Denny Hamlin Pays Tribute To Kyle Busch Following Milestone NASCAR Victory

on Jun 08, 2026

Denny Hamlin Dedicates Win To Kyle Busch (Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images)

For NASCAR fans, the last year has been extremely heartbreaking and heavy.

On December 18, 2025, former driver Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, kids Emma and Ryder, Craig Wadsworth, Dennis Duttin, and Jack Dutton died in a tragic plane crash. It was reported that a Cessna C550 business jet crashed at the Statesville Regional Airport north of Charlotte, North Carolina.

According to FlightAware data, the plane had turned around and was attempting to land back at the airport shortly after takeoff.

Just 10 days later, on December 28, a fire broke out at a home located in Gaston County, North Carolina. Firefighters worked for nearly two hours to extinguish the fire, facing challenges due to a lack of water in the area.

Lucia-Riverbend Fire Department Chief David Toomey later confirmed the residence belonged to NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin’s parents.

The fire department said the home has been deemed a “complete loss,” although firefighters managed to recover some collectibles and racing memorabilia from the house.

One day after his parents’ identities was revealed, Hamlin broke his silence on X.

“Thank you to everyone who has reached out with condolences on my father’s passing,” he wrote. “My mother continues to improve, and our family truly appreciates the outpouring of support and the respect for our privacy during this time.”

Then, just last month, two-time Cup Series champion Kyle Busch tragically died at the age of 41.

NASCAR confirmed the news in a statement, while the Busch family, Richard Childress Racing, and NASCAR also released a joint statement honoring the longtime driver.

We are saddened and heartbroken to share the news of the passing of Kyle Busch, a two-time Cup champion and one of our sport's greatest and fiercest drivers. He was 41 years old.

We extend our deepest condolences to the Busch family, Richard Childress Racing and the entire… pic.twitter.com/FARIF6OKrw
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) May 21, 2026

Denny Hamlin Dedicates Win To Kyle Busch

With a black No. 18 flag waving from the window, Hamlin celebrated his 63rd NASCAR Cup Series victory with a celebratory burnout in his No. 11 Toyota on Sunday (May 7). The tribute, which took place at Michigan International Speedway, honored Busch, as the win moved him into a tie with Busch for ninth place on the sport’s all-time victories list.

“Truthfully, I had to outlive him to tie him,” Hamlin said after the win. “We love you, KB. He was an amazing teammate. He taught me so much at tracks like this. I just can’t say enough.”

Hamlin also acknowledged the recent passing of NASCAR Hall of Famer Ned Jarrett, dedicating his third win of the season to Kyle Busch and the Busch family.

“The offseason, it was rough for me, and it was rough for the NASCAR family,” Hamlin continued. “Just an unbelievable feeling to be able to strap in every week, and I don’t take it for granted, this opportunity that I’m in. I just love we’re making the best of it.”