Richard Childress: Kyle Busch 'in our hearts' after RCR scores first win since legend's death

Austin Hill, who has driven Kyle Busch's Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Cup Series entry since Busch's death on May 21, won Saturday's NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Naval Base Coronado with a move Busch would've approved of. 

Hill nudged Taylor Gray out of the way in Turn 2 on the final lap to take the lead and score the win. He later did a burnout near a painted tribute to Busch in turn 8 before being towed to victory lane. 

It was a jubilant celebration for the No. 21 RCR team, which scored its first win of the 2026 season on Saturday. The victory is the first for any of RCR's NASCAR entries in the Cup Series or O'Reilly Series in 2026. 

Richard Childress emotional after Austin Hill wins

"It's great," Richard Childress told CW Sports. "It's great to win here. We've all got Kyle in our hearts."

Childress then got choked up.

"You might not show it on the outside, but you do here," he said, pointing to his heart. 

Hill said he was talking to Busch in the race's closing laps and asked him for "an extra gear."

The victory also comes on the birthday of Derek Kneeland, Hill's spotter who was also the spotter for Busch during his tenure at RCR. 

"We've been through a lot these last several weeks," Hill said. "It's my spotter Derek Kneeland's birthday today. "We're going to dinner tonight. Might have to have a few drinks, but I have to be ready to go tomorrow, so I can't get too wild."

Hill will start 10th in Sunday's Anduril 250 behind the wheel of the No. 33 RCR Chevrolet.