Denny Hamlin responds to critical fans after Talladega

NASCAR Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin (11) looks on during qualifying for the YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports

Denny Hamlin gets personal, returns fire at critical fans after Talladega

By Kyle Dalton | Last updated 10/2/23

Denny Hamlin has gladly accepted the role as NASCAR's villain. In September, he revealed as much after winning at Bristol when he egged on the many fans booing him during his post-race interview.

Following this weekend's race at Talladega, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver took it to another level when he got personal and directly responded to some of those critics on social media.

After finishing third at 'Dega, Hamlin's fourth consecutive top-five finish in the playoffs, the 42-year-old driver talked with NBC's Kim Coon about his race and, during that conversation, mispronounced his primary sponsor Mavis Tires and Brakes.

Unsurprisingly, a fan picked up on the blunder, which the driver acknowledged during the interview, and called him out for it on social media.

This is nothing. I once thanked the guys in the ugly brown truck… https://t.co/luNk38RFmY
— Denny Hamlin (@dennyhamlin) October 1, 2023

"So Denny not knowing how to pronounce his sponsor's name on live tv," the fan wrote on X.

"This is nothing. I once thanked the guys in the ugly brown truck…" Hamlin replied. And the driver was just getting started.

"Don't trust @dennyhamlin not to play games to manipulate this race," another fan wrote. "We know he would be the first one complaining if others were doing the same @NASCARonNBC."

"You have trust issues," the driver fired back at the fan.

Another Hamlin fan was critical of his driver, acknowledging that he didn't like some of the moves the No. 11 was making on the track.

"I didn't like them either," the driver agreed.

Sir im calling to confirm your appointment with our optometrist tomorrow at 11am. Type yes to confirm. https://t.co/vqc7FpYfUD
— Denny Hamlin (@dennyhamlin) October 1, 2023

One critic incorrectly blamed Hamlin for the last-lap crash that damaged multiple cars as they crossed the finish line when it was quite clear that Corey LaJoie initiated the contact.

"Sir im calling to confirm your appointment with our optometrist tomorrow at 11am," Hamlin wrote. "Type yes to confirm."

Kyle Busch said last week at Texas that Hamlin is doing a good job as the villain and needs to keep rolling with his new role. He is doing just that and after Sunday, his critics might be a little more leery at taking shots at him on social media knowing that there's a good chance he'll return fire.

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