Richard Childress finally broke his silence Saturday, and when he did, he didn't hold back. The Richard Childress Racing owner had a clear message for the NASCAR Hall of Fame: waive the waiting period and induct Kyle Busch right now.
"He'll go down as one of the greatest race car drivers that's ever been," Childress said during a press conference ahead of the FireKeepers Casino 400. "Put him in right away."
Busch, a two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, passed away unexpectedly last month, sending shockwaves through the racing world. Childress, who had been Busch's team owner and close friend, admitted the grief has been overwhelming.
"I haven't slept very good lately," Childress confessed. "I'll leave it at that."
Childress revealed that he had planned to announce Busch's return to Richard Childress Racing for the 2027 season alongside General Motors and Chevrolet. Instead, he used the moment to honor Busch's legacy and push for his spot in the Hall of Fame.
The call for immediate induction isn't just Childress's wish. Fans and fellow NASCAR figures have been clamoring for the Hall of Fame to fast-track Busch, arguing that his impact on the sport transcends the usual five-year retirement rule. With Busch's career cut tragically short, the sentiment is that an exception should be made.
Childress also announced that the iconic No. 8 car, which Busch made famous, will be informally retired. The team will switch to No. 33 as their primary number, reserving the stylized eight for Busch's 11-year-old son, Brexton.
"We're saving that stylized eight for him," Childress said. "For his future if he wants to run it."
Busch had often spoken about his dream of racing against Brexton in the NASCAR Truck Series one day. That dream now hangs in the balance, but Childress plans to keep the door open.
"Knowing his plans and what he had in the future for him and Brexton," Childress said, his voice heavy with emotion. "That is probably the toughest part of this whole thing."
The NASCAR community has rallied around the Busch family in the weeks since the tragedy. Drivers like Kyle Larson have made heartfelt donations to the Busch Family Foundation, and fans have shown an outpouring of support.
Childress's demand for a Hall of Fame induction adds to the growing chorus of voices calling for Busch to be enshrined without delay. Whether the Hall of Fame will bend its rules remains to be seen, but Childress made his position crystal clear.
"Put him in right away," he repeated. For a sport still reeling from the loss of one of its brightest stars, that sentiment feels less like a request and more like a tribute long overdue.
