“Kurt did what we asked him to do… he’s been a great teammate with Bubba,” Denny Hamlin on the impact of Kurt Busch at 23X1 Racing
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Denny Hamlin and Kurt Busch
23X1 Racing, the ambitious NASCAR project of Basketball legend Michael Jordan and NASCAR veteran Denny Hamlin, made a solid investment at the start of 2022 by bringing in Kurt Busch to their NO:45 car as a teammate to Bubba Wallace in the new campaign with the Next-Gen car.
Kurt Busch was assigned the task of adding a new flare and dimension to the still young team along with mentoring Bubba Wallace in the cup scene. The veteran did just that and also brought glory to the 23X1 team by winning the Kansas cup race earlier this season before he was forced to keep away from racing due to the concussion-like symptoms he suffering due to the Pocono crash.
Since then Ty Gibbs has been the substitute driver as the team awaits his return to the No:23 car after Bubba Wallace took over the No:45 car before the playoffs. In his recent interview at Kansas playoff race team partial owner, Denny Hamlin has come forth expressing his thoughts on the veteran’s recruitment and his return.
Find out what Denny Hamlin said
Denny Hamlin when asked about how it feels to field two cars with Kurt Busch in one of them in 2022 acknowledged that the veteran has helped the team a lot and has been a great teammate to Bubba Wallace. He added that the team has added some efficiency with the addition of the second car which they can increase by adding one more.
“I think it’s been good going to two. Certainly, Kurt (Busch) did what we asked him to do coming into this year and he’s been a great teammate with Bubba (Wallace) and I think it helped us share some resources. Certainly, there has been some efficiencies gained from one to two with personnel,” Denny Hamlin said.
Denny Hamlin went on to say that he didn’t see any negatives when the plan was to expand to two rides. He pointed out that Kurt Busch was the catalyst for them to have a second car and having such an experience persona with the team really helps to evaluate the team well.
“So I think that certainly there are positives to it, I don’t see any negatives going to two from one, but we really like the addition of Kurt and that was really the catalyst for us starting a second is having someone like Kurt as a great veteran and mentor and really evaluate how is our team,” Denny Hamlin added.
Denny Hamlin went on to say that Kurt Busch helped him to concentrate on both his JGR team No:11 and the 23X1 Racing team at the same time with his presence. He added that he wants Kurt Busch back in the No:45 car this year and the Next-Year unless he wants t to retire from the sport.
“I’m so focused on the 11 car and what I need to do to make my team better that I can’t really take time off to see how they’re operating over there so Kurt’s really been the person that’s really helped with that. I think it’s been really good and obviously, we really hope to have him back in the 45 car this year and next year and we plan on Kurt running unless he tells you all otherwise,” Denny Hamlin Explained.
What are your thoughts on Denny Hamlin’s words?
Also read: Austin Dillon claims to be “the underdog” in the 2022 playoff grid
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Justin P Joy
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