Joe Gibbs Racing star Denny Hamlin enters the 2023 NASCAR Playoffs from the 3rd position in the driver’s standings. Over his 17-year-old racing career in the top tier of NASCAR, the driver has won 50 Cup Series races and achieved numerous other feats. Along with impressive credibilities like these, come the gift of gaining haters.
NASCAR had recently hosted the final 16 drivers who’d broken into the playoffs for the media day. As spokesperson Alex Weaver went around asking drivers questions from fans, she posed an instigating one to Denny Hamlin and his response was a nail on the head for haters.
Denny Hamlin’s philosophical thoughts on his haters
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After a 26-race contest to reach this pivotal point in the season, the playoffs are about to begin for 16 of the best drivers this year. But before any on-track activity begins at the next destination, Darlington Raceway, the drivers met on Thursday at the Charlotte Convention Center in North Carolina for NASCAR’s media day, where they discussed their season and future plans.
During this meet, reporter and host, Alex Weaver asked the racers random questions from fans and got their responses. NASCAR had taken to its Instagram stories to display one of the exchanges. Coming to Denny Hamlin, Weaver posed a question from a fan that read, ‘Denny – I wonder how you feel about getting booed’.
The question from the fan is a reflection of the response that the driver has been getting from racing fans in recent weeks.
Denny has always been a driver who has divided the fanbase with his actions and words both on and off the track. As a result, he has earned one too many cynics.
Answering the question and providing his thoughts on them, he said, “Haters are just admirers that have lost their way”.
Watch This Story: Denny Hamlin’s Heartfelt Farewell to Nascar Legend
The recent event that earned Denny Hamlin the wrath of racing fans
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In the race at the Pocono Raceway in July, Denny drove to victory lane and earned his 50th Cup Series victory. What should have rightly been a celebratory occasion turned out to be something different.
With 7 laps to go in the race, Denny had forced Kyle Larson into the wall to secure his win. With prior incidents already souring things between him and fans, this move broke the wall and earned him a ring of boos as he earned his victory at Pocono.
Following the race, he faced a similar situation in his hometown, Virginia. Prior to racing in the Richmond Raceway, fans welcomed the driver to the track, once again with loud boos. Denny had since offered no apologies to the fans or to Kyle Larson. Speaking to the press in the aftermath, he said, “I’ve been used up enough by this type of driving that I’ve realized I must adapt or die.”
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Fans have not taken well with Denny’s demeanor, but then again, his words to the fan question that Alex Weaver posed proves that the racer isn’t letting the issues go to his head.
Denny goes into the playoffs without a contract extension with long-term team Joe Gibbs Racing. But there’s a doubt whether he will be stressing about that a lot since he will always have the option to go to 23XI Racing, a team that he co-owns.
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Reflecting on the same during the media day, as per deadspin.com, Denny jovially said, “I will hire me. And I should be the highest-paid driver in the deal.” With just days left to go for the showdown at the ‘Lady in Black’, we are sure to witness one of the most intense races of this season.
Read More: Denny Hamlin Offers 4-Word Advice to Playoff Debutant Bubba Wallace