NASCAR star Denny Hamlin recalls last interaction with Kyle Busch

Denny Hamlin has opened up on his last real interaction with Kyle Busch at Dover, just days before the NASCAR great's tragic passing at the age of 41.

The pair were unexpectedly on stage together ahead of the All-Star Race for a promotional appearance, with Hamlin revealing on his Actions Detrimental podcast this week that even he wasn't planning on the pair sharing the stage.

The 45-year-old joked that the pair got the chance to talk about their aches and pains up on stage – 'old people stuff' – and said he quipped that the long list of achievements being reeled off to introduce them 'just means we're old'.

Busch passed away last Thursday, after suffering from pneumonia which developed into sepsis. The Coca-Cola 600, just days later, saw a great outpouring of love and emotion from the entire NASCAR family.

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Hamlin revelas surprise appearance with Busch

In a segment on Monday's podcast remembering Busch, Hamlin said of the Dover appearance: “It was good. I mean, we had laughs and smiles together. That was really a good opportunity. I wasn't even aware that we were doing it together. I don't think it was planned. I think he might have been early to that appearance.

"Quite unusual, but he was early. I think he was supposed to be before me or after me and instead went on with me for that one. But it was good.

"We got to talk about old people's stuff (laughter). There were aches and body pains, things like that, and just they were listening off kind of our accomplishments and stuff, and it was like, Kyle, that just means that we're old (laughter). That’s it.

"This many starts and got all these accomplishments. It just means we've been around a really, really long time, and so it was really good to have that last interaction with them and see them.”

What caused Kyle Busch's death?

On Saturday, the Busch family confirmed that Kyle had suffered from pneumonia, which developed into severe sepsis.

"The medical evaluation provided to the Busch Family concluded that severe pneumonia progressed into sepsis, resulting in rapid and overwhelming associated complications," a family statement read.

"The family asks for continued understanding and privacy during this difficult time."