Richard Childress Racing retires Kyle Busch’s No. 8, saves it for his son
Racing community mourns the death of Kyle Busch: ‘It’s hard to understand’
Two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch has died suddenly at the age of 41, Fox News reports. The motorsport world is shocked and saddened by his unexpected death. Known for his fierce competitive spirit, Busch leaves a deep legacy in racing that is carried on by his wife, Samantha, and their two children. His colleagues remember him as a skilled driver and a kind individual.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
The motorsports world is still reeling from the sudden and tragic death of NASCAR superstar and two-time Cup Series champion Kyle Busch.
Now his team, Richard Childress Racing, has announced that it will not field a driver in Busch’s No. 8 car.
But they will have him on hand when his son decides to step into NASCAR.
NASCAR, RACE WORLD REACTS TO THE SHOCK DEATH OF 41-YEAR-OLD KYLE BUSCH: ‘I CANNOT UNDERSTAND THIS NEWS’
Kyle Busch’s No. 8 was retired by Richard Childress Racing until his son was ready to drive it. (Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images)
Busch reportedly collapsed in the racing simulator on Wednesday and was taken to an area hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina. On Thursday, it was announced that he would not race in the Coca-Cola 600 this weekend, but news broke a few hours later that he had died.
On Friday, RCR announced its plans for Busch’s number.
“Richard Childress Racing has chosen to suspend use of the No. 8 track and will race at the No. 33 track at Charlotte Motor Speedway and beyond,” the team said in a statement. “Kyle Busch was instrumental in the design of RCR’s stylized No. 8 and has become synonymous with Kyle and an important symbol to fans and the NASCAR industry. No one can take it to the level he did.
“The No. 8 is reserved and ready for Brexton Busch, who is ready to go in a NASCAR race.”
ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. GET THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!
No. 8 Region Watermelon x Circle K Chevrolet driver Kyle Busch is unveiled ahead of the NASCAR Cup Series Würth 400 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas on May 3, 2026. (James Gilbert/Getty Images)
Busch joins RCR in 2023 after spending the previous 15 years with Joe Gibbs Racing. While on the move, he jumped into the No. 8 car, which, as the team noted, became synonymous with him.
This is an incredibly classy move from RCR, but unfortunately an unprecedented one.
The team did something similar after Dale Earnhardt was killed on the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500. His iconic No. 3 was sidelined and replaced with the No. 29, driven by Kevin Harvick and using a paint scheme reversed from Earnhardt’s legendary black paint.
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FOX NEWS APPLICATION
The No. 3 was brought back when Austin Dillon, grandson of Richard Childress, who had been Busch’s teammate since joining RCR, replaced Harvick on the team in 2014.
