Brexton Busch Honors Father With Burnout in His NASCAR Cup Car

CONCORD, N.C. -- Brexton Busch, the 11-year-old son of NASCAR Cup Series legend Kyle Busch, closed out his father's celebration of life with a burnout in his car.

The younger Busch strapped into the No. 8 Lucas Oil Chevrolet his father won with at Auto Club Speedway in February of 2023 and did a burnout in the dogleg at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He then exited the car, wearing his helmet and firesuit, grabbed the checkered flag and bowed while standing on the roof of the car. His mother, Samantha, and his sister, Lennix, embraced him to close out the ceremony for the patriarch of their family.

The NASCAR community gathered Friday night for the free ceremony that happened after the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race ended at the 1.5-mile track. The race itself proved to be a tribute to Busch, with four throwback schemes honoring him. 

Several of Busch's most defining cars, including his 2015 and 2019 Cup championship-winning cars and his 2009 NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series championship-winning car, lined the frontstretch in front of a stage where the ceremony took place.

Mike Joy emceed the night and sat down with Kyle's brother -- 2004 Cup Series champion Kurt Busch -- and current Cup drivers Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, Noah Gragson and Daniel Suarez. They shared stories and remembered Busch's life with stories that generated laughter and nostalgia.

Busch's former team owner, Joe Gibbs also spoke at the podium. Then, the night reached its fever pitch when Samantha Busch spoke and tearfully thanked people saying she wished Kyle could've seen how they attended and tuned in on TV. Finally, she introduced Brexton, prompting him to drive out in the No. 8 car. 

Busch earned 234 NASCAR national series wins with 63 in the NASCAR Cup Series, 102 in the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series and 69 in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. His last NASCAR national series win was in a Truck race in May at Dover Motor Speedway, just six days before his untimely death at age 41.

Since Busch's death, Richard Childress Racing tabbed Austin Hill to take over the renumbered No. 33 car. Hill will drive the No. 33 car in 2027. 

Bristol Motor Speedway and Las Vegas Motor Speedway were each host to elaborate tributes to honor the driver at the tracks where he saw the most illustrious success in his career -- and called home.