What would NASCAR be without the rivalries and on-track battles between the drivers? But what if there were no different personalities among drivers, just a bunch of rowdy characters with similar traits taking on the field? These were the exact thoughts of JGR driver Denny Hamlin when he was asked a strange question during an interview.

Imagine 36 Denny Hamlins taking the field on a race day. Different individuals have different tastes and likings, and so is the case with NASCAR drivers. The sole reason the rivalries in NASCAR have developed is because the two individuals had different perspectives, ideals, and styles of racing. This fact was explained by Hamlin when he was put in the spotlight, to tackle such a hypothetical situation.

There can only be one Denny Hamlin

The veteran driver has rubbed shoulders with many drivers over the years and has seen a fair share of conflicts and rivalries. Not that he has refrained from making new enemies this season, but for the time being, he has kept to himself. However, speaking in an interview just before the Atlanta race this Sunday, he was asked his views on having all 36 race drivers behave like him.

A reporter asked Hamlin, ‘Can you imagine 36 of you, whether it’s personality or talent?’ To this, Hamlin replied, “No I don’t think so. I think there’s room for everyone at the table, and certainly, the clashing personalities is what makes rivalries right. I mean, I just about had a rivalry with about anybody that’s been pretty good in the sport and then some that have been average.”

It takes just more than contrasting character traits and personalities to develop a rivalry. NASCAR has seen some iconic rivalries, wherein both drivers had a lot in common. Adding to take on rivalries, Hamlin added, “I just think, that’s what makes those rivalries, it’s clashing style, clashing ideals and so that’s what the sport was built off. I mean Jeff Gordon, and Dale Earnhardt couldn’t be any more different right but it created kind of a rivalry.”

While rivalries against opposition teams and drivers are natural, Hamlin has taken it a step above. The 44-year-old is at odds with not just the drivers on the grid but also the majority of the NASCAR fanbase.

Denny Hamlin vs NASCAR fans

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Donning the title of NASCAR’s villain, Hamlin certainly looks to be causing a stir amongst the fan base. His famous line, “I beat your favorite driver” has now sort of become a trend for him to rub salt into the wounds of the fans. Since 2021, JDR’s No. 11 has been involved in an on-track rivalry with the likes of Chase Elliot and Kyle Larson from Hendrick Motorsports. The fact that Hamlin’s beef has been against the HMS drivers, in particular, certainly doesn’t help his cause.

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Unfortunately, the 23X1 co-owner had decided to dial down and retire on his chant of “I beat your favorite driver”. And there’s a good reason why Hamlin has decided to retire the infamous line.

Speaking on his podcast show, Action Detrimental, he said, “I’m gonna retire the ‘I beat all your favorite drivers’ because I got a text and those of you saw the Netflix special with my dad, he sent me a text. He says, ‘Son, you got to stop that. I don’t like it, it’s just too cocky’. I’m gonna listen to dad on this one, so we’re gonna retire, that’s the last time.”

What are your thoughts on Hamlin’s conduct on the track?