In August 2008, the Bristol Night Race NASCAR fans booed Kyle Busch so loudly that it shook the Tennessee hills. Every time his No. 18 Toyota passed by, the noise got nastier. It was all because of a crash he had with Dale Earnhardt Jr. a few races back. The Junior nation hadn’t forgiven him. But that didn’t bother him as Busch leaned into the hate like a pro wrestler hyping a heel turn. He went out, led 415 of 500 laps, won the race, and stood on the track with a mocking bow to the grandstands.
“If they’re booing, it just means I’m doing my job,” he once said. But now approaching 40, with a calmer demeanour and a family, Rowdy’s fire hasn’t gone out—but the edge has dulled. Perhaps it might be because of him switching to RCR and the Chevy camp. However, 16 years later, another driver is looking to channel Busch’s energy at Bristol. Kyle Busch’s former teammate, Denny Hamlin, is turning into a heel after back-to-back wins in the ongoing season.
Just days ago, on his Actions Detrimental podcast, Hamlin joked, “I bet Kyle Busch wishes he got all the boos that he used to get.” That came right after a fan called him out for being a great podcaster but a driver they’d still flip off on Sundays. Hamlin laughed and said, “Bring those double ones. I’ll keep harassing you as a driver.” Now, ahead of the Ford City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway, the JGR driver has openly challenged NASCAR fans.
Denny Hamlin enjoys his villain persona!
Coming off back-to-back wins at Martinsville and Darlington, Denny Hamlin is in rare form. He’s winning races, shaking up press rooms, and turning boos into jet fuel. When he climbed out of his No. 11 Toyota at Martinsville, he didn’t just celebrate. He waved a blue flag that read: “11 Against The World.” The message was clear: he’s done caring about fan approval. He’s here to win and antagonize. If anything the boos and jeers only fuels his drive further to prove his doubters wrong.
As he heads to Bristol Motor Speedway, a track he’s conquered four times already, he’s not just gunning for another victory. He’s pushing buttons, testing limits, and fully leaning into a role he once hesitated to embrace. In the pre-race interview, he doubled down on his newly established heel persona. “I mean, there’s nothing more gratifying to me than winning and then figuring out how I’m going to antagonize this crowd. That’s what my goal is for the day. So, we’ll see how it goes,” he said.
“There’s nothing more gratifying to me than winning and then figuring out how I’m going to antagonize this crowd.”
Denny Hamlin is looking to score another point against the world today. #RaceDay pic.twitter.com/7UvcA6GdYQ
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) April 13, 2025
Hamlin further compared himself to tennis great John McEnroe—someone who needed to create chaos just to perform. “It’s not about them. It’s about me playing my best,” he added. That chaos is becoming his trademark. The stats back it up. Hamlin now has 56 career wins, putting him one victory away from becoming the winningest driver in Joe Gibbs Racing history. He’s also second in the betting odds for Bristol, behind only Kyle Larson.
However, this isn’t some accidental shift. Hamlin has leaned into this image because it works. He doesn’t want silence when he’s introduced. He wants emotion—cheers or jeers. Nothing in between. While speaking with Fox Sports, he had said, “I don’t mind making people feel a certain kind of way. As long as I don’t get claps… that’s the worst.” It’s clear that Hamlin is not afraid to get under fans’ skin, especially the diehards who root for his competitors.
This heel turn isn’t born from failure—it’s born from dominance. Hamlin has been consistently fast this year. Notably, before winning the last two races, he was constantly running in the top 10. At Phoenix Raceway, he came close to winning but failed to overtake his teammate, Christopher Bell. Now, with momentum and motivation on his side, Hamlin eyes third consecutive and fifth overall win at “World’s fastest half mile.” However, everyone isn’t buying his new heel avatar.
Kevin Harvick wants Hamlin to stop his heel turn!
Kevin Harvick has never been shy about sharing his opinions. Recently, on his Happy Hour podcast, he made it clear: he doesn’t like Denny Hamlin’s new approach. After Hamlin’s Martinsville win, the crowd was cheering him—for once. But then came the flag. “11 Against The World.” Harvick didn’t think it was necessary. “When he got out of the car last week, I felt like the crowd was more on his side before the flag than after it,” he said.
Harvick acknowledged that the flag was likely a fan-made gesture, and Hamlin probably saw it as a playful move. But Harvick saw the mood change. Cheers turned to boos. “If there was no flag—I think the reaction would’ve stayed a consistent cheer.” In Harvick’s eyes, Hamlin has done enough in the sport to deserve a hero’s exit. The same way he hopes Kyle Busch eventually gets that respect again.
“I want Denny to get the exit he deserves. I want them to all cheer for him… over however many years he has left,” Harvick said. For Harvick, this late-career chapter should be about appreciation, not antagonism. He respects Hamlin’s success. He just wants the crowd to show it, too. But for now, Hamlin doesn’t seem ready to switch gears. He likes the boos. He feeds off them. And as long as he keeps winning, he has no plans to change.
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