By Jacob Seelman, SWN News Editor

CONCORD, N.C. (May 22, 2026) – Just as it did in 2001, Richard Childress Racing is suspending the use of one of its familiar car numbers to permanently honor a NASCAR legend.

Announced Friday afternoon, ahead of Sunday’s 67th Coca-Cola 600, RCR has changed its No. 8 NASCAR Cup Series entry – driven by the late Kyle Busch, who passed away shockingly and unexpectedly on Thursday – to the No. 33, effective immediately.

Austin Hill will take over in what was to be Busch’s Coke 600 ride Sunday night, carrying the No. 33 rather than the No. 8 that Busch piloted to his final three Cup Series victories at RCR and had run since joining the organization in 2023.

RCR also noted that the No. 8 will only return to the track if Busch’s son Brexton, currently 11 years old, wants to one day utilize that number in Cup Series competition should he reach the top level of the sport.

“Richard Childress Racing has elected to suspend use of the No. 8 and will run the No. 33 at Charlotte Motor Speedway and beyond,” read the team’s 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.”

Friday’s move is eerily similar to the circumstances following NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt’s death on the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500, a quarter century ago and the last time an active driver’s passing sent the kind of seismic ripple effect through the sport that Busch’s has.

After Earnhardt’s passing, RCR changed its No. 3 to the No. 29 for Kevin Harvick, who replaced the seven-time Cup Series champion. RCR only returned the No. 3 to active competition in 2014, when team owner Richard Childress’ grandson Austin Dillon ascended to the Cup level and took over the car.

Notably, this means that both car numbers Busch made iconic during his Cup Series career will be off the racetrack, as the No. 18 that he drove at Joe Gibbs Racing has remained idle since Busch’s departure from that organization.