Kyle Busch, the NASCAR driver who unexpectedly passed away after seeking medical assistance from a physician's assistant he referred to as a 'doctor,' had been battling a sinus infection. Bill Heisel, a certified physician's assistant (PA), has been involved with stock car racing teams for many years.
Busch's Final Plea for Help
During a NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen, New York, on May 10, Busch radioed his crew from Richard Childress Racing, saying, 'Can somebody try to find Bill Heisel? He's the kindred doctor guy. Tell him I need him after the race, please… I'm gonna need a shot.' He finished eighth in that race and later told The Athletic on May 16 that he was still dealing with a cold before the All-Star race in Dover, Delaware.
On Thursday, Busch was abruptly withdrawn from the Coca-Cola 600 after being hospitalized in Charlotte with a 'severe illness.' He was pronounced dead later that day. Heisel has not been accused of any wrongdoing, and although Busch referred to him as a doctor, Heisel is not accused of misrepresenting himself.
Heisel's Background and Role
Heisel, a physician's assistant, has worked with NASCAR teams for years. His former employer, OrthoCarolina, released a statement expressing condolences to the Busch family, noting that Heisel left the practice in November 2025 to pursue full-time motorsports medicine with a private organization. OrthoCarolina stated, 'Bill served as OrthoCarolina's Director of Motorsports Medicine for more than a decade before departing… to pursue full-time motorsports medicine with a private organization.' The practice is no longer involved in motorsports medicine.
Heisel previously worked with North Carolina professional sports teams like the NFL's Carolina Panthers and NBA's Charlotte Hornets. In the early 2000s, he began working in NASCAR after noticing a lack of medical resources for racing teams. He told SpectrumLocalNews.com in 2023 that pit crews keep him busier than drivers, saying, 'We probably see more injuries associated with pit crews than we do drivers in the grand scheme of things.' He co-authored a 2016 study on NASCAR-related injuries, which found that drivers are most at risk for 'neuropathies, such as hand-arm vibration syndrome.'
Circumstances of Busch's Death
It remains unclear what caused Busch's death. He claimed last week that he was still dealing with sinus problems. On May 16, he told The Athletic, 'You can kind of still hear it, I'm still not great, but the cough was pretty substantial last week.' He later won a NASCAR Truck Series race before his health declined. According to The Associated Press, Busch became unresponsive while using a racing simulator in Concord, North Carolina, on Wednesday. He was transported to a Charlotte hospital, where he was pronounced dead on Thursday. A 911 caller reported, 'I've got an individual that's shortness of breath, very hot, thinks he's going to pass out, and he's producing a little bit of blood, coughing up some blood.'
Busch is survived by his wife, Samantha, son Brexton, and daughter Lennix. NASCAR officials did not immediately respond to requests for further details on the shot Busch requested on May 10.
