Denny Hamlin has never shied away from speaking his mind, making him one of the most polarizing figures in NASCAR. Whether it’s on his Actions Detrimental podcast, post-race interviews, or spats on X, Hamlin’s outspoken nature has often placed him under the media’s microscope. The moment he makes a mistake or finds himself in controversy, the scrutiny kicks in. However, NASCAR veteran Kevin Harvick believes Hamlin isn’t getting the credit he deserves.

Kevin Harvick praises Denny Hamlin’s resilience

While Denny Hamlin’s talent behind the wheel is undeniable, criticism has always heeled him. However, after an impressive showing at the Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, Hamlin found a supporter in Kevin Harvick. The 2014 Cup Series Champion defended the Joe Gibbs Racing star on Happy Hour, making it clear that Hamlin deserves more respect than scrutiny.

Harvick believes Hamlin is often facing more blame than warranted. The JGR driver struggled early in practice but quickly turned things around and finished third in the Cookout Clash and led 28 laps of the race as well, something Harvick pointed out as proof of Hamlin’s resilience.

“We’re all going to question Denny Hamlin, right?” Harvick said. “Like he’s… just the easy target. So everybody wants to put the blame, question, whatever it is on Denny. But you can’t deny the fact that they came out of the gate at first practice—horrible  — couldn’t get out of their own way. Second practice, fastest, qualifies up front, wins his heat race, leads a lot of the race, puts himself in position.”

For years, Hamlin has juggled multiple responsibilities, from being a top-tier driver at JGR to co-owning 23XI Racing alongside Michael Jordan. On top of that, he’s dealing with a lawsuit involving his NASCAR. Last year, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports filed an anti-trust lawsuit against NASCAR, accusing the sanctioning body of monopolistic practices. After refusing the sign the charter agreement for 2025, their stature as a chartered team was in jeopardy. Fast forward to 2025, and the charter situation has been sorted with 23XI Racing being granted the preliminary injunction by Judge Kenneth Bell.

Kevin Harvick praised Hamlin for being so calm despite all the surrounding noise. “He can compartmentalize things and is able to let all the noise and all the chatter not bother him,” Harvick explained. “And he knows what to do and when he needs to shift his focus from 23XI and everything that’s going on with the lawsuit… not having enough sponsorship on his car.”

Despite all this, Hamlin continues to face constant scrutiny. But as Kevin Harvick pointed out, his ability to rise above distractions and deliver on race day is something to be admired, not questioned. However, the question remains, will all this pile up and prompt Denny to call it off?

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Lawsuit, sponsorship crisis, and JGR pressure: Is this Hamlin’s last season?

As if the typical NASCAR drama wasn’t enough, Hamlin is now navigating one of the most challenging seasons of his career. His ongoing lawsuit with NASCAR has put him under even greater scrutiny, and Harvick acknowledged that the media will now shift their focus to his legal troubles.

“They went to the racetrack, performed well. Now they go to media day, and the questions are already set. The conversation they controlled by their performance. And now Denny Hamlin will have to answer lawsuit questions.” Harvick noted. Hamlin’s performance in Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium proved yet again that he is a master of short tracks. However, if his driving has no scrutiny, the attention shifts to his off-court troubles.

Beyond the legal battles, Hamlin faces other uncertainties that could define his future in NASCAR. His No. 11 Toyota has experienced sponsorship struggles, and losing Fed-Ex after over a decade has raised questions about whether his longtime tenure at Joe Gibbs Racing is in trouble. With JGR also facing internal pressure following Martin Truex Jr.‘s retirement decision and Christopher Bell, Chase Briscoe, and Ty Gibbs’ development, Hamlin’s position within the team isn’t as rock-solid as it once was.

If the legal and sponsorship issues continue to mount, and if JGR prioritizes younger talent, the veteran driver may find himself at a crossroads. Despite his talent and consistency, off-track challenges could force him into an early exit. With so much going on, could this be Hamlin’s final full-time season? Let us know in the comments.