After spending the vast majority of the first decade of his life racing in cars his size, 10-year-old Brexton Busch will take his first laps behind the wheel of a full-size Stock Car during the 2026 season.
The son of two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch will compete in the JR Late Model division at Madera Speedway in California, one of the most notable developmental pathways into NASCAR for young drivers.
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To compete in this class, drivers must be at least 10 years old and no more than 16 years old. The class uses a GM 602 crate engine which produces approximately 350 horsepower before being restricted to junior competition. The cars are also placed on an 8-inch Hoosier 970 tire to teach the craft of racing.
The young Busch spent his early years racing on dirt, alongside his father, in Micro Sprints but before that in Outlaw Karts. He also made his road debut in a Legends car at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May, where he won his fifth start in the Charger class.
Busch won the INEX Bandolero Bandits National Championship with 23 wins and 28 podiums in 2025.
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In the Madera JR Late Model division, Busch will drive a No. 18 owned by Charlie Wilson.
“Brexton has shown that it knows how to win in everything it does,” Wilson said in a press release. “We are excited to welcome him to our Junior Late Model program at Madera Speedway. This series is widely considered the most competitive Junior Late Model division in the United States. Over the years, many of the drivers I have raced against in this series have gone on to become Pro Late Model, ARCA and NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series champions. It’s a proven path and we can’t wait to see what Brexton can do.”
In total, Busch won 150 races, including a Golden Driller in the prestigious Tulsa Shootout in the JR Sprint division as a prelude to the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals.
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“I’m really excited to get started with Wilson Motorsports and race at Madera Speedway,” Busch said. “This is a big step for me, and I know the competition will be tough every time we hit the track. I’m ready to learn, work hard and make the most of this opportunity. A huge thank you to my partners SERVPRO, Lucas Oil, Starkist, Morgan & Morgan Sport Clips, Pristine Auctions OBX Chevrolet and everyone who makes this possible.”
2026 Madera Speedway Jr. Late Model Schedule:
March 14
April 11
May 16
June 13
July 11
August 22
September 19
October 10
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