Busch addresses leaving villain role and Hamlin embracing It

Kyle Busch. Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Kyle Busch addresses leaving villain role and Denny Hamlin embracing It

By Kyle Dalton | Last updated 9/23/23

Kyle Busch has played the villain role for years. But that was with Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota.

This season, his first with Richard Childress Racing, fan perception of the two-time Cup Series champion has dramatically changed. Now, he hears cheers instead of jeers.

At Texas Motor Speedway ahead of the first NASCAR Cup Series playoff race in the Round of 12, Busch was asked if villain-hood was in his rearview, and what he thought of his former JGR teammate Denny Hamlin assuming the role as the sport's most villainous character.

I asked @kylebusch about his role of playing the villain and if it's behind him. He had some interesting thoughts on falling back into that role, how it's different now, and offered his impressions on how @dennyhamlin has assumed the new role as NASCAR's biggest villain. pic.twitter.com/7pGNSwuW64
— Kyle Dalton (@kdsportswriter) September 23, 2023

"It's different, right," Busch said. "I don't know that I've ever been in this spot because when I first came into this sport and was here, getting in, my brother had made a lot of enemies both on and off the race track, and so I was kind of thrown into that right off the bat. It's been good to be in a different light."

After talking about how much fun he's having at RCR and the excitement in the new organization, the 38-year-old returned to the role of playing villain and how Hamlin is embracing it.

"When you're in that spot like I was, and I guess Denny is, you got to do what Denny's doing," Busch admitted. "It's perfect. You've got to play with it, and just go with it and roll with it and egg them on. I mean, I did it. There were so many quotes in the years past when I was talking about Junior Nation and other stuff. Trust me, you're never going to win those battles. They're hard to win. I guess it makes you feel better inside. Makes you feel bigger to say stuff like that. It's fun to watch."

It's fun to watch when he's not receiving the boos. Oh, what a difference a year makes.

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