Denny Hamlin secured his third win of the season and his 57th Cup Series victory during Sunday’s FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan, but it was Chris Buescher finishing second to Denny Hamlin at Michigan that truly sparked passionate debate among fans and insiders. Hamlin’s win was closely followed by post-race theatrics that overshadowed his on-track achievement and stirred tensions across the NASCAR community.
Hamlin Clinches Michigan Victory with Dramatic Finishing Moves
The FireKeepers Casino 400 concluded with a display of calculated racing as Hamlin managed to conserve fuel while timing his moves perfectly, ultimately passing William Byron with just four laps remaining. Although he led a mere five laps, Hamlin crossed the finish line 1.099 seconds ahead of Chris Buescher. His actions after the race, however, received as much attention as his driving. Hamlin flaunted his win in a post-race interview, declaring:
“Daddy I’m sorry but I beat your favorite driver folks… all of them”
—Denny Hamlin, Driver
Buescher, who was the runner-up and is seen by some fans as a folk hero, became an inadvertent focal point of the controversy because Hamlin’s remarks were perceived as taunting rather than gracious. While Joe Gibbs Racing’s veteran displayed notable confidence, not everyone in the NASCAR world welcomed the approach.
Industry Voices Critique Hamlin’s Post-Race Conduct
Reactions from within the sport quickly surfaced. Freddie Kraft, spotter for Bubba Wallace at 23XI Racing, voiced skepticism regarding Hamlin’s comments. On the Door Bumper Clear podcast, Kraft emphasized that, for all Hamlin’s talent, his jokes appeared off-target when aimed at Buescher, rather than more universally popular figures like Chase Elliott or Ryan Blaney.

“I always say the guy’s great, but this was awful. Like, we’ve got to do something better than this…. we’ve got to stop with this d*mn beat your favorite driver. Like if he would have outrun like Chase (Elliott) or (Kyle) Larson or (Ryan) Blaney or somebody, I’d be okay with it. But he just beat the folk hero, Chris Buescher. That’s not not the ultra popular driver.” (42:07 onwards)
—Freddie Kraft, Spotter
Kraft was not alone in his assessment. Joined by Tommy Baldwin and Ricky Stenhouse Jr., he reflected on Hamlin’s penchant for embracing the role of NASCAR’s “heel”—someone willing to rile up the crowd instead of seeking widespread approval. NASCAR thrives on dramatic personalities, but Kraft hinted he wished Hamlin would bring more originality to his provocations.
“I liked when the leaning into the 11 against the world because they had the flag at the damn national championship game… That stuff’s funny. We need a heel… So we need we need an ass***e and Denny’s obviously happy to take that role.” (43:05 onwards)
—Freddie Kraft, Spotter
Hamlin’s efforts to embrace the antagonist persona date back to earlier in the season—such as his flag-waving celebration at Martinsville tied to his car number “11” and affinity for the Ohio State Buckeyes, reinforcing his rivalry with both drivers and fans, especially in locations like Michigan.
Defiant Gestures Stir Reactions from Fans and Rivals
Hamlin’s readiness to inflame crowds is not exclusive to Michigan. At Texas Motor Speedway, he openly taunted spectators with an unmistakable “Horns Down” gesture during driver introductions, targeting Texas Longhorns supporters and prompting a chorus of boos. These repeated gestures demonstrate Hamlin’s willingness to draw the ire of regional fans and reinforce his image as NASCAR’s antagonist.
Hamlin addressed his controversial approach in the post-race press conference, stating:
“I do have a lot of fun with it. I do thrive on it just simply because it’s you feel like you’ve got 60,000 people that are rooting against you and when you have that it just feels really really good and gratifying to prove them wrong. So, I just I love that feeling and it makes these winds more gratifying to me”
—Denny Hamlin, Driver
This openness about enjoying the hostility further fuels debate among drivers, fans, and industry insiders. Some see Hamlin’s behavior as necessary for spicing up NASCAR’s landscape, where dynamic personalities contribute to the drama and storylines, while others criticize his perceived disrespect toward less mainstream competitors such as Chris Buescher.
Controversy Highlights Ongoing Divide Within NASCAR
Because Chris Buescher finishes second to Denny Hamlin at Michigan, the spotlight on fan favorites, antagonists, and character roles within the sport has grown even brighter. Hamlin, a seasoned Joe Gibbs Racing driver, shows no signs of abandoning his provocative style—drawing both criticism and admiration for energizing the rivalry with fans and fellow competitors.
The tension from this Michigan finish will likely echo throughout the remainder of the Cup Series season, especially if Hamlin’s defiant celebrations continue. Whether fans ultimately side with folk heroes like Buescher or with talented antagonists like Hamlin, these clashes ensure that NASCAR remains unpredictable, fueling conversations among supporters and critics at every turn.