It’s still a longshot but Denny Hamlin might not be able to say he ‘beat your favorite driver,’ much longer because in a twist of irony, he’s now becoming one of them.
For the first time in his career, the polarizing veteran cracked the National Motorsports Press Association Most Popular Driver Awards finals, meaning the 44-year-old is one of the five highest vote getters as of this week.
Hamlin hasn’t always been this popular and was as surprised as anyone to be in the running.
“Shocking,” Hamlin said straight faced at NASCAR Championship Media Day at Phoenix Raceway. “I don't know that I've ever been in the top 10. So that in itself was quite a shock. Yeah, I don't know what's changed.
“Certainly do appreciate it.”
For much of the past eight years at least, Hamlin has been amongst the loudest booed drivers in the sport on a weekly basis, stemming from a late race incident at Martinsville in October 2017 where he spun Chase Elliott from the lead.
Elliott was chasing his first ever win at the Cup level but also a victory that would have punched his ticket to the final four that season.
Over the past year, whether it’s cementing his place as a respected veteran driver in the twilight of his career, or even his gutsy decision to sue NASCAR as 23XI Racing alongside Front Row Motorsports, it’s earned him fans.
Then came his most recent victory, last month at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where Hamlin was moved to tears upon reaching 60 wins and sending love to his ailing father, that moved people in his camp too.
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“I think it's probably a culmination of all of it,” Hamlin said. “I think that sometimes things are in the moment, as well. Like, I think that one of the defining moments in my popularity was Martinsville 2017. That was with Chase. That was a negative moment for the popularity.
“I think races like Vegas could sometimes have the opposite effect. I do think that people can only understand you for what they see on TV. Sometimes you rub 'em the wrong way, and sometimes they connect with you.
“I think those were two moments that maybe turned the pendulum. I'm not sure. Certainly, it's super unusual to see my name on the list.”
Where does he expect to finish in the voting?
“Probably fifth,” Hamlin said with a laugh. “As long as those guys keep voting, you never know. I think the chances are slim, but we'll see.”
Elliott has won the award every year since 2017.
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