BOILING POINT
Busch calls out Hamlin after comments on podcast
Tyler Reddick and the rest of his team celebrate winning the Adventhealth 400 at Kansas speedway.
NASCAR Cup series drivers Kyle Busch (8) and AJ Allmendinger (16) race during Sunday's Adventhealth 400 at Kansas speedway.
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YOUR GUIDE TO THE WEEK ON THE NASCAR CIRCUIT
Denny Hamlin is walking a tightrope with his NASCAR obligations. While running his podcast, Actions Detrimental, Hamlin owns 23XI Racing while driving for Joe Gibbs Racing. The driver of the No. 11 car was asked about Kyle Busch's decline in the NextGen car with Richard Childress Racing, and shared the blame all around.
However, Busch didn't appreciate his comments. Ahead of the NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway, Busch called out Hamlin for his comments on Actions Detrimental.
"If [Denny Hamlin] wants to switch cars, I'll switch cars with him," Busch said. "Any day of the week, any time. I would love for him to show me he can carry it better than I can. He can bash me all he wants. I can certainly make his life hell."
Busch sits 27th in the point standings as the No. 8 team for Richard Childress Racing is having another nightmarish season. The two-time Cup Series champion hasn't won in over 100 races and the speed has been nonexistent. Now, Busch heads into Talladega Superspeedway with an opportunity to win, and don't expect him to help out Hamlin.
Jordan discusses Reddick's big win
Michael Jordan is back in victory lane. On Sunday evening, Tyler Reddick and the No. 45 team pulled off the victory in the AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway. Reddick was able to pass Kyle Larson in the closing laps; however, it didn't come before a late-race caution as Denny Hamlin was about to take the white flag.
Following the event, Jordan talked about Reddick's victory to the Fox Sports broadcast. The 23XI Racing driver's fifth win of 2026 has the NBA legend excited, but he is also happy for bragging rights over Hamlin.
"Look, I'm racing against [Denny Hamlin]," Jordan said. "I really wanted to beat him because I know we're going to talk a lot of trash a little bit later It was a good race. When we started to run out of fuel, I didn't know what was happening. [23XI Racing], all the guys drove well today. All four cars in the top 15. That says a lot about the program. This kid is on fire. I don't know if I can cool [Tyler Reddick] down. He is unbelievable. Unbelievable last couple laps. I'm proud of the whole team. When you win, it's always fun. Right now it's fun for everybody at 23XI. Me being here and being able to see all the wins, I am so happy for the team. I just think we need to continually build on this, without a doubt."
Reddick has won five of the first nine races of the 2026 NASCAR season and Jordan has been present for all of them. It has been a sensational start for the 23XI Racing driver and Jordan is enjoying his spot in victory lane. At this rate, Jordan might have to attend every NASCAR Cup Series race for the rest of the season.
Larson discusses heartbreaking defeat
Kyle Larson took the white flag of the NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway in the lead; however, it wasn't meant to be on Sunday. Larson lost the lead in the final corners after a strong run from Tyler Reddick took him to the bottom in Turn 3. Ultimately, it was a second-place finish for the two-time Cup Series champion.
Following the event, Larson discussed his heartbreaking result at Kansas. While the effort was a season-best for the No. 5 team, the Hendrick Motorsports driver wanted a trophy at the end of the day.
"When it all worked out like that, I was like, 'oh, great, clean air,'" Larson said. "I went through three and four and I was plowing. Yeah, I was nervous. Then I could tell he had a huge run on me behind. Thought maybe if I could get to the banking, it would like load and cut, but it didn't. Yeah, [Tyler Reddick] was really good right there. I was just hoping to be better. I was happy to get to the lead, the restart worked out great. Anyways, we got lucky with the caution, too. Yeah, good day. I think first stage first and a second in the race. Yeah, we're getting closer. Really close there. We'll keep trying."
Larson has been so close to winning in NASCAR, but is nearing a 36-race winless streak. However, the driver of the No. 5 car won the 2025 Cup Series championship with his consistency, so it doesn't feel as thought it has been this long. Now, Larson heads to Talladega Superspeedway looking for his first Cup Series win on a superspeedway track.
Hamlin addresses loss at Kansas
Denny Hamlin is used to heartbreak in late-race NASCAR situations, but this one may sting even more. With two laps to go, Hamlin was about to hit the white flag before a spinning Cody Ware brought out the caution.
Instead of going to victory lane, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver crossed the line in fourth place.
Following the race, Hamlin discussed his heartbreaking finish in the AdventHealth 400. While it was a good run for the No. 11 team, Hamlin was incredibly disappointed with the result.
"I mean, obviously it's not winning," Hamlin said. "It's Cody Ware, six laps down wrecking. I don't know. It just added up. I feel for the same move that the No. 5 got me a couple years ago when I was on the inside. I got to learn from those mistakes that I make, not executing those last few laps. Yeah, I had a big run off of turn two. No. 19 I think probably on four tires there. So wasn't a whole lot of room. I wasn't going to lift. Yeah, just got in the wall. But it didn't really affect the finishing position."
It is hard to blame Hamlin, who was so close to entering victory lane. In 2025, the driver of the No. 11 car suffered an even worse heartbreak at Phoenix Raceway, losing the championship due to a late yellow. Now, Hamlin hopes to suffer some good karma and win at Talladega Superspeedway this weekend.
Kvapil talks about scary flip
Carson Kvapil started on the pole for the NASCAR O'Reilly Series race at Kansas Speedway; however, he never could have predicted what came next. In the opening laps, Kvapil found himself flipping down the backstretch after contact with JR Motorsports teammate William Byron exiting Turn 2.
It was a shocking development, but thankfully, the driver of the No. 1 car exited under his own power with no injuries. Following the wreck, Kvapil spoke to The CW broadcast on the massive accident at Kansas.
"Not too fun," Kvapil said. "I actually didn't think it was going to flip over like that but once it started doing that, really didn't seem too bad. My biggest thing is that I just hate it for this whole Bass Pro Shop team. [Crew chief Rodney Childers] and these guys brought a really fast race car, and I was just hoping to get through the first couple of laps and kind of sort it out ... we didn't really get to that point. All-in-all, it was one heck of a ride. I was not ready for that, just hate it for all the guys. that was a pretty big one."
Kvapil's race at Kansas was over before it even begun and he experienced one of the scariest wrecks to start the 2026 NASCAR season.
"If [Denny Hamlin] wants to switch cars, I'll switch cars with him. Any day of the week, any time. I would love for him to show me he can carry it better than I can. He can bash me all he wants. I can certainly make his life hell."
Kyle Busch
