The racing community was left in shock on Thursday as it was announced that Kyle Busch had passed away at the age of 41. Busch, who recently raced at Watkins Glen and won the Craftsman Truck Series race at Dover this past weekend, was scheduled to race twice in Charlotte, starting on Friday.
As fans and fellow drivers process the news, many are reacting to the death of Busch, including NASCAR legend Denny Hamlin, who posted on X, formerly Twitter.
“Absolutely cannot comprehend this news. We just need to think of his family during this time. We love you KB,” Hamlin posted.
Busch and Hamlin are two of the most successful drivers of their generation. Busch won 63 times on the Cup Series, while Hamlin has won 61. That places them ninth and tenth all-time in NASCAR Cup Series wins.
The two were once teammates as well. They raced together for Joe Gibbs Racing from 2008 through 2022. Hamlin is still with Joe Gibbs Racing, while Busch has moved on to Richard Childress Racing. Busch found initial success with his new team, winning three times in 2023. Still, he has not won a race since then, with his best finish this season being an eighth-place finish at Watkins Glen in his final race.
Recently, the two engaged in a public feud. Hamlin was critical of Busch and his team, questioning his ability to adapt to the Next-Gen Car, speaking on his podcast, Actions Detrimental.
“Clearly, RCR is not good right now. But you’re a Hall of Fame, Mount Rushmore driver. Carry it better than your teammate then. If you’re the greatest, then carry it better than your teammate who’s won 10 races [in his career]. Find a way. I think that that’s what he should be able to do. But it’s not happening. It’s time to be honest about what’s going on. I think he’s searching. I think that he doesn’t know how to get the speed out of the Next Gen car on a consistent basis,” Hamlin said.
Busch responded quickly.
“In this instance, I don’t feel like Denny Hamlin even knows what he’s talking about. He can bash me all he wants, and I can certainly make his life hell,” Busch noted.
Still, despite the feud, there was a mutual respect between the two drivers. Now, Hamlin mourns the loss of Busch as he prepares for Sunday at the Coca-Cola 600.
The post NASCAR legend Denny Hamlin shares devastated reaction to Kyle Busch’s passing appeared first on ClutchPoints.
