When Tyler Reddick was announced as a 23XI Racing driver from 2024 onwards, many speculated whether veteran Kurt Busch would be axed to accommodate the young gun. However, co-owner Denny Hamlin ruled out such a scenario swiftly.
But there’s more to the Hamlin-Busch-Reddick connection than that.
Earlier this year, Tyler Reddick revealed how Chase Elliott is his son’s favorite driver. Similarly, Hamlin also revealed recently how it is Busch who is the favorite driver of his daughter.
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In an Instagram question on his story that went like, “Who is Taylor’s favorite driver?“, Hamlin answered, “Kurt,” along with a picture of the three of them.
The way to their heart @KurtBusch https://t.co/3ENmLGyE5y pic.twitter.com/0iXOuFTtCS
— Denny Hamlin (@dennyhamlin) July 17, 2022
Denny Hamlin on the future of Kurt Busch at 23XI Racing
After the announcement of Tyler Reddick as a 23XI Racing driver from 2024, Denny Hamlin also made a point about Kurt Busch’s future on his team.
The Joe Gibbs Racing driver had previously mentioned how when they signed Busch, they agreed that racing for 23XI was his “long-term future,” that he could drive as long as he wants to.
And Hamlin is still on the same page.
“Once he’s done driving, he’s going to have a nice cushy office job at 23XI,” he said of Busch’s future after the Reddick announcement.
This was something that Kurt Busch also emphasized ahead of the race at New Hampshire.
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Busch was asked whether he’s any closer to retirement now than he was two years ago, to which he said, “It’s still the same. It’s a matter of what is the right option.”
“The great thing that I have right now is a lot of respect from the race team. Steve Lauletta, MJ [Michael Jordan], Denny [Hamlin], they all said I have a seat as long as I want,” he added.
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“That’s so valuable to me. It makes me smile and wanna race harder, and work hard.”