Austin HillAssumes Kyle Busch’s No. 33 Chevrolet for NASCAR Cup Race at Nashville

Richard Childress Racing announced that Austin Hill will again drive Kyle Busch’s NASCAR Cup Series entry following the late NASCAR legend’s death.

During a somber, rain‑soaked weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Hill took the wheel of the Cup car for the Coca‑Cola 600 while the garage mourned Busch’s passing. RCR halted the use of the No. 8 entry and re‑assigned the car to the No. 33 for the event.

Austin Hill Honors Kyle Busch in His No. 33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Photo by: Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The weekend opened with a solemn garage ceremony, during which Austin Dillon’s No. 33 and No. 3 cars were unloaded first while the rest of the field observed. On race day, the Busch family joined a pre‑race tribute that featured a bagpipe rendition of “Amazing Grace.”

With no sponsor name displayed above the door and a black No. 8 decal placed beside the No. 33, Hill entered NASCAR’s longest race. Competing full‑time in the NASCAR O’Reilly Series, he finished one lap down in 27th place, marking his 18th Cup Series start.

Hill has never competed in a Cup race at Nashville, and his highest finish at the Cup level is ninth at the Chicago Street Course last summer. He recorded a fourth‑place finish at Nashville in the O’Reilly Series and a ninth‑place finish in the Trucks.

The Nashville Cup race features a total of 38 entries, including open entries Chad Finchun (No. 66, Garage 66 Ford) and Corey Heim (No. 67, 23XI Racing Toyota).

Tribute to Kyle Busch

Photo by: David Jensen / Getty Images

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