Denny Hamlin Calls for Honest Talk on Kyle Busch's RCR Struggles

Hamlin says Busch has struggled for 5 years, even before joining RCR

Apr. 14, 2026 at 3:50pm

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NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin has called for an honest conversation about the struggles of his former Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch since Busch joined Richard Childress Racing in 2023. Hamlin says Busch has been struggling for the past 5 years, even before leaving JGR, and that it's time to be upfront about his decline in performance.

Why it matters

Busch is a two-time Cup Series champion and future NASCAR Hall of Famer, so his struggles at RCR have been surprising and concerning for his fans. Hamlin's comments shine a light on the reality of Busch's performance issues and challenge the narrative that his problems started only after joining RCR.

The details

Hamlin said that in Busch's final two seasons at JGR, 'things were not good' and that this is 'not new news.' He believes Busch is struggling to adapt to the Next Gen car and that as the field has become more competitive, Busch is no longer able to make up the difference as the 'driver difference maker.' Busch has not won a race since June 2023 and has missed the playoffs in back-to-back seasons.

  • Busch joined RCR in 2023.
  • Busch won 3 races in his first 15 starts at RCR in 2023, but has not won since June of that year.
  • Busch has missed the playoffs in back-to-back seasons (2025 and 2026).
  • Busch finished 25th at Bristol Motor Speedway on April 14, 2026, and is currently 24th in the points standings.

The players

Denny Hamlin

A NASCAR driver who was longtime teammates with Kyle Busch at Joe Gibbs Racing. Hamlin has solidified himself as an all-time great, climbing up the all-time wins list and competing for championships year in and year out.

Kyle Busch

A two-time Cup Series champion and future NASCAR Hall of Famer who has struggled since joining Richard Childress Racing in 2023, failing to win a race since June of that year and missing the playoffs in back-to-back seasons.

Austin Dillon

Busch's teammate at Richard Childress Racing who has won 10 races, which Hamlin believes Busch should be able to outperform if he is the 'greatest' driver.

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What they’re saying

“This is not new news, though. We keep talking about this but in his last couple years at Gibbs, things we're not good. This is not, 'Oh my gosh, where is this coming from?' This has been like this for five years.”

— Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Driver

“Clearly, RCR is not good right now, but you're a Hall of Fame, Mount Rushmore driver. Carry it better than your teammate [Austin Dillon] then. If you're the greatest, then carry it better than your teammate who has won 10 races. Find a way. I think that's what he should be able to do, but it's not happening. It's time to be honest about what's going on.”

— Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Driver

“Kyle Busch, I can't hold the guy's helmet talent-wise, but I just think this is not new. He's struggled for five years now. We just have to be honest with our expectations, and if you're expecting Kyle Busch to just go back to Victory Lane on a regular basis, you're kidding yourselves, and you're gonna be very disappointed.”

— Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Driver

What’s next

Busch will look to turn around his struggles and earn his first top-10 finish of the 2026 season at the next NASCAR Cup Series race.

The takeaway

Denny Hamlin's comments highlight the need for an honest assessment of Kyle Busch's prolonged performance issues, which predate his move to RCR. As a future Hall of Famer, Busch's struggles have been surprising, and Hamlin believes it's time to stop making excuses and have a frank discussion about what's behind his decline.