Richard Childress honors the late Kyle Busch with a promise to his son
Richard Childress Racing has found a small but meaningful way to honor the late Kyle Busch.
The NASCAR team announced Friday that the organization has elected to suspend use of the No. 8 and run the No. 33 at Charlotte Motor Speedway and beyond. Busch, who died Thursday after a battle with an undisclosed severe illness that left him hospitalized, ran the No. 8 car for the team’s Cup Series program.
But there’s a twist to the suspension decision — a promise.
“Kyle Busch was instrumental in the design of RCR’s stylized No. 8, and it has become synonymous with Kyle and an important symbol for his fans and the NASCAR industry,” RCR wrote in a statement. “No one can carry it forward to the level that he did.
“The No. 8 is reserved and ready for Brexton Busch when he is ready to go NASCAR racing.”
Brexton, who turned 11 earlier this week, and RCR started a real relationship when Kyle Busch signed on with the NASCAR team in 2023. Childress even handed Brexton a ceremonial contract. It was a kind gesture at the time — but now, in the wake of Busch’s death, the six-time Cup champion car owner has doubled down on the promise. Brexton is a competitive racer now, and his father was immensely proud of him — so much so that he publicly planned on running Truck Series races with his son once he was age eligible.
This isn’t the first time such a gesture has come from Richard Childress. When Dale Earnhardt Sr. died in February 2001, he had future Hall of Famer Kevin Harvick run his program — but not in the black No. 3 car. Harvick instead ran the white 29 car.
Austin Hill will run in the No. 33 RCR Cup entry in Charlotte, the team announced Thursday.
This story was originally published May 22, 2026 at 3:41 PM.
