The 2024 NASCAR season has been a rough ride for two-time Cup Series champion Kyle Busch. Despite a stellar performance in 2023 with three wins, the No. 8 Richard Childress Racing driver has struggled to claim victory this year. As the season drags on without a win, some critics have blamed Busch’s racing style, suggesting it doesn’t align with the demands of NASCAR’s Next-Gen car.
But Denny Hamlin, Busch’s former Joe Gibbs Racing teammate, isn’t buying into that narrative. Hamlin recently called out what he sees as an overplayed excuse, insisting that a driver of Busch’s caliber should be able to adjust to any car—Next-Gen or otherwise.
“I just don’t necessarily buy that Kyle Busch’s style doesn’t fit this car,” Hamlin said. “As great drivers, they can figure it out and adapt. I think there are other factors at play here. For the first couple of years with the Next Gen, he didn’t win much with Joe Gibbs Racing, but I don’t think it’s all down to his style.”
Hamlin’s point? Busch has had nearly three years to adjust to the Next-Gen car, and in Hamlin’s eyes, a driver of Busch’s talent should have adapted by now. According to the three-time Daytona 500 winner, all drivers, whether rookies or veterans, need to evolve their racing style as the sport and its cars change.
“There’s a learning curve for all of us,” Hamlin acknowledged. “But he’s got enough races under his belt now. Everyone changes their style. It’s not about the car not fitting his style—it’s about adapting.”
While Hamlin defends Busch’s ability to adapt, he’s also focusing on his own challenges. Hamlin had a strong showing at Kansas, and as he prepares for the next two crucial playoff races at Talladega and the Charlotte Roval, his strategy is clear: be aggressive and maximize points.
“I’m going to drive to my car’s ability,” Hamlin said, referencing his struggles at Atlanta earlier in the season. “My car was out of control at Atlanta until about 50 laps to go. I tried to race, and I nearly crashed. So I did what I could, and it was good enough. Now, it’s time to move on.”
As Hamlin prepares to face the intense competition at Talladega and Charlotte, he knows there’s no room for error if he wants to remain in the championship hunt. Both races will be critical, and fans will be watching to see if the No. 11 team can rise to the occasion. As for Kyle Busch, the pressure remains to prove that his winless streak is less about style and more about circumstance.
