Kyle Busch's Number Will Not Be Run After His Death

WELCOME, N.C. -- Richard Childress Racing will suspend the use of the No. 8 in the NASCAR Cup Series and save it for Brexton Busch, the son of Kyle Busch.

RCR announced the move Friday, electing to use the No. 33 at Charlotte Motor Speedway for Austin Hill "and beyond." 

RCR stylized the No. 8 for Busch when he signed a contract in 2022 to race for the team in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2023.

"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," the organization stated.

When Busch and team owner Richard Childress made the announcement in 2022, Childress presented with a contract for an option to drive for RCR in the future.

Brexton Busch just turned 11 years old this past Monday. He raced with his father on multiple occasions before his passing Thursday at age 41.

Busch's team will carry on with a number the organization has used before. They used the No. 33 on and off in the NASCAR Cup Series since the demise of Andy Petree Racing in 2003. Since 2004, it has often been used as the number for RCR's part-time entries but saw usage in full-time competition from 2009 to 2011 with Clint Bowyer. 

RCR has entered the No. 33 car into multiple Cup Series races this year with NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series drivers Austin Hill and Jesse Love. Hill will fill in for Busch and race the No. 33 again Sunday in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway while Love was slated to race the No. 33 in a third entry for the race before the team didn't enter the car for the race.

It's unclear what the long-term plans for the team are yet, beyond the move to use the No. 33 instead of the No. 8.

RCR made a similar move in February 2001 after the death of Dale Earnhardt. They suspended the use of the No. 3 car and only allowed Dale Earnhardt Jr. to use it before 2009 when team owner Richard Childress's grandson, Austin Dillon, started moving through the ranks in NASCAR and reached the Cup Series in 2014.