Kyle Busch's No. 8 won't be used by RCR after death, reserved for son Brexton

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Richard Childress Racing is changing the No. 8 NASCAR Cup Series Chevrolet car number to the No. 33 in the wake of Kyle Busch's death, the team announced on May 22.

Busch, 41, died on May 21 after being hospitalized with a severe illness. Busch was coughing up blood and had shortness of breath when emergency responders were requested at a General Motors facility in Concord, North Carolina on May 20, according to a 911 call obtained by USA TODAY.

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Austin Hill, an O'Reilly Auto Parts Series full-time driver with RCR, will fill in for the Coca-Cola 600 on May 24 at Charlotte.

"Richard Childress Racing has elected to suspend use of the No. 8 and will run the No. 33 at Charlotte Motor Speedway and beyond," RCR said in a statement on social media. "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."

RCR's statement notes that the No. 8 is "reserved and ready" for Busch's son Brexton when he is ready to race in NASCAR. Brexton Busch, 11, has been racing since age 5, currently driving legend and Jr. late model cars.

RCR made a similar move 25 years ago, when Dale Earnhardt's No. 3 was changed to No. 29 after Earnhardt's death as Kevin Harvick stepped into the car.

Richard Childress Racing runs two full-time Cup Series race teams and two O'Reilly Auto Parts Series race teams.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Kyle Busch dies, RCR will switch car to No. 33, save 8 for son Brexton

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