- Petty slams Busch’s reaction, telling struggling veteran to “keep his mouth shut.”
- NASCAR insiders rally behind Hamlin, suggesting Busch’s intensity is misdirected.
- Feud has taken dark turn with Busch warning Hamlin “might get run into here soon.”
An unstoppable force meets an immovable object: Marvel Comics’ Magneto versus Doctor Doom. Two masterminds, two egos, and no room to back down. These days, the NASCAR Cup Series has its own version of that clash, as the simmering feud between Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin continues to escalate.
After taking exception to Hamlin’s comments on his podcast, Busch only added fuel to the fire, even going as far as to threaten to make the Joe Gibbs Racing veteran’s life “hell.” Hamlin, meanwhile, stood grounded, restraining himself from further escalation.
Now, as the back-and-forth intensifies, voices from across the NASCAR Cup Series garage have begun to weigh in, and one of the sharpest came from Kyle Petty, whose words landed like a cold, cutting rebuke of Busch’s reaction while backing Hamlin’s stance.
Busch under fire: NASCAR’s Petty backs Hamlin amid ongoing feud
There’s little doubt that frustration from years of underwhelming performances has started to spill over for Busch. While many see merit in Hamlin’s remarks, Busch’s supporters have pushed back, taking issue with them regardless of how they were framed.
Nevertheless, eight-time Cup winner Petty didn’t beat around the bush as he rarely does. And in this case, his message to the Richard Childress Racing ace was as direct as it gets.
“I don’t think Denny (Hamlin) bashed him. I thought Denny was fair in his assessment,” the veteran began. “I think Kyle Busch’s skin is a little bit thin right now, rightfully so, because he is not doing anything on the racetrack. He is doing nothing on the racetrack. If you can’t beat your teammate, keep your mouth shut!”
The last line might have dug a crater among Busch’s fanbase. However, Petty’s words, though harsh, are backed up by the numbers.
Despite still being seen as the lead driver at RCR, Busch has quietly been outperformed by his No. 3 teammate, Austin Dillon. Dillon currently sits 25th in the standings with 145 points, ahead of Busch, who is down in 27th with 133.
Outscoring Busch
Dig a little deeper, and the gap becomes harder to ignore. Through nine races, both drivers share a best finish of P12: Busch at COTA, Dillon at Las Vegas. But beyond that, Dillon has had the edge where it counts.
He has outfinished and outscored Busch in each of the last two races, collecting 21 and 19 points at Kansas and Bristol, while Busch managed just 2 and 12 after difficult runs that left him P35 and P25, respectively. Even in average finish rates, Dillon has moved ahead, holding a 21.88 compared to the 40-year-old’s 23.44.
Moreover, as the chorus grows louder and debates continue, it becomes clear Petty wasn’t alone in that sentiment either.
Insider voices support Hamlin as Busch faces scrutiny
On the “Door Bumper Clear” podcast, voices from within the garage echoed a similar perspective, less emotional, perhaps, but just as pointed.
Veteran pundit Tommy Baldwin offered a more layered view, acknowledging the different career trajectories of the two drivers. “Denny has been lucky enough in his career not to have to struggle much,” he said. “He’s been in a good position his whole racing career. Kyle has taken himself out of those positions and put himself in this one.”
“I mean he has had the Hendrick (Motorsports) rides, he has the (Joe) Gibbs (Racing) rides, he’s in RCR ride that’s in a building process of trying to accomplish something and it’s just not there yet,” he added.
Kicking a guy when he’s down
While Hamlin has spent the bulk of his career anchored within the stability of top-tier equipment, Busch’s 2023 move to RCR has placed him in a rebuilding environment, where immediate success isn’t guaranteed.
Still, Baldwin made it clear that circumstances don’t excuse the reaction. “He cannot get on Denny because of what he’s saying. He is the one that needs to do the work. He has to be the leader.”
23XI Racing spotter Freddie Kraft, meanwhile, added a more balanced take. He noted, “Anything that Denny said wasn’t wrong. I get where Kyle is coming from; he’s fiery, and it can come off as kicking a guy while he’s down. But you’ve got to be open to criticism.”
That’s the tightrope Busch finds himself walking. His intensity has always been part of what makes him successful, but in moments like this, it can also amplify scrutiny. When results don’t match the emotion, the narrative quickly shifts, and right now it’s not in his favour.
Passing on the “playbook”
From Busch’s side, the frustration isn’t coming out of nowhere. Beneath the sharp responses and heated comments lies a deeper tension tied to how his career has evolved, particularly his exit from JGR and the changing dynamics that followed.
And apparently, the “Rowdy” is adding more ammunition. Lately, in an exclusive to Sean Hannity, Busch pointed out that Hamlin, now one of the most experienced drivers on the grid and the leading figure at JGR with Toyota, has effectively stepped into the role he once held after he passed on the “playbook.”
But he didn’t stop there, adding that Hamlin’s recent comments on his podcast have crossed a line, warning that he, “Might get run into here soon.”
Right now, the edge belongs to Hamlin, on track and in the conversation. But with Busch, silence has never been the answer. If anything, this feud feels like it’s just getting started.
