Denny Hamlin Nearly Reached Out for Welfare Check on Kyle Busch After Richmond Chaos
Saturday night at Richmond Raceway left everyone scratching their heads, but nobody more so than Denny Hamlin. The veteran driver found himself genuinely worried about his former Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch after witnessing what can only be described as a night from hell for the two-time Cup Series champion.
The Incident That Had Hamlin Concerned
Racing fans know that crashes happen. It’s part of the sport we love, part of what makes our hearts race every Sunday. But what unfolded at Richmond wasn’t just your typical racing incident. It was a series of unfortunate events that had even seasoned professionals like Denny Hamlin feeling something more profound than competitive frustration.
Busch found himself involved in multiple contact situations throughout the night, including two separate incidents that caught everyone’s attention. The first happened under caution when Busch, apparently warming his tires, made contact with Hamlin’s car. Speaking candidly on his podcast “Actions Detrimental,” Hamlin described the moment with the kind of raw honesty that makes you realize these drivers are human beings dealing with very real emotions.
“I felt, BOOM, I’m like, ‘What the hell?’ I guess he was warming his tires up and just slammed the door the shit out of me,” Hamlin recalled, his voice carrying that mix of confusion and concern that anyone who’s watched a friend struggle can recognize.
When Competition Takes a Backseat to Compassion
What struck me most about Denny Hamlin’s reaction wasn’t the typical driver frustration we’re used to hearing. Instead, it was genuine human concern. Here’s a guy who competes against Kyle Busch week after week, fighting for the same victories and championships, yet his first instinct was to check on his former teammate’s well-being.
“I was going to text him, ‘Are you okay?’ It was so weird,” Denny Hamlin admitted. That pause, that moment of vulnerability, speaks volumes about the relationships these drivers build despite the fierce competition. It reminds us that behind the helmets and fireproof suits, these are people who care about each other’s welfare.
The Larger Picture for Kyle Busch
The Richmond incident wasn’t happening in isolation. Denny Hamlin could see what many of us have noticed this season. Kyle Busch’s struggles at Richard Childress Racing have been painful to watch. Here’s a driver who’s spent his career as one of NASCAR’s most dominant forces, suddenly finding himself fighting to make the playoffs while his teammate, Austin Dillon, secured his spot with a victory that same night.
The irony wasn’t lost on anyone. Equal equipment, vastly different results. It’s the kind of situation that can mess with a competitor’s head, and Hamlin seemed to recognize that his former teammate might be dealing with more than just mechanical issues.
The Chase Elliott Contact Adds Context
Denny Hamlin also addressed the contact between Busch and Chase Elliott during the chaos, providing important context that many missed in the heat of the moment. “He wasn’t told about the nine until the last second… at that point he’s just trying to get clear of the mayhem,” Hamlin explained.
This detail matters because it shows Hamlin wasn’t just throwing his former teammate under the bus. Instead, he was trying to make sense of what looked like uncharacteristic driving from someone he’s raced alongside for years. It’s the kind of nuanced understanding that comes from years of shared experiences, both good and bad.
The Human Side of NASCAR Competition
What makes Denny Hamlin’s response so compelling is how it reveals the human side of NASCAR that fans don’t always see. These drivers spend countless hours together in meetings, at the shop, traveling from track to track. They develop relationships that transcend the competition, even when they’re no longer teammates.
Hamlin’s instinct to reach out, to check on Busch’s mental state, shows the kind of character that makes you root for someone. It demonstrates that even in the heat of championship battles and playoff races, there’s room for compassion and genuine concern for a fellow competitor’s well-being.
Looking Forward
As the playoff race intensifies and Kyle Busch continues his fight to secure a spot, moments like these remind us why we love this sport. It’s not just about the speed and the competition – it’s about the human drama, the relationships, and the way people respond when things get tough.
Denny Hamlin’s willingness to share his concern publicly, while maintaining respect for his former teammate, shows the kind of leadership and humanity that NASCAR needs more of. Sometimes the most important victories happen off the track, in the quiet moments when one competitor reaches out to another simply because it’s the right thing to do.
