Richard Childress Racing (RCR) has announced the temporary retirement of Kyle Busch’s No. 8 Cup Series car. This decision comes in light of the unexpected death of the 41-year-old driver. For the time being, RCR will race with the No. 33 car in the Cup Series.
The change will begin at the Coca-Cola 600, NASCAR’s longest race of the season, held at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Austin Hill is set to take the wheel, stepping in as Busch’s replacement.
RCR expressed that the No. 8 will stay reserved for Busch’s 11-year-old son, Brexton, until he is ready to pursue NASCAR racing. Brexton is already gaining a reputation in the racing world. He won the Tulsa Shootout Jr. Sprint Championship last year, acquiring his first Golden Driller award.
Brexton, a third-generation racer, began at the age of 5 in the Beginner Box Stock division at Millbridge Speedway in North Carolina. He claimed his first victory shortly after at Mountain Creek Speedway, and his achievements have been mounting. By 2024, Brexton had secured 48 race wins, along with 126 top-10 finishes and 107 top-5 finishes.
Kyle Busch played a key role in designing RCR’s stylized No. 8, which has become an iconic symbol in NASCAR, closely associated with his success. The organization believes that no one can elevate it as he did. Thus, the number remains in reserve for Brexton’s future in racing.
RCR has a history of changing car numbers following driver fatalities. In 2001, after Dale Earnhardt’s tragic crash at the Daytona 500, RCR switched from the black No. 3 to the white No. 29. The No. 3 was later reclaimed in 2014, driven by team owner Richard Childress’ grandson, Austin Dillon.
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