Story By Matthew Thomerson/TheFourthTurn.com
CONCORD, NC – Brexton Busch, son of the late NASCAR driver Kyle Busch, has returned to action at Charlotte Motor Speedway following the passing of his father.
The younger Busch has already built quite a resume in his short racing career, winning nearly 50 races in 2025 across several divisions, and now he’s looking to add to it, under difficult circumstances.
The 11-year-old racer and his father became staples at racetracks around the country, with Kyle having Brexton race several different cars to help perfect his craft. Brexton most recently began racing in the 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series on the West Coast, against competition mostly older than he is.
With his father’s death, there was sure to be speculation on how quickly he would get back in the driver’s seat. Those questions were answered with photos on social media via Charlotte Motor Speedway showing Brexton racing a Legends Car on Tuesday in Cook Out Summer Shootout practice on the track’s quarter-mile oval. This came just hours after a private memorial service was held for his father. He is set to race in Round 1 of the Cook Out Summer Shootout on Monday, June 8.
Brexton is currently piloting a No. 18 car, but regardless of what he uses in the future, the stylized No. 8 driven by his father in the NASCAR Cup Series is now being suspended from use and reserved for whenever he decides to begin NASCAR racing. Richard Childress, the late Busch’s team owner since 2023, held a media availability Saturday where he spoke for the first time since his death and provided more insight on the team withholding the No. 8.
“Kyle designed that style of the No. 8,” Childress said. “It was never to put any pressure on him (Brexton) to run the No. 8, but it’s there for him. 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.”
Richard Childress Racing (RCR) decided to do something similar when Dale Earnhardt Sr. passed away in 2001, retiring the No. 3 and changing it to the No. 29 for the following race. The No. 3 eventually returned in 2014 for Childress’s grandson, Austin Dillon.
“In 2001, we didn’t have a number,” Childress said. “We had the 33 already, so we just figured we’d put it on it. Back then, I just told Bobby Hutchens, ‘call NASCAR and get the lowest number available, and it happened to be No. 29 when we put (Kevin) Harvick in it.”
Childress also talked about the future for Brexton and what it will take to help ensure he’s best suited for the future, regardless of what he pursues.
“I think just showing him the respect and trying not to put more pressure on him,” Childress said. “Just like Dale Earnhardt Jr. 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.”
Photo Credit: Jenson Neal/TheFourthTurn.com
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