After at Michigan Worldwide Speedway on Sunday — the following closest automotive greater than 11 seconds behind him — a member of his crew introduced a flag to his automotive.
Hamlin then began happening the backstretch in the wrong way so each fan on the FireKeepers On line casino 400 might see the flag because it unfurled. It was a No. 18, designed to merge the 2 numbers most lately utilized by the late Kyle Busch.
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Busch raced in a No. 18 Toyota for the longest stretch of his , profitable a pair of Cup Sequence championships. However for the previous 4 seasons, he had piloted the No. 8 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing. The No. 18 was etched on the flag to include each the JGR No. 18 and the RCR No. 8, the latter of which was personally stylized by Busch.
It was a becoming tribute by Hamlin for his former teammate. They raced collectively for Gibbs from 2018 to 2022.
And on Sunday, Hamlin captured the 63rd victory of his Cup Sequence profession, transferring him right into a tie for ninth all-time in wins with Busch, who shockingly died on Might 21 on the age of 41 attributable to problems from pneumonia that .
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Drivers with probably the most NASCAR Cup Sequence wins all time
2. David Pearson, 105 profession wins.
(DAYTONA RACING ARCHIVES)
1 / 8
Drivers with probably the most NASCAR Cup Sequence wins all time
2. David Pearson, 105 profession wins.
(DAYTONA RACING ARCHIVES)
2 / 8
Drivers with probably the most NASCAR Cup Sequence wins all time
3. Jeff Gordon, 93 profession wins.
(MATTHEW O’HAREN, USA TODAY SPORTS)
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Drivers with probably the most NASCAR Cup Sequence wins all time
6. (tie) Jimmie Johnson, 83 profession wins
(USA TODAY Sports activities)
4 / 8
Drivers with probably the most NASCAR Cup Sequence wins all time
8. Dale Earnhardt, 76 profession wins.
(GETTY IMAGES)
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Drivers with probably the most NASCAR Cup Sequence wins all time
9. (tie) Kyle Busch, 63 profession wins
(Jim Dedmon, USA TODAY Sports activities)
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Drivers with probably the most NASCAR Cup Sequence wins all time
9. (tie) Denny Hamlin, 63 profession wins (by means of June 7, 2026).
(Peter Casey, USA TODAY Sports activities)
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Drivers with probably the most NASCAR Cup Sequence wins all time
11. Kevin Harvick, 60 profession wins.
(Mike Dinovo, USA TODAY Sports activities)
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Drivers with probably the most NASCAR Cup Sequence wins all time
12. Rusty Wallace, 55 profession wins.
(Dozier Mobley, Getty Pictures)
After the race, Hamlin defined how the flag got here collectively. Hamlin stated planning began final Monday morning, the day after .
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“I recognize RCR letting us use the stylized 8 with the Joe Gibbs Racing the 1. It was only a pleased steadiness that I felt good about when all of it got here out,” Hamlin stated. “The NASCAR group has sort of simply been by means of it over the past — actually the previous few weeks, however then simply usually within the final six, eight months. It’s been powerful. I simply wished to pay my respects to somebody that I actually did look as much as and taught me a lot as a teammate. There’s nothing we are able to say or try this’s going to make his household really feel higher, however not less than throughout that little time, you possibly can pay him the respects that he deserves.”
Hamlin joked that Busch would’ve been mad about him transferring forward of his former teammate on the all-time leaderboard.
“He would have been pissed right this moment, completely,” Hamlin stated. “However I’d have stated to him, you’ll be round right here longer. You’ll get me again.”
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Hamlin additionally wore a hat with the stylized No. 18 on it, however use and on the market to followers.
The 45-year-old Hamlin is having among the finest years of his profession, now having notched three victories. He’s shortly closing in on Tyler Reddick — driver of the No. 45 Toyota for 23XI Racing, the workforce Hamlin co-owns with NBA Legend Michael Jordan — on the high of the purpose standings this season.
