“There’s two people I really love right now: my pit crew and Kyle Larson,” joked Denny Hamlin after his Darlington win. It was Kyle Larson’s late-race spin that brought out the caution that sent Hamlin to the lead, and it’s not Denny Hamlin without a cheeky dig like that! Hamlin’s been a lightning rod for years. Love him or hate him, he’s got a knack for stirring the pot. After snapping a 32-race winless streak at Martinsville last week in dominant fashion, he proved this week at Darlington that he can also win races via a late caution! But was the secret to his success something more than just on-track skill?
As Denny Hamlin waved at the crowd following the win, he was met with a chorus of boos at Martinsville and more at Darlington. However, Michael Jordan, 6-time NBA Champion and co-owner of 23XI Racing, along with Denny Hamlin, pointed out before the race that maybe booing Denny Hamlin isn’t the best idea.
Denny Hamlin loves to feed off fans’ negative reactions
Before Hamlin roared to victory in the Throwback race, edging out the pack in a pulsating finish, Michael Jordan’s words in conversation with Jamie Little blew up: “That’s just the way Denny is and if you boo him, that makes him better. You know, you boo me, that makes me better. I mean, that’s just the nature of a good competitor.” Then, NASCAR journalist Claire B. Lang stepped in, catching Denny post-race to question whether his business partner was accurate in his assessment of Hamlin’s mentality.
She brought up his unshakable confidence, something he’d told her earlier he never lacked, and tied it to Jordan’s bold claim. Denny’s answer hits right in the chest: “Yeah, there’s motivation in it for sure, right? You love getting excitement out of the people, you like making them feel a sort of way, whatever way that might be, positive or negative, it’s good to know that you have that effect on someone and so yeah, I don’t know, I love the fans, they don’t really love me that much but I think it’s just my personality and I understand that. I bring it upon myself most times, but I love it, and I love the reaction that I get out of people.”
Michael Jordan may not be courtside anymore, but trackside, he’s hyping up Hamlin like it’s a playoff game. He was throwing down a gauntlet, daring the crowd to keep the noise coming. And Hamlin’s eating it up, turning every jeer into jet fuel for his next lap. The basketball icon turned NASCAR co-owner and Denny Hamlin are cut from the same cloth. It’s not just about racing or winning—it’s personal.
They’ve both got that fire, that itch to prove everyone wrong when the chips are down. Jordan’s legendary competitiveness- the kind that crushed opponents on the court- mirrors Hamlin’s relentless drive on the track. They’re two guys who don’t just survive the odds—they thrive on them, feeding off the doubters like it’s oxygen. And when the going gets tough, that’s when they shine the brightest.
Hamlin’s on top of the world right now, stacking wins like it’s nothing. When he broke that brutal winless drought in the previous race, Hamlin reveled in his zest for trash talk. Soaking it in, tossing out jabs like confetti, fully embracing that villain role he’s carved out. “If I can’t s— talk, it takes away my superpower. I’m not nearly as good,” Hamlin said after the win at Martinsville after unfurling an “11 against the world” flag after the race. The triumph at Martinsville was Hamlin and his No. 11 team staring down the haters, the boos, the whole sport.
The No. 11 team is firing on all cylinders, with his ex-crew chief Chris Gabehart hailing their versatility after back-to-back checkered flags this season. Gabehart took to X and wrote, “It’s fun to be able to see the teams be versatile enough to win them multiple different ways. Today, @dennyhamlin stayed in the game all day long, handed the ball to the pit crew, and they CRUSHED it. So proud of everyone @JoeGibbsRacing for such a diverse effort! And now for my favorite… @ItsBristolBaby ! ”
The last two races prove how strong Hamlin and his crew can be, but this win was different; it was all down to the pit crew. Hamlin’s blazing 9.42-second pit stop under the final caution saw him get ahead of the field and take home the checkered flag after leading just 10 laps all race. After the race, Hamlin even lauded his pit crew on X, posting, “This pit crew gets to hoist the trophy today.” While his trash-talking demeanor might make him infamous, he never shies away from giving credit where it is due, and his pit crew deserved all the plaudits for that performance.
He started as the guy everyone loved to hate—brash, cocky, always stirring the pot—and now, for some, he’s flipping the script. One minute he’s the bad guy, the next he’s got fans waving his flag. It’s shocking because you don’t expect it, but real because he’s earning it, one hard-fought win at a time. Love him or hate him, Denny’s making waves, and he’s not slowing down. He’s got the wins, the attitude, and a legend like Michael Jordan in his corner.
Hamlin wasn’t convinced about doing a Carl Edwards flip after the win
Denny Hamlin was one of several drivers to participate in this year’s rendition of Darlington Throwback Weekend. The #11 Sports Clips Toyota sported a throwback to 2025 NASCAR Hall of Famer Carl Edwards. That red-and-white scheme screamed nostalgia, a nod to Edwards’ glory days. Hamlin said it himself: “Carl was one of the good guys in the sport that I always looked up to.” Before the race, Edwards was in conversation with Hamlin and warned him of the consequence of making victory lane.
Unsurprisingly, when Hamlin crossed the finish line first, no backflip happened. Why? He spilled the hilarious truth, referencing the conversation he had with Edwards prior to the race. “Think he [Carl Edwards] said, ‘Don’t win this race, they might make you do a backflip.’ I said, There’s no chance. I probably would break the back of my head because I wouldn’t even get full 180 flip,” Hamlin recalled.
Still, the win hit deep. Hamlin said, “I loved the scheme. It was just one that I raced against, one that I got beat by a lot. Carl is someone that you certainly look up to.” Edwards stepped away in 2016 after a late crash saw him miss out on his first Cup Series championship. His Hall of Fame induction marked his return to the sport in 2025 earlier this year and will peak when Edwards takes the broadcasting mic during Amazon Prime Video’s 5-race schedule in May. In light of this return, Edwards was emotional seeing his scheme back at Darlington.
Edwards told Jamie Little before the race, “It’s actually way cooler than I thought, a huge honor.” Carl Edwards dominated the sport for many years and came ever-so-close to a championship on multiple occasions. So, it’s only fitting that Denny Hamlin – the guy with the most Cup Series wins (56) without a Championship – adorned his scheme. However, with the run Hamlin is on now, do you think he has a chance to claim that elusive championship once and for all? Let us know in the comments!
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