BROOKLYN, Mich. — NASCAR team owner Richard Childress sat at the Michigan International Speedway interview table by himself. Kyle Busch was supposed to be sitting next to him.In addressing reporters for the first time since Busch’s shocking death on May 21, Childress said the Saturday media session at Michigan was originally supposed to be an announcement of Busch’s contract extension for next season.The driver and owner had spoken two nights before Busch died, Childress said, with Busch expressing optimism that Richard Childress Racing’s speed had turned around.“You give me cars like you gave me the last three weeks and I will make the Chase this year,” Busch said, according to Childress.“That’s the tough part about today,” Childress said. “Walking in here, I was thinking of what if he and I were walking in together instead of being here talking (alone) and thanking the media for y’all’s support.”Childress said RCR O’Reilly Series driver Austin Hill will drive Busch’s car — changed from the No. 8 to the No. 33 — in the Cup Series for the rest of this season.RCR also changed the number of its car in 2001 after the late Hall of Fame driver Dale Earnhardt Sr. was killed in a last-lap crash at the Daytona 500 that year. Earnhardt’s No. 3 car was changed to a No. 29 for new driver Kevin Harvick, and the No. 3 remained retired until Austin Dillon, Childress’ grandson, made it to the Cup Series.“You lose two of the greatest drivers that’s ever driven a car in NASCAR and have to go through it again,” Childress said. “I just feel so, so bad for the family and the employees and everybody. I haven’t slept very good lately; I’ll leave it at that.”The No. 8 will be reserved for Busch’s 11-year-old son Brexton should he ever choose to use it — whether that’s with RCR or another team, Childress clarified.Childress emphasized that he does not want to put any pressure on Brexton and compared the situation to the pressure on Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2001.A private funeral was held Tuesday for Busch, and Brexton was one of the speakers. Childress said watching Brexton on Tuesday was “incredible” and called him “a bright young man and a great little race driver.”“He’ll carry the Busch legacy for many years to come,” Childress said.Childress and Busch had similar personalities, and Childress joked that others had told him that the main difference between the two of them was “one’s got an accent, and the other doesn’t.” The one-time foes became a pairing who went hunting together and “built a friendship,” Childress said.What haunts Childress now, he said, is the similarities between listening to Earnhardt Sr.’s future plans and Busch’s future plans for their respective sons.“Sitting and talking to Kyle at different times, knowing his plans and what he had in the future for him and Brexton and his family, the many things we all did together, was probably the toughest part of this whole thing,” he said.Childress’ comments come one day after Busch’s wife, Samantha, made a public statement on social media for the first time since her husband’s death.“The love that has surrounded our family during this unimaginable time has brought comfort in the middle of so much pain,” she wrote. “Knowing the impact Kyle had on others and seeing how they are honoring him through each unique act of generosity is a true testament to how special Kyle is to so many people.“There are moments when the weight of this loss feels impossible to carry, yet time and time again God, through you all, has shown us we are not alone.”