Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin have been in the spotlight for their feud this season. While many felt this might only get deeper, it seems the feud's come to rest.  \While talking on his podcast Actions Detrimental, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver was questioned about the duo’s conversation about ‘burying the hatchet.’

“I’m not getting into it. He gave me a… he said it in the back, he said it backstage, and then he said it again on the stage. His little, this comment of, ‘I guess I still know how to do it.’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, that’s an awesome job, man.”

Hamlin further said, “I don’t know what to say. I said you’re on the Mount Rushmore of NASCAR drivers. I think it’s awesome.”

After the race at Kansas, Hamlin made comments about Busch’s performance and how he no longer has what it takes to win. Busch clapped back, saying, “He’s been running his mouth lately, so he might get run into again. He’s been telling me that I’m washed up and I can’t drive anymore.”  

But Hamlin also mentioned what has to be done to get Busch's confidence back. "When I heard him in the media center talking about Kyle Busch, calling himself Kyle Busch, that’s the Kyle Busch we need. That’s the one we like to see."

Lately, the No. 8 driver has been putting up decent performances in the past few races. His performances have seen a change since Talladega, where he finished 10th. Notably, this was also the race since his crew chief was changed to Andy Street.

The next two races were also good, except that he couldn't finish top-10 at Texas due to the last-lap incident with John Hunter Nemechek.

During the race at Watkins Glen, he started in 21st place and finished the race in 8th place.

 At the All-Star race held at Dover over the past weekend, the JGR driver qualified in 23rd. He finished the race in 17th despite being involved in a nine-car melee early in the race. 

Before the All-Star race, Busch took victory at the NASCAR Truck Series race. With the performances the Rowdy has been putting up, it seems like he is slowly regaining his confidence. 

Denny Hamlin comments on Kyle Busch’s newfound confidence after Truck Series win 

Kyle Busch’s former Joe Gibbs Racing driver observed the confidence the No 8 driver has been displaying. He pointed out how all he needed was a win in the Truck Series. 

In the aforementioned podcast, Hamlin explained that running in the truck series is maybe something that the rowdy needs to do more to get confident in the Cup Series.

“He feeds off those Friday and Saturday races. It really, I believe, true in my heart of hearts, that he’s not going down there bushwhacking, trying to beat up on the young kids.”

The JGR driver added, “I think it’s really good for him for the track time and I think it’s good for him on the mental state. I just, I’m very confident in that, only because I was teammates with him during the heyday of it.” 

Kyle Busch currently stands in 24th place, but with performances like these, he might be able to break through to the playoffs. 

Read more at the RFK Racing Digest!

Written by

Chionia Libania Colaco

Edited by

Suyashdeep Sason