. The way he shaped your life, the way he provided opportunities and helped you take advantage of them. When I heard that news, I just broke down and said everything in front of me was his fault. It’s an incredible loss for our community and for the world to be able to race on the same track. I think Denny said it best: ‘We lost Kobe Bryant.’
“Yesterday was really tough getting in the car on pit road for practice, but tonight’s 600 is going to be incredibly tough just knowing that we won’t have him with us to give his all.”
Wallace is one of many drivers currently competing in NASCAR’s top-level Cup Series with Busch’s Truck Series team, Kyle Busch Motorsports. Wallace competed in four NASCAR Xfinity Series races for Joe Gibbs Racing in 2012, while Busch was driving KBM’s No. 54 Toyota Truck full-time for the first time.
Out of 44 races in KBM’s two seasons in 2013 and 2014, Wallace won five truck races and finished in the top five in nine other races. When Wallace won the Truck Series at Martinsville in 2013, he became the second Black driver to win a race in NASCAR’s top three national touring competitions, and the first since Wendell Scott in 1963. Currently, Wallace is the only black driver competing full-time in the Cup Series.
While speaking with Smith, Wallace recounted a lesson Busch taught him when his car came loose during practice at Michigan. When Mr. Wallace got out of the truck, Mr. Busch walked up to him and said, “Trust me, drive through. Get that end out there and we’ll get you.”
This is the message Wallace still hears in his head as he drives at dangerous speeds on the track.
“Every time I feel down, I think of Kyle,” Wallace said. “Can I drive past this breaking point? He taught me to trust myself and what I feel and what I believe and go further.”
Wallace has six top-10 finishes this season and ranks 10th in the NASCAR Cup Series points standings. His last win was last season at the Brickyard 400 in Indianapolis.
