Kevin Harvick Advises Austin Hill After Taking Over Kyle Busch’s RCR Seat

Kevin Harvick reached out to Austin Hill in the days after Kyle Busch’s death, offering quiet counsel as Hill prepared to take over the No. 8 car at Richard Childress Racing. The phone call came just before Hill’s first full-time start for RCR on May 24 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, a moment steeped in grief and legacy.

Kyle Busch died on May 21 from complications of pneumonia leading to sepsis. Within 72 hours, Richard Childress Racing named Austin Hill as his full-time replacement. Hill, who had driven the No. 33 in 12 Cup Series races since 2022, chose to keep that number instead of inheriting Busch’s iconic No. 8. He also pushed back against putting his name on the car, insisting it remain blank to honor Busch’s memory.

Harvick, who took over Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s No. 3 car at RCR in 2001 after Earnhardt’s fatal crash at Daytona, was the only driver Hill felt could truly understand the weight of the moment. Hill called him first. They spoke for over an hour. Harvick didn’t offer racing tips-he emphasized humility. "I didn’t want it to be about me at all," Hill recalled, echoing Harvick’s own mindset two decades prior.

Hill didn’t just change the car number-he resisted having his name on the livery. He argued that the car still belonged to Busch, not him. RCR eventually agreed to leave the driver name off for the remainder of the season. The No. 8 will be reserved for Busch’s 11-year-old son, Brexton, when he’s ready. Harvick had done the same in 2001, switching from his own No. 29 to Earnhardt’s No. 3, then later retiring the number.

Hill’s first race with RCR was at Charlotte on May 24. His best finish came at Pocono Raceway on June 18, where he placed 18th in seven starts. He never sought attention. His focus remained on carrying Busch’s legacy, not building his own. Harvick’s advice, delivered in a private call, helped him stay grounded.

The No. 8 car will remain off-limits until Brexton Busch is old enough to compete. RCR has not announced a timeline. Hill will continue driving the No. 33 for the rest of the season. Harvick’s role as a silent mentor endures-not through headlines, but through the quiet example he set in 2001, and the call he made in May 2026.