On his "Actions Detrimental" podcast, Denny Hamlin questioned whether the competitive era of two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch is over, suggesting the decline has been longer than many realize.
Busch's last win was 100 races ago at Gateway in June 2023. Hamlin noted Busch's ongoing struggles at Richard Childress Racing, where he hasn't consistently outperformed teammate Austin Dillon.
"He's struggled for five years now," Hamlin stated, arguing a driver of Busch's caliber should be beating a teammate with far fewer wins. Hamlin suggested Busch hasn't adapted to the NextGen car, with his 2023 wins coming when setups were still guesswork.
Hamlin compared Busch's situation to Jimmie Johnson's abrupt decline, wondering if a similar "light switch" has turned off. He also questioned Busch's future after his RCR contract ends, doubting a return to Joe Gibbs Racing.
The podcast host criticized Busch for being too "hands-on" with car setup instead of just providing driver feedback. Hamlin concluded that until something changes, expectations for Busch must be tempered, despite disliking seeing such a talented driver struggle.