Denny Hamlin has weighed in on the Kyle Busch and John Hunter Nemechek drama that unfolded at the end of the Texas NASCAR race. Busch put Nemechek into the wall after a little bit of contact between the two with about 1.5 laps to go in the race.
This season, Hamlin and Busch have already had tension. With Hamlin’s role as a podcast host, he has to weigh in and talk about subjects in the sport week to week. That can sometimes upset other drivers.
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Despite the issues earlier in the season, Hamlin isn’t stepping away from criticizing Busch yet again.
Kyle Busch at Texas. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)(Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
“I mean, God bless Derek Kneeland, his spotter,” Hamlin said on his Actions Detrimental podcast. “I thought he’s just doing a great job of trying to just put some chill in his life. I don’t know, it just seems like everyone’s going at everyone over there right now. But you know, as far as the incident, I didn’t see anything, no matter who’s at fault for what down the back straightaway – like, what happened in Turn 3 was certainly unacceptable. It should be viewed that way as unacceptable.”
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When asked by his producer if NASCAR should step-in, Denny Hamlin was unsure. He was penalized in 2023 after admitting he had wrecked Ross Chastain at the early season Phoenix race. It wasn’t until after Hamlin admitted to it on his podcast that NASCAR issued the penalty.
“Does NASCAR just kind of use their common sense judgment or do they say, well there’s just not enough evidence?” Hamlin said. “You know when I said I washed Chastain up into the wall, you know, I got a point fine and things like that. But, you know, in the end it was because I said it. I don’t know that Kyle’s refuting it but he’s also not saying, yeah, I took…I don’t know. In so many words, he is.”
Both Kyle Busch and John Hunter Nemechek pled their case on social media. It looks like Rowdy is up to his old ways, and not backing down from anyone. Even if it costs him spots on the track.
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on May 4, 2026, where it first appeared in the Racing section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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