RCR Confirms Austin Hill for No. 33 Ride Following Busch’s Death

Richard Childress Racing has formally appointed Austin Hill to drive the No. 33 car for the remainder of the NASCAR Cup Series season. The announcement, made by team owner Richard Childress during a press conference on Saturday, resolves the immediate uncertainty regarding the full-time driver for the team’s primary entry following the sudden death of Kyle Busch.

Hill, aged 32, will compete in a double-duty schedule, running races in both the Cup Series and the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. With the NASCAR season less than halfway complete, the 32-year-old driver is set to participate in more Cup races in 2026 than in any previous season in his career.

The decision follows a period of significant transition for the organisation. Hill had already driven the No. 33 car in the first race following Busch’s death on Thursday, 21 May 2026, with the expectation that he would remain in the ride. Busch, a two-time Cup Series champion, died at the age of 41 after being hospitalised for a severe illness. A joint statement from NASCAR, the Busch family, and Richard Childress Racing described Busch as a "rare talent" and a "future Hall of Famer".

Childress revealed that the team had a contract extension in place with Busch prior to his passing and had intended to announce it ahead of this weekend’s race in Michigan. He noted that the team is navigating a transition comparable to the passing of Dale Earnhardt decades earlier, as they attempt to move forward while the NASCAR community reels from the loss.

While the appointment secures the No. 33 car for the rest of the current season, it leaves the identity of RCR’s second full-time Cup Series driver for the 2027 season undetermined. Childress indicated that Hill’s performance in the remaining races may influence his long-term future with the team, but the immediate focus remains on stabilising the roster for the remainder of the 2026 campaign.