NASCAR team owner Richard Childress has explained his team's decision to suspend the use of the stylized No. 8 used by Kyle Busch in recent seasons.
Richard Childress Racing confirmed that they would no longer use the number in an official statement following Busch's death on May 21, instead choosing to keep it in reserve for Kyle's son, Brexton, when he is ready to go NASCAR racing.
Brexton is just 11 years old but an avid racer in his own right, having begun his racing career at the age of five in the Beginner Box Stock division at Millbridge Speedway.
It took young Brexton just one month to pick up his first-ever victory, which came at Mountain Creek Speedway, and since then, the accolades have continued to rack up. That includes winning his first career Golden Driller at the Tulsa Shootout Jr. Sprint Championship in January 2025.
More recently, Brexton has begun to run in Jr. Late Models, making his Jr. Late Model debut at Madera Speedway, California, back in March.
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Richard Childress on suspending Kyle Busch No. 8 use
Speaking to the media at Michigan this weekend, Childress opened up on why he decided to reserve the No. 8 for Brexton in the future, and clarified that it was never meant to put any pressure on his shoulders to become a NASCAR racer.
“Kyle designed that style of the No. 8. It was never to put any pressure on him (Brexton) to run the No. 8, but it's there for him," Childress said.
"It’s stylized. We have the stylized number registered or patented, however they do it, and we saved it for Brexton if he ever comes and says, ‘Hey, I'm going to go drive for Rick Hendrick and I want to use that 8’.
"That's what I was saying, we're saving that stylized No. 8 for him if he wants to run it in the future.”
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Richard Childress on Brexton Busch's future
Asked what RCR and the racing community can do to support Brexton as he continues his racing journey without his father, Childress referenced Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his career following the loss of Dale Sr. in 2001.
“I think just showing him the respect and trying not to put more pressure on him, just like Dale Earnhardt Jr," he explained.
"I think that he's got a great future. That kid can drive a racecar. Personally and mentally, watching him last Tuesday was incredible.
"He's just a bright young man and a great little racecar driver. He'll carry the Busch legacy for many years to come.”
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