Calls for Denny Hamlin to intervene in Kyle Busch’s racing situation are growing louder, as struggles for the two-time NASCAR champion have reached a critical point during the 2025 season. As the possibility of Denny Hamlin NASCAR career rescue moves to the forefront, analysts and insiders are exploring how Hamlin might offer Busch a lifeline, potentially by bringing him into the 23XI Racing stable.
The Strained History and Recent Frustrations
Kyle Busch’s NASCAR journey has never lacked drama, from his early rivalry with Denny Hamlin, especially in the memorable 2010 All-Star showdown at Charlotte, to their evolving friendship. Back then, an aggressive move by Hamlin sent Busch into the wall, sparking a furious radio tirade from Busch:
Somebody better keep me away from Denny Hamlin after this race. I am going to kill that m———–. I had this race won. Won.
—Kyle Busch, Driver. Since that infamous clash, the drivers’ relationship has matured, but tensions on the track once defined their partnership.
Fast forward to 2025, and Busch faces a mounting crisis: he has not won a Cup race since 2023. With just two finishes inside the top five and eight top tens out of 30 races, the Las Vegas native’s performance slump continues. Mechanical woes and inconsistency have limited him to leading only 62 laps all year, despite briefly running as high as fifth in the Chicago Street course event. Busch maintains a renewed contract through 2026 with Richard Childress Racing, where he continues searching for increased speed and stability to salvage his season.
Danielle Trotta Advocates for a 23XI Racing Move
The ongoing struggles have led industry voices to float alternatives. On the podcast “Rubbin’ is Racing,” analyst Danielle Trotta proposed that Hamlin, both a friend and a former adversary, should extend an opportunity to Busch through a third seat at 23XI Racing. Trotta suggested that Busch’s experience and proven relationship with Hamlin, coupled with his knowledge of operations within the Toyota camp, could be the spark needed for a turnaround. She said:
I’ll tell you where I would want to put him if I could. I would put him in that third 23XI car. He has a really good relationship with Denny. They get along great. He knows the Toyota landscape. Riley Herbst is not performing, and he’s got a little money that he brings with him in sponsorship. Like, if I’m Denny, if I’m Kyle, I’m like, ‘Bro, do your boy a favor. Get me in your car.’ Yeah. I want to win again.
—Danielle Trotta, Analyst. Trotta’s suggestion highlights both the urgency of Busch’s situation and the perceived potential for Hamlin to facilitate a competitive new chapter.
Riley Herbst’s Rookie Campaign Under the Microscope
Denny Hamlin’s responsibility as co-owner of 23XI Racing now includes pivotal decisions regarding driver line-ups. Riley Herbst, piloting the No. 35 car for the team in his Cup Series rookie year, has shown flashes of competency, including a 14th-place finish at Talladega and several top-20 results at Daytona, Atlanta, and Circuit of the Americas. However, Herbst has yet to score a top 10 or notch a victory, only securing one lap led, with season averages of 27.23 for starts and 26.10 for finishes, plus three Did Not Finish (DNF) results.
While Herbst’s steady but unspectacular performance may not threaten his current status, it raises questions at 23XI, especially because he is the only team driver failing to qualify for the Cup Series playoffs. Meanwhile, the prospect of giving Busch, still considered among the sport’s elite talents, another shot with high-quality equipment at 23XI Racing is becoming more tangible, if the team is open to changes.
Championship Pedigree and the Case for Persisting
Despite calls for a shake-up, Danielle Trotta believes retirement should not be on the table for Kyle Busch just yet, asserting:
Yeah. I don’t know if he, but I don’t think he should hang it up. I hope he is. I mean, I know what you’re saying. Like, it’s hard to watch him run in the back, but I don’t want to see him walk away.
—Danielle Trotta, Analyst. Trotta’s remarks reflect a broader reluctance among NASCAR insiders to see a celebrated champion exit amid ongoing struggles, rather than on his own terms.
23XI Racing, for its part, is having a season defined by the consistency of Bubba Wallace and the flashes of strength shown by Tyler Reddick. While Toyota-powered teams have demonstrated dominance, especially in playoff rounds, recent races have placed both Wallace and Reddick in precarious positions below the playoff cut-off line. Reddick holds 11th with a 23-point deficit, and Wallace is 12th, trailing by 27 points, as the series heads to Kansas Speedway. Despite these challenges, the team regularly competes near the front, especially with Wallace’s performance in stage races and Reddick’s strong second-place finish at Darlington.
A Growing Crisis within the No. 8 Team at Richard Childress Racing
Kyle Busch’s ongoing frustration extends beyond the driver’s seat to changes within his crew. His crew chief Randall Burnett, a mainstay since 2020, is preparing to depart after the season to join Trackhouse Racing and work with rising star Connor Zilisch. The anticipated vacancy at the top of Busch’s pit box adds another layer of instability. Early speculation had former Harvick crew chief Rodney Childers pegged as a possible replacement, but Childers instead chose to head to JR Motorsports.
This uncertainty leaves Busch alone in the garage with performance questions unresolved. Further complicating matters, his teammate Austin Dillon managed to claim a win this season, showing that competitive machinery exists within Richard Childress Racing—but Busch has been unable to capitalize. As his professional support system changes, the challenge of rediscovering form becomes more daunting.
Kevin Harvick’s Shift from Rivalry to Empathy
One of NASCAR’s most enduring competitors, Kevin Harvick, voiced his changed perspective on the “Happy Hour” podcast, explaining that disappointment has replaced the animosity he once felt for Busch. Harvick acknowledged the significance of Busch’s struggles for both the sport and the driver’s legacy, sharing:
I can’t imagine Kyle Busch going out like this. It’s bad for everything. It’s bad for the sport. It’s bad for him. It’s bad for everything that says ‘Kyle Busch.’ I hate to see where it’s at.
—Kevin Harvick, Former Driver.
Harvick dismissed the idea that the blame rests solely with Busch’s equipment or surroundings, stating:
I don’t believe Kyle Busch is that bad. I have a hard time believing that. So, it’s definitely kind of a mess.
—Kevin Harvick, Former Driver. Harvick’s hope echoes that of many in the paddock for one last display of “Rowdy”—Busch’s fiery, combative racing alter ego—before retirement becomes an unavoidable conversation.
The Stakes for NASCAR and What the Future Holds
For a sport built on dynasties, drama, and comeback narratives, the fate of Kyle Busch is more than a single driver’s story—it affects fandom at large, the credibility of teams like Richard Childress Racing, and even the business calculus of leaders like Denny Hamlin at 23XI Racing. As Busch faces the twilight of a storied career, retirement rumors are intensifying. Still, the desire among fans and insiders is for a return to form that reminds the NASCAR world what made Busch a two-time Cup Series champion in the first place.
Whether Denny Hamlin steps in to engineer a dramatic turnaround and offer a berth at 23XI Racing, or whether Busch rediscovers his edge via a different route, remains the pressing question. For now, the NASCAR community braces for changes that could redefine not just Busch’s legacy, but potentially the competitive landscape of Cup racing itself, with an eye toward Kansas Speedway and beyond.
