Kyle Busch's 11-year-old son pays heartbreaking tribute as RCR reveals plan for dad's No.8 car

The son of two-time NASCAR champion Kyle Busch has touchingly paid tribute to his late father after his untimely death earlier this week.

The motorsport world has been left stunned by the 41-year-old star's sudden passing on Thursday (21 May). According to his loved ones, he experienced a 'severe illness'.

The news of his death was announced just hours after representatives for the Las Vegas-born racer revealed he had been rushed to hospital. His cause of death has not currently been disclosed.

Busch's family released a joint statement alongside NASCAR and Richard Childress Racing, saying they had been left 'heartbroken' while describing him as a 'rare talent'.

"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," it said.

"A future Hall of Famer, Kyle was a rare talent, one who comes along once in a generation."

It went on to say: "He was fierce, he was passionate, he was immensely skilled and he cared deeply about the sport and fans.

"His sharp wit and competitive spirit sparked a deep emotional connection with race fans of every age, creating the proud and loyal ‘Rowdy Nation. NASCAR lost a giant of the sport today, far too soon.

"During this incredibly difficult time, we ask everyone to respect the family’s privacy and continue to keep them in your thoughts and prayers. Further updates will be shared as appropriate."

Busch, who had been in the Cup Series since 2004, is survived by his 39-year-old wife Samantha, 11-year-old son Brexton and his four-year-old daughter Lennix.

The father-of-two leaves behind an incredible legacy, with NASCAR explaining he had won two Cup Series titles and 63 races throughout his illustrious career on the track.

The motorsport organisation said of Busch: "His numbers across the other two national NASCAR series are record-setting, with 102 victories in what is now called the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and 69 wins in the Craftsman Truck Series.

"Busch drove for three Hall of Fame team owners in Cup, getting his start with Hendrick Motorsports as a heralded rookie in stock-car racing’s big leagues in 2005. He joined Joe Gibbs Racing in 2008, establishing a long-running partnership that made him the face of Toyota’s NASCAR endeavors. He spent the final stages of his career with Childress, arriving in 2023 and taking the reins of the No. 8 Chevrolet."

His young son Brexton - who kicked off his own racing career in 2020 - is now set to carry the torch for his dad.

He started competing when he was just five-years-old and bagged his first ever win just four weeks later, after triumphing at the Mountain Creek Speedway. He also won the coveted 'Golden Driller' trophy last year.

Brexton, who idolised his NASCAR star dad, subtly changed his Instagram profile picture in wake of Busch's death, which came just days after he turned 11.

It now features an image of them both sharing a tight embrace on the track.

The 11-year-old chose an image which he also used to mark his late dad's 41st birthday, which was just two weeks ago on 2 May.

You can see the image below:

Fans have been flooding the young lad's social media page with messages of condolence, with one writing: "You hold the torch now buddy...keep doing what you’re doing man...we’re here for ya."

Another said: "Sending prayers your way buddy. Your dad was one of the best to ever do it - a legend. And an even better dad. Keep making him proud!"

While a third added: "Your dad's legacy will live on forever. Go chase your dreams buddy, make your dad proud."

It has since been revealed that Busch's No. 8 Chevrolet has been retired in wake of his death - and it will instead be reserved for his 11-year-old son to use in the future.

Richard Childress Racing said it had 'elected to suspend use of the No. 8 and will run the No. 33 at Charlotte Motor Speedway and beyond' in a social media post.

"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," it explained.

"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."