Denny Hamlin, the man who has a complicated relationship with NASCAR fans, has done it again! Saturday night at Bristol Motor Speedway, under the dazzling lights, Hamlin snagged his third win of the 2023 NASCAR season. As Hamlin basks in the glory of his victory, another intriguing narrative emerges his unique partnership with the legendary Michael Jordan. Yes, the basketball icon and the reviled villain of NASCAR are on a journey together, shaping the future of 23XI Racing.

Hamlin and Michael Jordan have been steering the 23XI Racing ship for three seasons now. Their mission? To build a racing dynasty that could rival Jordan’s basketball legacy. But as business partners, there’s always room for a few lessons in each other’s worlds. During the podcast ‘Actions Detrimental,’ Denny Hamlin, along with co-host Jared Allen, candidly shared his perspective on his approach to interacting with fans.

Hamlin’s unique approach to dealing with fans

Hamlin expressed that his primary goal is not necessarily to gain more fans but rather to engage in the spirited back-and-forth banter that he genuinely enjoys. According to Denny Hamlin, whether through his basketball or golf leagues, he thrives on talking a bit of trash, finding it enjoyable and a mental boost that fuels self-motivation and drives personal improvement. But when did this character development start? Well, Hamlin revealed it himself! 

The JGR driver stated, “This whole thing’s been fun and certainly this kind of all started around kind of the Pocano thing with [Kyle] Larson. But it’s just it’s taken on a mind of its own at this point and you’re just having fun with it.” 

He further added, “Hopefully we can just keep it going right because obviously you know the first thing that someone that you know is rooting for you to do they’re just waiting for one week to like for you to not do well. ‘See! I told you! I told you, you suck!’”

Hamlin finds inspiration in a most unlikely source: his business partner and NBA legend, Michael Jordan. Hamlin has had the privilege of glimpsing a different side of Jordan. Renowned as one of the fiercest trash-talkers in NBA history, Jordan’s competitive spirit on the court was second to none. 

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Yet, as John Starks, a former Knicks player who faced off against Jordan, revealed, the court was the place where Jordan’s silence spoke volumes.

Lessons from a trash-talk legend Michael Jordan

Starks recalled the intense rivalry between the Chicago Bulls and the New York Knicks during the ’90s, with Jordan and himself often locking horns. Surprisingly, Jordan’s trash-talk prowess didn’t shine as brightly on the court as it did off it.

Starks divulged, “People always talk about Michael talking a lot of trash, but he didn’t talk a lot of trash out there on the court. He was so focused on his job.”

“Me and him really didn’t get into any verbal massive matches because I knew, being this player that I am, you don’t want to get him wound up. He already came in to play, but if you start talking noise to him, he’s gonna take you to another level. He gonna take his game to another level,”

In this tale of two competitors, Hamlin finds himself aligned with the essence of Jordan’s silent swagger. As the boos cascade down upon him, he channels the lessons learned from his partner. Much like Jordan, he focuses on his job, letting his performance do the talking.

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In a world where the line between hero and villain blurs with every twist of the wheel, Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan’s partnership is a testament to the enduring power of sportsmanship, rivalry, and the enigmatic allure of the silent swagger that can define a legend.