Austin Hill will drive the Chevrolet number 33 of Richard Childress Racing again this weekend in the NASCAR Cup Series during the race in Nashville, in replacement of the legendary Kyle Busch, who has recently passed away.
After a week marked by mourning, Hill made his debut behind the wheel of this vehicle during the Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte. In an atmosphere of reflection and sadness, the car’s entry number was changed to 33 in respect for Busch’s legacy.
The weekend began with an emotional ceremony in the garage, where Hill’s number 33 car and Austin Dillon’s number 3 car were prepared together for the competition. The Busch family was present during the race to participate in a tribute that included a performance of Amazing Grace with bagpipes.
In his debut with the number 33, Hill finished the race in 27th place, one lap behind the leader, marking his 18th start in the NASCAR Cup Series. It’s important to note that Hill has never competed in Nashville at the Cup level, although he has respectable experience with a fourth place finish as his best result in the O’Reilly Series at this location.
For the upcoming race in Nashville, 38 entrants have registered, including names like Chad Finchum with number 66 and Corey Heim with number 67. This situation promises to be a challenge for Hill, who seeks to take advantage of the opportunity to honor Kyle Busch with a standout performance.