Denny Hamlin’s Villain Move at Michigan Caused Beef with Michael Jordan’s Publicist

JGR’s Denny Hamlin got in trouble with his business partner Michael Jordan’s publicist over his comments following Michigan win.

Denny Hamlin’s Villain Move at Michigan Caused Beef with Michael Jordan’s Publicist

Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan (Via IMAGO)

Last Sunday’s race at Michigan International Speedway witnessed Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin becoming only the 10th driver ever to win Cup events after making 700th career start. Following the victory, that also made him the winningest racers in JGR history, he brought back his controversial NASCAR villain persona.

Denny Hamlin’s first move was the smug one liner, “I beat your favorite driver” which he retired last season after his father Dennis Hamlin got involved and told him he was being too smug. He apologized before making the comments though. The he took another step by teasing the Michigan fans by starting an Ohio State Football team stand, sending the Michigan crowd to a frenzy.

This moves not only caused beef with the racing crowd, but also with his partner Michael Jordan’s publicist. Being the co-owner of 23XI Racing, besides from being long-time close friends, the duo has a lot of interactions. Being a Michigan grad, the publicist did not appreciate Hamlin gestures and some individuals who are also from the area didn’t like it as well.

Michael’s publicist is a Michigan grad, and she does not appreciate it. I can tell you that. Actually, some of our legal team is Michigan grads as well. I don’t know. I’m definitely pressing some buttons over there. No doubt.

Denny Hamlin said via Dale Jr. Download podcast.

Further talking about the point, Denny Hamlin asserted that he jumped on the Ohio state bandwagon because there are the best team and its fun to enjoy the feelings success with them. He has previously admitted that he isn’t supporting the College Football team because of any emotional reasons, instead of doing it just for the fun of it.

I’ll be honest with you when you jump on the bandwagon with the best team, it surely makes it easy and fun.

Denny Hamlin added.

Denny Hamlin loves teasing NASCAR fans after race wins

At Michigan post-race media session, Denny Hamlin shared his reasons for the latest villain act. He admitted that he doesn’t care about how the fans reacts, as he loves to make people feel a certain way. Hamlin asserted that he is doing everything respectfully, using the free rein he has on the track.

Denny Hamlin
Denny Hamlin (Via IMAGO)

It’s a lot of fun for me. I love making people feel a certain way. Positive or negative, I do not care. All the fans that I’ve been face to face with have been very respectful. What they say outside on the other side of the fence, free rein. Do whatever you want to do, say whatever you want to say. They’ve been very respectful in the small arena.

Denny Hamlin said.

He loves the reactions gets and enjoy the feeling of “11 versus the world” giving him more positive pressure to succeed. The veteran thrives on prove people wrong, which a strong emotion that makes athletes from different sports scenes to perform on high level.

I do have a lot of fun with it. I do thrive on it just simply because you feel like you’ve got 60,000 people that are rooting against you. When you have that, it just feels really, really good and gratifying to prove them wrong.

Denny Hamlin added.

The comment from the JGR veteran shows he loves getting in trouble for him smug on-track antics and it seems to motivate him to do better even at the age of 44. It would be interesting to see how everything is going to playout for the star driver in the coming years, with hie embracing the villain role every other race day.

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