“He Is Another Darrell Waltrip”- Outspoken Insider Crowns Denny Hamlin With Ultimate Appreciation After His Relentless Victories

Published 04/29/2024, 7:15 AM EDT

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It’s almost like Denny Hamlin can see the future! He predicted his win at Dover in his podcast Actions Detrimental. He ended the podcast by saying, “We’ll contact you after Dover. After we won Dover.” And guess what? He did win! He is one of the few who continues to “walk the talk.” And this aspect of the driver isn’t going unnoticed by industry insiders either. 

In the aftermath of his win, veteran NASCAR racer Kenny Wallace went on his podcast to show his appreciation for the #11 Joe Gibbs Racing ace for his stellar back-to-back performances. He even went on to compare Hamlin to a legend in the world of racing. 

Fans might be having a change of heart toward NASCAR’s ‘villain’, indicates Kenny Wallace

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After the heroic win at Dover, the racing world was ablaze with praises for the #11 driver. Denny Hamlin equaled the Lee Petty record of 54 NASCAR Cup wins, which is nothing short of heroic! Hence, veteran racer Kenny Wallace didn’t fall behind in showing his appreciation through his video, titled ‘Denny Hamlin Continues To Silence The Haters!’ 

Talking about how Hamlin’s stardom has evolved, Wallace compared the JGR driver to three-time Cup Series champion Darrell Waltrip and said, Denny Hamlin now is that guy you’re cheering for. The grandstands at Dover were 50-50. You got to love this guy. He is a chip off the old block. He is another Darrell Waltrip. All Denny Hamlin does is run that mouth and win. That’s all he does.”

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Furthermore, the veteran also compared the #11 driver to baseball player Babe Ruth. Pointing out how the deceased icon had predicted a home run, he reminded fans of Hamlin’s last podcast episode, where he had also confidently said he would win. Such an appreciation coming from an insider just goes on to show what a force Hamlin is on the track. However, Wallace didn’t just appreciate Hamlin’s on-the-track performance but also his off-the-track demeanor. 

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“Denny Hamlin seems very respectful in the victory lane,” says Kenny Wallace

Hamlin’s win tied him to NASCAR Hall of Famer and three-time champion Lee Petty for 12th on the NASCAR Cup Series all-time win list. Such success can sometimes brood arrogance, but not with Hamlin. After clinching his victory, Hamlin was quick to humble down, crediting his team for the win by saying it’s his partners who put the work behind the scenes, and he just delivers on the track. 

He humbly remarked, “I couldn’t hold Lee Petty’s helmet. I’ve been blessed with a great race team. This whole FedEx team, Mavis team, Sport Clips, everyone that supports this #11 car, they’re the ones that make it happen. I’m the lucky one that gets to drive it.”

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Kenny Wallace lauded his humble demeanor, and he said, “I got to say, I think Denny Hamlin’s dad grabbed his ear and said, ‘Son, I don’t like you being a smart ass in victory lane’. Denny Hamlin seems very respectful in Victory Lane.” 

Hamlin fans are rooting for him to bring in more wins. Moreover, soon all eyes will be on him as he will be chasing another victory next week as the defending race winner at Kansas. So do you think he will be able to hold on to this form as the season progresses? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by:

Sagarika Das

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Sagarika Das is a NASCAR Writer at EssentiallySports, where she is involved in the event coverage side of things. She brings some of the most exciting and unpredictable post-race interviews from the Cup series to her readers. On the subject of drivers being vocal after the race, Sagarika has done plenty of stories on Denny Hamlin, who she thinks never disappoints when it comes to speaking his mind on the mic.
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Edited by:

Ariva Debnath