Kyle Busch, a seasoned NASCAR driver who celebrated his 40th birthday on May 2, has set his sights on matching the success of Denny Hamlin as the 2025 Cup Series season continues to unfold. After falling short of victory for the first time in nearly two decades, Busch is determined to end his winless streak, take back his place among NASCAR’s best, and emulate Hamlin’s remarkable achievements on the track. This mission comes as Hamlin continues to excel, currently holding third place in the Cup Series standings after ten races, while Busch works intensely to rekindle his race-winning form.
In recent seasons, the friendly rivalry and mutual respect between Kyle Busch and Hamlin have become a compelling narrative for race fans. Their time together at Joe Gibbs Racing was shaped by their competitive spirit, though neither ever publicly acknowledged racing against each other as adversaries. Hamlin recently admitted that tying Busch’s record as the team’s winningest driver offered him added motivation, especially following his victory at Darlington. Busch further acknowledging Hamlin’s continued streak of multiple wins per year and expressing admiration for his peer’s resilience and consistency.
For Busch, the journey has been challenging since moving to Richard Childress Racing in 2023. While his debut season showed promise with three regular-season wins, he has found it challenging to return to Victory Lane in the months since. Despite showing flashes of speed in 2024, especially with his strong performance at COTA leading the most laps and securing a top-five finish, wins have remained elusive. Indeed, the 2024 season marked the first in Busch’s 19-year Cup Series career without a single victory, a fact that has only intensified his resolve.
Meanwhile, Hamlin, at age 44, shows no signs of slowing. With his consistent top finishes, he is inching closer to surpassing Busch’s record of 63 Cup victories, fueling the drive for both drivers. Reflecting on his career milestone, Busch said,
Wanting to just get back to the ways of being competitive and up front and winning races and carry that like Denny has. I mean, Denny’s done a great job. He’s 43/44, still winning races, winning them at more than one a clip a year. So, that’s admirable and something that I want to do.
Busch also spoke candidly about his career’s evolution, noting how turning 40 had prompted reflection on his past years of frequent victories and relentless dedication to his team, Kyle Busch Motorsports. Accepting that not everything is permanent, he remains focused on putting in the work, regaining his competitive rhythm, and learning from Hamlin’s example.
The pursuit of greatness continues to drive Kyle Busch as he seeks a triumphant return to Victory Lane and looks to solidify his legacy. Fans and analysts alike are watching eagerly to see if Busch will harness his competitive energy, follow Hamlin’s lead, and reclaim his place at the pinnacle of NASCAR success. The coming races will be crucial, potentially marking a new chapter in his already storied career.
