“Fandom doesn’t give me trophies,” Denny Hamlin claims he does not care about the boos targeted at him in Pocono 

23XI Racing co-owner Denny Hamlin says he is too old to care about the fans’ displeasure toward him.

“Fandom doesn’t give me trophies,” Denny Hamlin claims he does not care about the boos targeted at him in Pocono 

Denny Hamlin (Credits: Nigel Kinrade)

Denny Hamlin won his 50th Cup race at Pocono Raceway on Sunday. It was also his seventh win on this track and Toyota’s 600th victory in NASCAR across Cup, Xfinity, and Truck Series. While all this called for a reason to celebrate, fans were unhappy because of the way he won the race. Hamlin shoved Kyle Larson to the wall while fighting for the lead with seven laps remaining in the race. He held his position against Tyler Reddick and secured his record-breaking win. 

As a result, Larson was disappointed with a 20th-place finish, and the fans sympathized with him. They showed their displeasure toward Denny Hamlin by booing him. However, the 42-year-old couldn’t care less. He claimed he would not allow these reactions to get to him and ruin his momentous career accomplishment. Hamlin said fandom does not get him trophies and does not do the job for him. 

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After the race, Denny Hamlin told the media, “I mean, I’m just too old to care. Had I gotten another 20 years ahead of me, I get it. Fandom doesn’t give me trophies. Fandom doesn’t do the job for me. In my career, just had some pivotal moments getting into guys when they were super-popular, I just kind of wasn’t. I’m okay with it because the fans are passionate about what they saw.”

Related: Dale Earnhardt Jr. gives his honest opinion on Denny Hamlin’s DIRTY move on Kyle Larson in Pocono

Denny Hamlin claims he is not likable

Denny Hamlin.Image via NKP.
Denny Hamlin.Image via NKP.

Hamlin added, “I think if you were a Denny Hamlin fan, and there was that many, then maybe you’d hear the same thing. I got here on hard work, the old-fashioned way. I’m just not that likable, which is okay.” The three-time Daytona winner revealed he is just himself and is okay with fans cheering for whomever they want. Hamlin stated that as long as the fans make some noise, he is fine with what they do. 

The incident on Sunday was a hot topic among the NASCAR fans. It was quite interesting as the two drivers, Hamlin and Larson, are good friends. And after the race, Larson opened up on this subject. He said he would not let this incident ruin their friendship. However, Larson was angry and said he felt like he should be. After all, it is understandable as he had to suffer the consequences. 

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Denny Hamlin claimed he fought hard for the race win and said he did not believe he made contact with the No.5 car. He blamed it was an aero-tight situation that made Larson’s car take off. Hamlin defended himself by saying it was not intentional and just hard racing.

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