Brexton Busch is back behind the wheel.
The 11-year-old son of NASCAR champion Kyle Busch returned to the racetrack on June 3, taking practice laps at Charlotte Motor Speedway ahead of the CookOut Summer Shootout Legend Car Series event.
The appearance marked Brexton’s first time back on track since the death of his father nearly two weeks earlier. Kyle Busch died on May 21 after a battle with pneumonia that developed into sepsis.
Brexton’s return came on the same day family members gathered for a private memorial service honoring the NASCAR star. A public memorial is expected to take place later this year.
NASCAR Community Continues Honoring Kyle Busch’s Legacy
Following Busch’s death, his family, Richard Childress Racing, and NASCAR released a joint statement remembering one of the sport’s most accomplished drivers.
“On behalf of the Busch family, everyone at Richard Childress Racing and all of NASCAR, we are devastated to announce the sudden and tragic passing of Kyle Busch,” the statement read.
“Our entire NASCAR family is heartbroken by the loss of Kyle Busch. A future Hall of Famer, Kyle was a rare talent, one who comes along once in a generation. He was fierce, he was passionate, he was immensely skilled and he cared deeply about the sport and fans.”
Busch leaves behind one of the most successful careers in NASCAR history.
Over 762 Cup Series starts, he recorded 63 victories and won championships in 2015 and 2019. Across NASCAR’s three national touring series, Busch amassed 234 victories.
His final NASCAR victory came one week before his death when he dominated a Truck Series race at Dover, leading 147 laps on the way to victory.
Busch also holds the all-time wins record in both the NASCAR Xfinity Series with 102 victories and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with 69 wins.
Richard Childress Racing Makes Decision on No. 8 Car
One day after Busch’s death, Richard Childress Racing announced a significant decision involving the No. 8 car.
The organization revealed that it would temporarily retire the number and use No. 33 moving forward.
“Richard Childress Racing has elected to suspend use of the No. 8 and will run the No. 33 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 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 statement ended with a promise directed toward Busch’s son.
“The No. 8 is reserved and ready for Brexton Busch when he is ready to go NASCAR racing.”
Kyle Busch Had Already Been Guiding Brexton’s Racing Career
Brexton has been building his own racing resume for several years.
Kyle frequently spent time at tracks across the country supporting his son’s development in Bandoleros, Micro Sprints, Go-Karts, and Legend Cars. Earlier this year, father and son even competed against each other at the Tulsa Shootout.
Speaking on Denny Hamlin’s “Actions Detrimental” podcast in 2025, Busch outlined the long-term plan for Brexton’s future in racing.
“I don’t think there is a right path,” Busch said.
“He’s getting more into the Legend Car right now as well. He turns 10, he can’t race a Legend Car until he turns 10.”
Busch explained that he wanted his son to gain experience on both dirt and pavement.
“When he turns 12 it will be Late Model stuff, getting him into Dirt Late Models and getting him into Pavement Late Models,” he said. “I’d like to keep him on both, just learning that sense of all the different vehicles that you can drive.”
Busch also pointed to NASCAR champion Kyle Larson as an example of the versatility he hoped Brexton would develop.
“I just look at Kyle, tiny Kyle,” Busch said. “I just look at the things that he can do on dirt any given time. He can go run NASCAR on Sunday and go run a Sprint Car on Monday and win in it.”
NASCAR rules would allow him to compete in the Truck Series at age 16 and the Cup Series at age 18.
