“Keep Your Mouth Shut!” Kyle Petty Blasts Kyle Busch for Threatening Denny Hamlin

Ex-NASCAR driver Kyle Petty has shared his thoughts on the drama involving ex-Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin.

“Keep Your Mouth Shut!” Kyle Petty Blasts Kyle Busch for Threatening Denny Hamlin

Denny Hamlin, Kyle Petty and Kyle Busch (Via IMAGO)

The NASCAR Cup garage witnessed two ex-teammates beefing during the Kansas race weekend. RCR’s Kyle Busch, who misunderstood JGR’s Denny Hamlin’s criticism of his form as bashing threatened payback on the track. This has attracted blowback from many in the racing community.

Former racer Kyle Petty didn’t like the attitude show by the two times Cup champion. He highlighted that the No:8 Chevy driver has no legs to stand if he can’t outrun his teammate Austin Dillon, asserting whatever the No:11 Toyota driver said was on point. The JGR racer said what everyone in the racing community feels.

If you can’t beat your teammate, keep your mouth shut. That’s how simple it is. Because you’re getting beat internally. You’re getting beat at the shop. You’re just getting beat… I don’t think Denny bashed him. I thought Denny was fair in his assessment. I thought everything Denny said was fair. It’s what everybody else is thinking, and Denny’s exactly right.

Kyle Petty said on his podcast.

One key defense Denny Hamlin made about his criticism that as a podcaster, he is obliged to be truthful with the fans. Kyle Petty support this claim highlighting how criticism is part of the show and pointed out that the majority in the NASCAR community knows what the 23XI Racing co-owner said was on point as Kyle Busch is not living up to his standard.

Denny has a podcast. Now, if you have a podcast, you’re going to have to sack up and take some criticism every now and then, I will say that. But Denny has a podcast, and race fans are smart enough that you cannot BS them. They watch this 8-car run every week. They watch what it does. They understand what it’s out there doing.

Kyle Petty added via NASCAR Inside the Race.

Kevin Harvick also called out Kyle Busch over Denny Hamlin comments

2014 NASCAR Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick also shared his thoughts on the controversy via his own podcast. He pointed out that Hamlin’s comments were on point, but at the same time he understands the No:8 Chevy drivers’ frustration.

Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch
Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch (Via IMAGO)

I didn’t take Denny’s comments as bad. If I was Kyle, I would have taken them how Kyle took them. I’d have been pissed. I’d have probably run him over on the racetrack at some point, like we did at Dover way back when. But I react differently to things. I like both the guys now. I like Denny Hamlin and I like Kyle Busch. But 2006? Probably would have smashed him.

Kevin Harvick said on Happy Hour podcast.

Further talking about the drama, he pointed out that Hamlin made the right analysis of Busch’s team, considering they haven’t been anywhere close to the level they should perform. He also admitted that everyone in the community including him aggress that the champion driver is struggling and needs to get back to winning form for the good of the sport.

I think that Denny delivered it pretty bluntly on his podcast. I think he gave a little more in-depth of what he thinks of Kyle on the pre-race show and the things that he said. And, look, the situation with Kyle is tough, with where they are from a performance standpoint. Denny also said the exact same thing that we all think: We want to see Kyle Busch win. Kyle Busch winning is good for the sport.

Kevin Harvick added.

The comments from Kevin Harvick and Kyle Petty, shows the big names of the sport is behind Hamlin the in the controversy, though they understand Busch’s frustration. It would be interesting to see how everything is going to playout for the duo in the coming race weeks on the track.

Also Read: Kyle Busch Reveals RCR Was Caught “Cheating Without Cheating” in 2023