Denny Hamlin Demands NASCAR to “Use Common-Sense” Amidst Demand to Penalize Kyle Busch

The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway was another wild night to forget for Kyle Busch. During the race, the No:8 Richard Childress Racing Chevy found himself in an aggressive battle with No:42 Toyota of Legacy Motor Club. The two times Cup champion got furious with John Hunter Nemecheck making some riskier moves.

He took revenge by running the TRD car to the outside wall, ruining the LMC drivers’ day. A furious JHN called out Busch with a public post on social media and in response, the veteran used SMT data and defended himself. Joe Gibbs Racing veteran Denny Hamlin analysed the incident on the latest episode of his podcast, assessed the possibility of his ex-teammate getting penalized.

It just was not in a very good position no matter what. And then yeah, I mean he lost his sh*t going into Turn 3, clearly…I don’t know. Does NASCAR just kind of use their common-sense judgment? Or do they say, ‘Well, there’s just not enough evidence.’

Denny Hamlin said on his podcast.

Kyle Busch move on John Hunter Nemecheck was deliberate and it is similar to the move that got Denny Hamlin penalized, involving Ross Chastain in the past. The JGR driver got in trouble because he publicly admitted it and the RCR driver did the same, not to the same extent, by making the post on X about the incident that left a lot of interpretation.

When I said that I washed (Ross) Chastain up into the wall I got a point fine and things like that. But in the end, it was because I said it…I don’t know that Kyle’s refuting it, but he’s also not saying that, ‘Yeah, I took (him out).’ In so many words he is, ‘You started it…’ and then left the ending unsaid.

Denny Hamlin added via Actions Detrimental.

Further talking about the point, the 23XI Racing driver pointed out that NASCAR should not enforce their rules over driver penalties by looking at how fans react on social media and should use their common-sense to judge the Busch drama. He reiterated that the move made by the veteran is a faster track like Texas was clearly questionable.

I hate to say it, it’s a stupid sport if you just depend on like what people say to make rules, official calls. That’s silly. You should just use common sense usually. But it was not a good situation. This track is fast, and yeah, just not ideal. That was not recommended.

Denny Hamlin asserted.

Denny Hamlin declares a penalty won’t matter for Kyle Busch

Later in the same conversation, the Joe Gibbs Racing veteran admitted that any penalty coming the way of Kyle Busch is pointless. He is capable of simply paying off any major fine that come his way and any points deduction wont matter for the team, as it will have limited significance in the long-run.

Yeah, well you made a rule and you stuck to it, so I feel good that they are consistent, but in the end, it’s not going to affect anything. It’s not going to affect the playoff runs. He’s got enough of a wallet to where whatever the fine is it’s not a big deal to him. It just, to me, it just was not a great look.

Denny Hamlin said.

It would be interesting to see how everything is going to playout for the star driver in the coming days, involving the penalty. The fans would most probably be okay with Kyle Busch gets a slap in the wrist or to just walk free.

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