Denny Hamlin Reacts to Richard Childress' Message for Kyle Busch

Denny Hamlin's Victory and the Challenges Faced by Richard Childress Racing

Denny Hamlin of Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) made history during the Autotrader EchoPark 400 at Dover, securing his fourth win of the season in the No. 11 Toyota. The victory solidified Hamlin as a strong contender for the NASCAR Cup Series title. However, for Richard Childress Racing (RCR), the race was a stark reminder of the struggles their team is currently facing.

Kyle Busch, driving the No. 8 Chevrolet for RCR, finished in 11th place, another disappointing result for the veteran driver. After the race, Busch received a direct message from RCR owner Richard Childress over the radio, stating, "Gotta get some race cars. We are in trouble. Period." This candid and unfiltered comment quickly gained attention and sparked discussions within the racing community.

Hamlin, who also co-owns 23XI Racing, shared his perspective on the situation during an episode of his podcast, "Actions Detrimental." He believed that Childress was pushing his team to find new solutions, emphasizing that while the components may be the same, they need to be assembled more effectively. "He knows the parts and pieces are the same, but they're obviously, what I believe he's saying is that we've got to put them together better," Hamlin said.

Over the past three seasons, RCR has struggled significantly. Between Busch and his teammate Austin Dillon, who drives the No. 3, the team has only managed three wins, with Dillon's victory at Richmond in August 2024 being the most recent. This season, Busch has only achieved a high finish of fifth twice, while Dillon hasn't placed higher than seventh. For a team with 117 Cup Series wins and six championships, these results are deeply concerning.

Hamlin acknowledged that he isn't directly involved with RCR, so he can't fully understand the internal issues. However, he speculated that there could be multiple factors at play, such as differences in strategy or performance in the tire department. "I don't know. I'm not close enough to the situation to really know, but I'm here speculating that he's challenging everyone to, we can't come back with the same thing. This is not working. We're not fast enough. We need better cars. We need to give our drivers a better opportunity to win races."

Despite the challenges, Hamlin praised Childress' approach, noting that it’s encouraging for drivers to know their owner supports them. "If I know that I'm going into a gun fight with a knife, I want my owner to have my back, saying, 'It ain't our drivers,'" he explained. Hamlin also mentioned that he has previously spoken out against his own team publicly as part of his role at 23XI Racing.

While there may be potential downsides to public criticism, such as increased pressure on decision-makers, Hamlin believes the benefits outweigh the risks. "You know, if you can't stand the pressure, get out of the kitchen. I just think the positives outweigh it. I think when you say that, you're having the drivers' back. You're letting them know that you're not happy with what you're bringing for them to compete in. And yet maybe there needs to be a discussion publicly. Sometimes that works best."

As the NASCAR season moves forward, Childress will be hoping that his bold words lead to tangible improvements. The upcoming Brickyard 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway will be a crucial test for RCR, especially for Busch, who is still fighting for a playoff spot. With 39 points behind the cutoff, Busch will need better equipment and performance to turn his season around.