Joe Gibbs Racing star Denny Hamlin won the NASCAR Cup Series race in Michigan and equaled Kyle Busch’s all-time Cup wins record. The 45-year-old came out and revealed what he would’ve told Busch after the win had the two-time Cup Series champion been around.
Denny Hamlin won last week’s NASCAR Cup Series race in Nashville after starting on pole position and being sent to the back of the grid for a jump start. Nashville was Hamlin’s 62nd Cup win, and he celebrated with Busch’s iconic bow celebration.
Going into this weekend’s Cup Series race, Hamlin was just one win away from equaling Kyle Busch’s all-time Cup win record. The No. 11 Toyota driver took pole position but was sent to the back for the start for unapproved adjustments to the car.
Denny Hamlin yet again managed a spectacular comeback, winning the race by over 10 seconds from Erik Jones in P2. After crossing the checkered flag, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver celebrated by honoring Kyle Busch with a tribute flag.
“I just wanted to pay my respects to someone that I really did look up to and taught me so much as a teammate. There’s nothing we can say or do that’s gonna make his family feel better, but at least during that little time you can pay him the respects that he deserves,” said Hamlin as he spoke about honoring Busch.
The win in Michigan was Hamlin’s 63rd NASCAR Cup Series win, equaling Kyle Busch’s record. Speaking with the media after the race, the 45-year-old said that the late NASCAR driver would’ve been annoyed with the JGR driver equaling his record.
Hamlin then revealed what his response would’ve been to Busch being annoyed, as he said,
“I would’ve said to him, ‘You’ll be around here longer. You’ll get me back.’”
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Denny Hamlin reflects on a difficult year for the NASCAR community after Michigan win
The last six months have been a tough pill to swallow for the NASCAR community. First, NASCAR legend Greg Biffle passed away in a tragic plane crash in December. Less than two weeks later, Denny Hamlin’s father, Dennis, passed away in a massive house fire.
Kyle Busch suddenly passed away on May 21, and just a few days later, “Gentlemen” Ned Jarrett passed away aged 93. Hamlin reflected on a difficult time for NASCAR after his win in Michigan, saying:
“The offseason, it was rough for me. It was rough for the NASCAR family. We lost a lot of people. This week, we lost Gentleman Ned, the original badass of the 11. We’re still thinking of Kyle, Samantha. Brexton, Lennix. Just an unbelievable feeling to be able to strap in every week, and I don’t take it for granted, this opportunity that I’m in, I just love we’re making the best of it.”
With Tyler Reddick retiring and Denny Hamlin winning in Nashville, the 23XI star’s lead in the championship had been reduced to just 51 points.