One year ago, when Kyle Busch was teetering on the edge of renewing his longstanding contract with Toyota team Joe Gibbs Racing or moving to Chevrolet team Richard Childress Racing, Toyota watched Busch slip through their fingertips.
Busch’s 15-year career with JGR — and Toyota — was brought to an end.
This year, as Denny Hamlin approaches the same point in his contract year with JGR, Toyota isn’t about to let another one go.
“He will be back. There’s no question in our minds, there’s no question in Joe (Gibbs) mind,” said TRD President David Wilson. “We’re working through some details, it’s a complicated consideration, because now he’s not just a driver for Joe Gibbs Racing, he’s also a team owner.”
Wilson eluded to Hamlin’s co-ownership of 23XI Racing — a two-car Toyota team that fields Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace in the NASCAR Cup Series. Though the 23XI operation is undoubtedly a key part of the equation when it comes to Hamlin, Wilson’s primary concern is keeping the No. 11 TRD Camry driver on the roster to the very end, whenever that may be.
“I know Denny has always wanted to and intends to retire as a driver from Joe Gibbs Racing and continue as a team owner with Toyota. That’s certainly our intent and we’re working vigorously to make sure that happens,” Wilson said.
Hamlin has played an integral role in building Toyota’s reputation in NASCAR since he made his Cup Series debut with JGR in 2005.
The 42-year-old recently brought Toyota its 600th victory across NASCAR’s top three national series with his win last Sunday at Pennsylvania’s Pocono Raceway. The trip to victory lane was also a personal feat for Hamlin, as it marked his 50th Cup Series victory and his 61st win win for Toyota in a national NASCAR series.
“He (Hamlin) put out his goal of 60 wins in the Cup Series and from my perspective, that is absolutely achievable, given his level of talent and determination,” Wilson noted.
But while the celebration surrounding Toyota’s 600th victory certainly highlighted Hamlin, Wilson was careful to credit the one who got away for his lasting achievements with the manufacturer.
“We all know who has the most wins for Toyota, and that’s Kyle Busch,” Wilson said.
Across all three national series, 203 of 600 wins belong to Busch.
“We will always celebrate the records, the races that we won, the championships that we won together,” Wilson said. “I am not the least bit surprised in the fact that he’s picked up where he left off and he’s doing great things with his new partners.”
Hamlin’s 61-win record is still second on Toyota’s list — which is why it’s not a question for Wilson that the No. 11 driver needs to stay in the Toyota stable.
“Denny plays a huge role in our family. We’ve really enjoyed watching his maturation, and not just as driver, not just as a team owner, but as a human being and as a person,” Wilson said. “I’m really proud of that.”