“How Do I Win a Championship” – Fans Rub Salt in Denny Hamlin’s Recent Wounds After His Wild Meeting With Lewis Hamilton

There are record-holders like Jimmie Johnson and Lewis Hamilton who make a habit of winning championships. Then there are the unfortunate ones like Mark Martin and Denny Hamlin. Though Hamlin and Hamilton are legends in their respective racing classes, there lies a vast pond of difference between them. Away from the statistics that define the careers of these two racers, they recently crossed paths ahead of the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix. The meeting has turned out to be an exciting event for both the NASCAR and Formula 1 communities, but not quite in the expected way.

Behind the wheels of his Toyota, Denny Hamlin earned the ill will of racing fans throughout the 2023 season. The result of it? The fandom continues pulling his leg even after the season is done and dusted.

Denny Hamlin meets Formula 1 legend Lewis Hamilton in Las Vegas

During the season finale weekend in Phoenix, Denny Hamlin had told reporters that he would be visiting the Las Vegas Grand Prix for both entertainment and idea-gathering purposes. He is, after all, the owner of a successful racing franchise, 23XI Racing. With the date of the event finally showing up on the calendar, Hamlin made an appearance at the street circuit.

Whilst at the track, the Joe Gibbs Racing star appears to have run into the 7-time Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton. With Hamlin sharing an image of the duo having a serious conversation on his Instagram handle, it has since been circulating the network widely. A fan reposted the image on their “X” handle, with the question, “What’s Denny cooking here?” NASCAR followers have been flooding it with their witty comments on what the discussion between the icons might have been.

As could be anyone’s guess, they were all aiming for Denny Hamlin’s throat with this one.

Watch This Story: NASCAR Mourns the Loss of Ken Squire 

NASCAR fans gang up on Denny Hamlin post his discussion with Lewis Hamilton

From his on-track aggression to taunting words against fans in interviews, several factors have earned Denny Hamlin the title of being the “villain” of NASCAR. In a season which he claimed would finally be the one where he won the championship, he yet again fell flat. Unable to make it to the Championship 4 race at Phoenix, he was left licking the wounds dealt to him by Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney in the Round of 8 final race at the Martinsville Speedway.

For 18 years, Denny Hamlin has raced in the NASCAR Cup Series, and for 18 years he has come a step short of claiming the championship title. In reaction to his post with Lewis Hamilton, who has almost always hit his mark for championship titles, NASCAR fans hit him right where it would hurt the most.

One fan wrote, “Trying to get secrets on how to actually win a championship,” with another following, “Probably not a Championship… .” Hamlin’s attitude toward fans has rendered his struggles to reach the finish line a matter of comedy for many who follow the sport. While lacking a championship doesn’t lessen the status of Hamlin as an icon, it does leave an obvious gap in his legacy. Another fan stepped a toe outside the line with a sarcastic retort that mocked Hamlin saying, “Can I touch one of your championship trophies?”

Currently, at 42 years of age, 2023 was perhaps Denny Hamlin’s best shot at winning the Cup. Though most regard that Hamlin’s best is behind him, he still is the preferred star driver of Joe Gibbs Racing. Going into 2024, the #11 driver will once again aim to give the younger drivers on the grid a run for their money and finally win the Cup.

Read More: Denny Hamlin’s Crew Chief Crashing JGR’s ‘Tire Advice’ Presentation Leaves Crew Members Red-Faced