For one, everyone likes a good storyline. Be it in the NBA, MLB, UFC, or NASCAR, fans simply love a thrilling storyline that can live up to its hype. Not only does this bring eyes to the individual in question, but it can even transcend the sport to greater heights beyond imagination. Not convinced? Take the example of Conor McGregor from UFC. After his rise to the top, MMA’s top-tier promotion was never the same.

Every sport/promotion needs a superstar in that aspect, someone who can elevate the game beyond the limits. NBA had Michael Jordan, who exploded into the scene back in the early 80s and was able to quench the community’s needs through sheer commitment and work ethic.

Now NASCAR has someone who can simply quench NASCAR nation’s insatiable need for drama. Denny Hamlin is NASCAR’s new villain. Confident, outspoken, and skilled, Hamlin might be the perfect antagonist that the organization needs right now. Sounds unbelievable? Let us see why.

Denny Hamlin and his steady rise to the top as NASCAR’s villain

Rivalries not only make for a good storyline, but they also bring the best out of an individual. Whether be it one’s colleague at work or a sports person aspiring to become the greatest in his craft. While fans adore the protagonist, the good and well-mannered player who seems to overcome all odds in the pursuit of perfection, fans equally develop an emotional connection towards the antagonist as well.

Fans not only like to have a driver to root for, but they often like to have someone to root against. This makes the matchup intense and memorable. This is where we have the 42-year-old veteran coming in. Hamlin has now become one of the most, if not the most, hated drivers in NASCAR today.

After the 2-time Cup Series champion, Kyle Busch’s reign as the sport’s villain, Denny Hamlin ascended the throne, rubbing salt into the wounds of a very hostile crowd in Bristol. The driver’s swagger echoed in the stands as he said, “I beat your favorite driver” with a grin on his face, mocking the crowd.

However, Hamlin never was your typical villain. He certainly did not start his career on the wrong foot, but over the years, the veteran’s actions and opinionated rants have earned him haters, for that matter. It was in 2017 in Martinsville when Hamlin got busted with boos and birds. Looking to earn a spot in championship 4, the #11 driver did what he is known for, bumping the race leader into a side and snatching a win, denying the then race leader Chase Elliott his first career win.

Ever since that day, Hamlin has had a number of tussles with HMS drivers, including the 2 stints this year with his friend-turned-rival Kyle Larson in Kansas and Pocono. Besides the cloud of controversy and his brash yet honest attitude, Hamlin’s exceptional skill set makes him a force to be reckoned with, putting some of the best drivers to shame. Look at his playoff eliminator race in Bristol. Hamlin not only beat the entire field that day, leading 142 laps, but also beat his HMS friend/rival to show his capabilities.

WATCH THIS STORY: NASCAR 2024: Elliott and Hamlin unite against playoff changes 

Hamlin earns the approval of “Rowdy” Busch

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Much like Kyle Busch who previously donned the villain persona before him, Hamlin is just as skilled as the 2-time champion with 51 wins in the organization’s top division. And just like when Busch smoked his competition across the 3 divisions of the sport, Hamlin is now going on a rampage, embracing his dark side as the sport’s new villain.

Reacting to his former teammate’s infamous Bristol comments, Busch said, “I don’t know if I’ve ever been in this spot because when I first came into the sport … my brother had made a lot of enemies both on and off the racetrack, so I was kind of thrown into that right off the bat.” While Busch knows that Hamlin has taken over his title, he also feels like it could be temporary.

“You’re in that spot like I was and I guess Denny (Hamlin) is, you got to do what Denny is doing, I mean it’s perfect, you got to play with it and just go with it and roll with it and egg them on,” said the ‘bad boy’ recollecting his days as the sport’s villain.

The similarities are numerous. Both drivers are unapologetically confident and brash, exceptionally skilled to give even the best of drivers a run for their money. That’s exactly what makes Denny Hamlin a dangerous contender.

Gordon’s starting comments on Hamlin’s notorious heel turn – Is this what NASCAR really needs right now?

Well, the short answer is yes. While there are criticisms from senior drivers like Jeff Gordon that Hamlin’s actions are a bit “too controversial,” the sport definitely needs a superstar person, someone who keeps fans glued to it for the days to come. Especially when the organization is still in the recovery phase after a rough time, battling the pandemic a couple of years earlier.

Moreover, to retain its core fans from going over to its competitors like Formula 1, it is the need of the hour to have such personalities who can captivate the fanbase so easily. This is even more significant considering the sanctioning body’s wish to go international, expanding beyond borders.

Now everyone might not resound to this idea, especially if one’s a professional driver with less affinity towards controversy like HMS’ Jeff Gordon. Contrary to what most of the fans believe, Gordon feels like Hamlin’s fallout is more of a distraction and wants none of his drivers to go down the same path.

Speaking on NASCAR’s official radio channel, Sirius XM NASCAR, he said, “Denny is trying to do things to stir up conversation. To get people to at least have in an opinion. Whether it’s a positive one, or a negative one, you have an opinion. And the fact he is embracing that, I’ll give him kudos all day long. Go for it! I wouldn’t want that to be one of our drivers. Because it’s too controversial. To me, it’s a distraction.”

Now, on the other hand, the NASCAR nation is thrilled to have its newly proclaimed villain. Someone who can win races and still taunt his detractors with absolutely no remorse. Even the numbers and statistics point that out, the driver became the talk of the town after his landslide win in Bristol where he roasted the crowd.

Simply put, Denny Hamlin’s heel turn and him embracing the antagonistic persona is a much-needed feat for the sport as a whole, especially with the action heading to the round of 8.

What do you think? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Read More: Will Denny Hamlin Finally Win That Elusive NASCAR Cup Series Title?