Denny Hamlin pays tribute to Kyle Busch after tying him on all-time list

On May 21, 2026, NASCAR lost an icon of the sport when Kyle Busch, just days after completing his final win in the Craftsman Truck Series at the Monster Mile in Dover. Reports came out earlier that day stating that Busch was hospitalized, only for his illness to progress rather rapidly. And on Sunday, his former teammate at Joe Gibbs Racing, Denny Hamlin, paid tribute to his legacy after securing a Cup Series win at Michigan.

Hamlin was the most dominant driver on Sunday and he had the most dominant car, waltzing to the finish line at Michigan. Prior to even crossing the finish line as the winner, Hamlin was already showing plenty of love towards his late former teammate. After securing the victory, Hamlin celebrated by holding a Busch tribute flag.

“We love you, KB.”

Denny Hamlin wins at Michigan and ties Kyle Busch with 63 career NASCAR Cup Series wins (9th all-time). pic.twitter.com/LT7NGsuThn

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) June 7, 2026

Denny Hamlin celebrates with a Kyle Busch tribute flag after tying him on the all-time wins list. pic.twitter.com/Zv0eCmN0uy

— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) June 7, 2026

Busch had previously won at Michigan in the Cup Series all the way back in 2011. Rowdy has four total wins at this circuit in his NASCAR career, recording two wins at the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and one at the Truck Series.

Hamlin told Jeff Gluck of The Athletic that he was already planning this tribute for Busch last Monday, collaborating with Busch’s final team before his passing, Richard Childress Racing, to borrow the font for the 8 car he drove last during the NASCAR All-Star Race. (Hamlin won that race.)

He then combined the RCR 8 with the JGR 1 to honor Busch’s illustrious stint in the Cup Series, as Busch truly came into his own as a dominant force in NASCAR’s top series after he joined JGR in 2008, joining Hamlin’s team.

Busch has two NASCAR Cup Series championships to his name, which is two more than Hamlin has. Hamlin has come close to winning a Cup plenty of times, but his pursuit continues. Hamlin has now tied Busch’s total for career Cup Series victories, with 63. The driver of the number 11 JGR vehicle is currently in second place in the Cup Series standings behind Tyler Reddick.

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