Denny Hamlin Declares NASCAR Needs “Kyle Busch Talking in The Third Person” Back After Reconciliation

Joe Gibbs Racing veteran Denny Hamlin found himself beefing with ex-teammate Kyle Busch recently after criticism of the RCR driver’s recent form. The back and forth from the public, especially from the No:8 drivers’ side, made it seem like the duo will soon have a massive fallout. But they seem to have buried the hatchet, as the Chevy driver get back performing on the elite level.

Talking on his podcast after the Dover All-Star race, where the RCR driver performed well, Hamlin was asked about the conversation the duo had about settling the beef. He revealed that they talked in the backstage where Busch playfully mocked his teammate by boasting about his Truck Series win on Friday and how he congratulated him for it.

I’m not getting into it. He gave me a… he said it in the back, he said it backstage and then he said it again on the stage. His little, this comment of, ‘I guess I still know how to do it.’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, that’s an awesome job, man. That’s a good job.’… I don’t know what to say. I said you’re on the Mount Rushmore of NASCAR drivers. I think it’s awesome.

Denny Hamlin said on his podcast.

He then shifted his focus on how Kyle Busch’s confidence has increased since he started performing better and highlighted how it is evident in the veteran talking to the media in third person. Denny Hamlin pointed out that NASCAR needs the veteran to be like that, as the two times champion dominated the sport in his peak years with that attitude.

Listen, we need to go back to Kyle Busch talking in the third person. That’s when you know his confidence is back. When I heard him in the media center talking about Kyle Busch, calling himself Kyle Busch, that’s the Kyle Busch we need. That’s the one we like to see. That’s the guy that’s got the confidence.

Denny Hamlin added via Actions Detrimental.

Denny Hamlin urges Kyle Busch to race more in lower divisions

The RCR driver has combined 220+ wins in NASCAR and 160+ came in the second and third division. His “bushwhacking” in the lower divisions even forced the sanctioning body to even vintage rules, limiting the number of races Cup regulars can run.  These races over the years helped the veteran to find the momentum to dominate Sunday.

He’s always been this way in my whole career/ He feeds off those Friday and Saturday races. It really, I believe, true in my heart of hearts, that he’s not going down there bushwhacking, trying to beat up on the young kids. I think it’s really good for him for the track time and I think it’s good for him on the mental state.

Denny Hamlin said.

The No:11 driver witnessed it first hand when they were teammates together at JGR. So, he believes the veteran needs to go back to consistently running more lower division races, which would benefit both him as well as the upcoming races.

I just, I’m very confident in that, only because I was teammates with him during the heyday of it… I think if this puts him on the track, back on the track of being competitive, I am for Kyle Busch running every Friday and Saturday race.

Denny Hamlin added.

The comments from the veteran are on point and something the RCR drivers needs to take into account when he schedules his future races. It would be interesting to see how the 2026 season is going to playout for the No:8 team in the coming weeks.

Also Read: “I Just Remembered How to Drive!” Kyle Busch Makes Painful Joke After Return to Form