Kyle Busch's No. 8 won't be raced at Charlotte, number reserved for son Brexton

Richard Childress Racing announced Friday that Kyle Busch's No. 8 will not be raced this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway or in the foreseeable future in the wake of Busch's death on Thursday. 

Austin Hill will instead drive the No. 33 RCR Chevy in Sunday's Coca-Cola 600 in a move mirroring what RCR did after the death of Dale Earnhardt in 2001. Earnhardt's No. 3 was painted white and re-numbered to 29 as Kevin Harvick stepped in to drive.

"Richard Childress Racing has elected to suspend use of the No. 8 and will run the No. 33 at Charlotte Motor Speedway and beyond," the organization said in a statement. "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. 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."

Kyle Busch's son, Brexton, is an up-and-coming racer

Busch drove for Richard Childress Racing from 2023 until his final NASCAR race at Dover Motor Speedway on May 17. His son, Brexton, who turned 11 on May 18, is currently an up-and-coming racer with a potential NASCAR career ahead of him. 

It makes all the sense in the world for his late father's number to be reserved for him — and only for him — when he makes the jump to the national series of NASCAR. 

Brexton Busch was given a ceremonial contract with RCR at the age of 7 when his father signed with the team in 2022.