Denny Hamlin Polarizing Persona: Hendrick Motorsports’ Chase Elliott secured his sixth consecutive Most Popular Cup Driver award at the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Awards. Although a remarkable feat, it falls short of his father, Bill Elliott’s record, who holds the most wins in NASCAR history. Elliott has consistently claimed this title since 2018, maintaining an unwavering fan base, even amidst Ryan Blaney’s championship win and Kevin Harvick‘s retirement tour.
Conversely, if there were an award for the Most Unpopular Driver, Joe Gibbs Racing veteran Denny Hamlin would likely clinch it. The 23XI Racing co-owner has garnered controversy due to his contentious encounters with fan-favorite drivers and his unapologetic stance toward such incidents, which has notably rubbed some fans the wrong way.
Embracing his persona as a polarizing figure, Hamlin’s unrelenting attitude both on the track and through his podcast, ‘Action Detrimental,’ solidified his reputation. His audacious response to booing fans during races this season became an iconic moment. At the NASCAR Awards in Nashville, Hamlin candidly acknowledged his divergent standing, reveling in being the opposite of the fan-favorite image, recognizing that he might never attain Elliott’s level of popularity.
“I’ve come to terms with the fact that I’ll never win that one for sure. It’s amusing to embrace the role of the anti-most popular driver. That’s likely the award I’ll win nine times out of ten as long as I’m in the sport.”
Hamlin’s transformation into a NASCAR ‘villain’ stemmed primarily from his clashes with the sport’s darlings, particularly Hendrick Motorsports‘ Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson, both revered by fans. His incidents with them in the 2023 season, including a race-ending collision with Larson and being the catalyst for Elliott’s one-race suspension, exacerbated his unpopularity. Hamlin acknowledges that some fans might never forgive or forget these instances, perpetuating the animosity towards him.
It seems that the fans, especially supporters of Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott, hold grudges over our past run-ins. They’re unlikely to overlook those incidents. I’ve come to terms with the fact that certain situations might never be forgiven, as they perceive it, I wronged their driver on a given weekend.”
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Our Reader’s Queries
What is actions detrimental with Denny Hamlin?
The sports podcast, Actions Detrimental with Denny Hamlin, offers NASCAR enthusiasts a fresh perspective on the sport. Denny Hamlin, a prominent and polarizing figure in the industry, has been a key contributor to the show’s success. With his insights and opinions, listeners can gain a deeper understanding of the sport and its intricacies. Tune in to this podcast to experience NASCAR like never before.
What is Denny Hamlin known for?
With more than 500 NASCAR Cup Series career starts under his belt, Denny is now the longest-tenured driver at Joe Gibbs Racing. He’s proven his versatility on the track with victories at 16 out of the 24 race tracks that host NASCAR Cup Series races. From short tracks to intermediate tracks, superspeedways to road courses, Denny has shown he can win on any style of track.
Is Joe Gibbs still in NASCAR?
Come 2024, Joe Gibbs Racing is set to dominate the NASCAR Xfinity Series with four full-time entries. The team will be led by two talented drivers, Sheldon Creed and Chandler Smith, who will be racing for the organization on a full-time basis. With their skills and expertise, Joe Gibbs Racing is sure to make a mark in the upcoming season.
Who is driving for Joe Gibbs in 2023?
For the upcoming 2023 season, the team has enlisted the talents of John Hunter Nemechek and Sammy Smith. These two drivers had previously competed part-time in the team’s “star car” during the 2022 season, but will now be competing full-time. With their skills and experience, the team is looking forward to a successful season ahead.
