Denny Hamlin says he thrives as NASCAR's chief antagonist

"It's a lot of fun for me," Hamlin said in his post-race news conference when asked about embracing his role as NASCAR's chief villain. "I love making people feel a certain way, positive or negative, I do not care." 

"I do have a lot of fun with it. I do thrive on it, simply because it's like you got 60,000 people that are rooting against you," Hamlin explained "When you have that, it just feels really, really good and gratifying to prove them wrong. I love that feeling, and it makes these wins more gratifying for me."

Hamlin certainly has amassed his fair share of doubters, detractors and critics during his 20-year career, but it's safe to say it's well worth it for a man who will go down as one of NASCAR's all-time greats when he decides to retire.