Jeff Burton Exposes Golf’s Role in Denny Hamlin’s Evolution into NASCAR Villain

NASCAR legend Jeff Burton hinted at Golf's role in making Denny Hamlin into a villain of the sport.

Jeff Burton Exposes Golf’s Role in Denny Hamlin’s Evolution into NASCAR Villain

Jeff Burton (via USA Today) and Denny Hamlin (via Getty Images)

Denny Hamlin is one of the most polarizing figures in NASCAR. The Cup Series veteran wears emotions on his sleeves and is never reluctant to show it to fans. While Hamlin has earned a massive fanbase, he also is followed by an equally big group of haters. Now, veteran star Jeff Burton has revealed the role of Golf in shaping the JGR star as a villain in the sport.

Over the years, Hamlin has built himself a reputation. The 23XI Racing co-owner is often booed by fans during races. However, this does not deter Denny Hamlin from fighting aggressively for wins. The 44-year-old at times seems to be feeding off the energy from his haters. The JGR star does not hold himself back from saying some controversial comments at a time when drivers and NASCAR are becoming increasingly cautious.

Jeff Burton revealed that Golf that might be fueling Denny Hamlin’s villain persona in NASCAR. While playing Golf with friends, one is able to express themselves and talk without any filter. This usually stays between friends or family and never translates to real life.

However, Burton reckoned that this atmosphere was what the JGR star wanted to bring to the world of NASCAR. The veteran star insisted that Hamlin wanted to behave freely in the garage, and it didn’t matter if some people were not happy with his personality.

When we all play golf together, there’s a lot of talking, there’s a lot of things that you can’t say in public that you will say to a guy when you’re playing golf against him, just some talking. And Denny wants to bring that to the racetrack, he wants to bring that to like, ‘Hey let’s do it, like let’s go at it and look it. It turns some people off and some people like it and that’s the point.

Jeff Burton said on NASCAR’s Inside The Race.

Denny Hamlin brings ‘passion’ to NASCAR

Burton asserted that Hamlin wanted to bring personality to NASCAR, with each driver having a strong character. Such personas would create fanbases in the sport where crowds would cheer for a driver who might be getting booed, as is the case with Hamlin. Such a passion is what grows a sport’s fanfollowing.

Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan
Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan (Via IMAGO)

That’s the point for Denny is like we need personalities in this sport. When somebody walks across the stage to get booed, we need them to get cheered. That passion about the drivers is the most important part of our sport. 

Jeff Burton said.

Moreover, Jeff Burton claimed that this sort of a foundation will create a sense of attachment and belonging. Subsequently, he reckoned that Denny Hamlin had taken this formula to the extreme. The Toyota driver was now at a position where he was not going to change his personality at all, no matter the response he gets from viewers.

You have to have an attachment, and so Denny, with his maturity, has decided, ‘This is who I am, this is who I like to be like, I like this talk and I’m going to do it.’

Jeff Burton stated.

Certainly, Denny Hamlin will continue to divide fans with his ways in NASCAR. The 44-year-old has grown a thick skin that doesn’t get affected by a few negative responses from crowds. On-track, his results never take a hit, as Hamlin continues to take the battle to the front every race. Though it remains to be seen whether other drivers in the field will follow Hamlin’s bold persona.

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