No matter how successful you become, your family will always keep you grounded and Denny Hamlin knows that first hand! In a recent conversation, the NASCAR star expressed his deep gratitude and respect for his parents despite his achievements. After a series of incidents regarding Hamlin’s attitude came up, he received a wake up call from his parental figure who labeled it as tacky and arrogant. He discusses this incident with Kenny Wallace on his show, ‘Kenny Conversation’.

Head in the clouds but down to earth says Denny Hamlin!

NASCAR is an intensely competitive sport, and everyone has their own way around it, even Denny Hamlin has shared his approach to handling criticism. Stating that he channels the criticism he gets into motivation, using it as fuel to prove his doubters wrong. However, his use of the slogan “I beat your favorite driver” didn’t sit well with his father, who disapproved of it and even called Hamlin out on it.

In conversation with Kenny Wallace, Hamlin reveals that his father, Dennis Hamlin, called him after the incident to put him in his place, bluntly telling him that he sounds arrogant when he says that. In his own words, he said, “You gotta stop that s***, that’s just too c*****.” Knowing his father’s words come from a good place, Hamlin has agreed to discontinue the phrase.

Kenny found this interaction amusing yet heartwarming, admiring Hamlin’s humility before his parents. Hamlin expressed his immense gratitude for his parents’ unwavering support throughout his racing career. Sharing how they came from a middle-class household, with both parents working regular jobs to make ends meet. He revealed that during that time, they even had to sell their old cars, which they occasionally used for events, to cover his racing expenses.

Hamlin was aware of the financial burden that his chosen career path would have on his family, with the constant need for new tires and repairs. However, his parents’ willingness to step up and support their son boosted his confidence and played a significant role in his success in NASCAR. Hamlin joked about how he later bought back the old cars he had sold.

The Hamlin household is a testament to the power of family and togetherness. For the No. 11 Toyota driver, his family is his rock, and he wouldn’t have it any other way. While discussing his sportsmanship, Hamlin admits that his competitive nature can sometimes become a character flaw. Perhaps his father recognized this trait and felt the need to address it.

Denny Hamlin Opens Up About His Competitive Flaws

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Denny Hamlin has been one of the most fiercely competitive drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series over the past two decades. Having achieved success at almost every race and conquered every track with a huge fan following to back him up. But despite his unrelenting drive to compete and come out on top has been instrumental in shaping him into the icon he is today, there seems to be a fine line where this competitiveness can become problematic.

In a recent episode of Actions Detrimental, Hamlin opened up about the influence of Michael Jordan on his competitive nature. Where he clarified that his competitiveness was an innate part of him long before he met Jordan, but it was this mindset that he borrowed from the NBA star that has helped him tackle the critical voices. From casual activities like putt-putt to the prestigious Daytona 500, Hamlin has always had an insatiable desire to win. Which is great, but too much of that and you could run the risk of coming off as a jerk on the tracks.

Hamlin acknowledges that this relentless, perfection-driven competitiveness is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it’s what has propelled him to the top of NASCAR and made him such a dominant force on the track. But on the other, he knows that it’s a character flaw that would someday be his downfall. It may not be an easy task, but with his self-awareness, it shouldn’t be long before the JGR driver finds that balance and restores it before it’s too late!

And now that his father has called him out on his arrogance, Hamlin seems willing to work on becoming a little more humble, especially around his family who have been his constant support system from day one. As the NASCAR Cup Series nears its conclusion, perhaps we can expect to see a more sportsmanlike approach from the JGR driver. It’ll be interesting to see how things go as the races go on!