Kyle Busch vs. Denny Hamlin

Lore & Background

Busch was born in Las Vegas, Nevada, and began racing at age six. He made his national NASCAR debut in 2001 in the Craftsman Truck Series with Roush Racing. He joined Hendrick Motorsports in 2003, then moved to Joe Gibbs Racing in 2008, where he achieved his most successful stretch over fifteen years. In 2023, he joined Richard Childress Racing and competed there until his death in 2026. He won three major national series championships: the 2009 Nationwide Series and the 2015 and 2019 Cup Series. He also owned Kyle Busch Motorsports, which competed in the Truck Series from 2010 to 2023.

Reader's Guide

Busch is the all-time wins leader across NASCAR's top three divisions with 234 victories. He holds the record for most wins in the Xfinity Series (102) and Truck Series (69). He is the only driver with at least 60 wins in each of the top three series. He set the modern-era record for most combined wins in a single season (24 in 2010). He also holds the record for most consecutive seasons with a win (19), a streak that ended in 2024. His final Cup race was the 2026 Go Bowling at The Glen on May 10, where he finished eighth. His final NASCAR win was the Ecosave 200 truck race on May 15, 2026. He died on May 21, 2026, after withdrawing from the Coca-Cola 600 due to a severe illness.

Did You Know?

• Busch is the only driver to win four consecutive spring races at Richmond International Raceway (2009–2012).
• He won on his birthday twice: in 2009 at Richmond and in 2021 at Kansas.
• He led 324 laps in the Daytona 500 without ever winning the race, a record as of the 2022 Daytona 500.