Denny Hamlin Reacts to Death of Former Teammate Kyle Busch

The devastating news of Kyle Busch's death has shaken the NASCAR world to its core. Busch fell severely ill and was hospitalized this week. He did not recover and died at the age of 41.

Kyle Busch's former teammate, Denny Hamlin, offered a few words on social media in response to the news. The two raced alongside each other for years at Joe Gibbs Racing.

"Absolutely cannot comprehend this news," Hamlin posted on social media. "We just need to think of his family during this time. We love you KB."

On the all-time wins list, Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin sit 9th and 10th, respectively with 63 and 61 wins in the Cup Series. Before Busch's passing they were the winningest drivers still full-time in the Cup Series.

During their time at JGR together, the two led the organization in wins and performance. They were 1A and 1B at the top of that pecking order, and at times it would shift back and forth.

Our thoughts are with the Busch family, his loved ones, friends, fans and everyone touched by his life and career in the sport of NASCAR. It is an incredibly sad day in the sport as one of its all-time greats is gone far too soon.

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This story was originally published May 21, 2026 at 3:14 PM.