Kyle Busch Loves the Fact That Denny Hamlin “Turned the Flame Up” on NASCAR’s Villain Torch

The first big change that Kyle Busch noticed after making the switch from JGR to Richard Childress Racing was the boos and jeers turning into applause. For a long time, Busch was viewed as the ultimate villain in NASCAR. But that’s not the case anymore, as the likes of Denny Hamlin and Ross Chastain have taken center stage.

Just like a movie has an antagonist and a protagonist, someone had to fill in the role of the villain, and it looks like Denny Hamlin for JGR has taken that role. For someone like Busch, who spent most of his career at JGR, a switch to a new team was going to be a dicey affair. Luckily, things have turned pretty good for him since 2023, and he was further helped by his former teammate, who has filled the void left by him.

For a change, Kyle Busch has seen a change in his fortunes with fans at RCR

Moving to RCR is not a retirement gig for Kyle Busch by any means. The sole purpose for which he has been brought in by Richard Childress is to bring the team back to contending for championships. Perhaps even win one after it’s been what, three decades without the silverware. However, Rowdy certainly feels at ease and at home after the love he has been receiving at RCR from the fans. And this has a lot to do with Hamlin taking up his spot as the bad guy in NASCAR’s premier series.

Speaking in an interview with Kevin Harvick on FOX, Busch explained his experience with the team. Along with his views on Denny Hamlin donning the role of villain, “I’ve had fans come up to me all the time. Hey, man, we love you being with Richard. This is great. You’re the racers racer of today, and you’re the only one left. I’ve got so many fans of mine that I’ve known over the years, and I’m on a first-name basis when I see them in autograph sessions. That’s always really really cool but Denny has taken the torch and has turned the flame up on it.“

Even Kevin Harvick could not stop himself from sharing his opinion on the feisty character that Hamlin has turned into. He said, “He’s sprinting with it. He is sprinting with that torch, trying to get as many places as he can, as quick as he can.” Soon, the conversation started to run deep, and Busch realized that he was at a vital juncture in his life as a racing professional.

At 38, Rowdy certainly is not past his prime year but is slowly heading towards the inevitable fate.

Busch’s interesting comparison of his journey

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It is not a welcoming sight to see your favorite drivers or athletes turning gray. Motorsports, like any other sport, comes with an expiration date, and Kyle Busch believes his end time at NASCAR is slowly but surely coming. Despite all the factors playing their part, Busch has hinted that his retirement age will be when his son Brexton turns sixteen. But the fact that people and fans have started to like him has made him realize that he is indeed getting old.

Read More: Kyle Busch’s Sudden Drop in 2023 Was Partly Inflicted by NASCAR’s Due Diligence

“The only other thing about that (change in perception) is a lot of the great drivers—Earnhardt (Dale), for instance, or Jeff Gordon or Dale Jarrett. They get a lot of boos, right? If they win too much, they get a lot of boos. And then, towards the end of their careers, they don’t really win as much, so the cheers start coming. People kind of started realizing, okay, they’re getting towards the end of the road; we might pull for him now. Maybe that means I’m getting to the end of the road, so I don’t know,”  he said.

As far as wins are concerned, Busch certainly has not been hit with a lean patch. Last season, he had three wins, so it’s safe to say that he has an eventful journey ahead of him.