Denny Hamlin Snubs Kyle Busch & Richard Childress’s Championship Prospect for Joe Gibbs & Rick Hendrick

There was a time when Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch used to get along very well. Of course, that was during Rowdy’s stint at Joe Gibbs Racing. Since the two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion joined Richard Childress Racing, it hasn’t been the same between them. In fact, the latter recently made a bold claim with regard to Busch as he spoke in Rick Hendrick and Joe Gibbs’ favor.

Safe to say, Hamlin has looked pretty good in the 2023 campaign. With 25 playoff points already to his name, he enters the Round of 16 in a much stronger position compared to others. In fact, he looks quite confident in making it count.

Denny Hamlin ignores Kyle Busch in favor of Rick Hendrick and Joe Gibbs’s drivers

There is no doubt that Denny Hamlin has plenty of experience under his belt. With almost two decades in NASCAR’s top-tier racing, his expertise behind the wheel remains unquestionable. While his own performance has been impressive this season, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver made some interesting claims recently.

Speaking on his podcast Actions Detrimental, Hamlin discussed the dynamics going into the playoffs. While he stated how important the already available playoff points would be for the top-ranked drivers, he believed someone from the top eight was bound to slip up.

Before that, he spoke about his predictions for the final four. He said, “So we set our final four predictions. I’m gonna stick with what I said months ago about the final four. I had the #24, the #19, the #11, and the #5 in the final four. I don’t see that changing.” If this prediction were to come true, no one would be more happy than Rick Hendrick and Joe Gibbs.

While Hamlin commented on the final four, he also stressed whom he feels could stumble from the top eight. Surprisingly his podcast co-host mentioned Kyle Busch’s name in this regard. To this, Hamlin said, “Yeah. I always, whenever I am negative on Kyle or I don’t pick ’em to be in the final, like Kyle Busch fans, they, they come heavy. I would not disagree with that because he has been hot and cold.”

Despite almost writing off the championship hopes for Richard Childress, Hamlin reiterated that Busch remains a strong driver with his capabilities. He said, “I mean, the guy could win all three Races and nobody would be surprised. Or he could have, you know, mistakes or trouble. I think the tracks lay out too good for him to be the guy who misses in the first round.”

READ MORE – Denny Hamlin Publicly Defies Joe Gibbs With 6-Word Declaration

In fact, while he didn’t write off Busch totally, Hamlin was very specific in pointing out the weakest among the top eight going into the playoffs.

Hamlin takes a dig at his former nemesis with his bold claim going into the playoffs

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Without a doubt, the 2023 Cup Series regular season was an entertaining one. While there were some unexpectedly impressive performances, Denny Hamlin didn’t feel strongly about one of the top eight drivers before the Round of 16 began. In fact, he didn’t hesitate to pinpoint the name when asked to select one driver who could make an early exit in the playoffs.

Speaking on the same podcast, Hamlin said, “I’m just gonna say Ross because they just haven’t been strong. They don’t make, he doesn’t make a whole lot of mistakes though. Like, he doesn’t get it caught up in a lot of wrecks. That probably counters that argument. But I would say he’s been the weakest of this top eight that I’m looking at.”

While Hamlin chose his former rival Ross Chastain, it will be interesting to see how accurate his predictions are. It is also exciting to see what the #11 driver himself manages to achieve in the playoffs.

WATCH THIS STORY: “Lack of Sponsorship”: Amid an Uncertain NASCAR Future, Denny Hamlin Uncovers the Rationale Behind the End of Kyle Busch’s Three-Decade-Long Relationship