The Bristol Bass Pro Shops Night Race was a roller coaster of emotions for NASCAR devotees. While some wore long faces over witnessing the curtain call for the legendary Kevin Harvick, others were over the moon with Denny Hamlin‘s tour de force victory. It was also a feather in the cap for many fans to see Martin Truex Jr. and Bubba Wallace zoom into the top 12.

But what really stuck in the craw for many Denny Hamlin and JGR enthusiasts was the frosty reception from the Bristol crowd, raining on the parade of a champ who had just clinched a crystal-clear win. Silver lining? Yet, through thick and thin, Hamlin’s family stood steadfast, a pillar of support amidst a sea of naysayers.

Denny Hamlin’s little cheerleaders have his back

In a tour de force display, Hamlin blazed through the last 150 laps, overtaking Ty Gibbs and leaving Kyle Larson eating his dust during the final green flag run. This third Bristol notch on his belt not only propels him closer to his maiden Cup championship but also cements his status as NASCAR’s ultimate black sheep. During the driver introductions, Hamlin confidently quipped, reminding the crowd they knew him all too well.

As he clinched the checkered flag amidst a symphony of jeers and boos despite a squeaky-clean win, he didn’t miss a beat to remind the crowd, “I beat your favorite driver!” Hamlin retorted, “All of them!”

But let’s face it, even those with the thickest of skins can feel the sting of such public disapproval. Perhaps sensing this, his daughters crafted a heartwarming surprise for their champion dad. Playing on his trackside jibe, they awarded him a playful note: “‘I’ll eat your favorite cookie.’ ‘Which cookie?’ ‘All of em’ Congrats! Your girls”

The endearing gesture would have been the perfect antidote to the day’s bitter chorus, surely lifting Hamlin’s spirits. However, it wasn’t just Hamlin’s day but overall a “Toyota” day.

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With Denny Hamlin leading the charge, all five Toyota drivers sailed smoothly into the next round

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While several heavyweights like the legendary Kevin Harvick (bowing out in what was his last race), former Cup Series Champion Joey Logano, and Michael McDowell couldn’t break into the elite top-12, the Toyota brigade—Martin Truex Jr., Christopher Bell, Tyler Reddick, and Bubba Wallace—made the cut with flying colors.

“Can’t thank this whole FedEx team enough,” an elated Hamlin shared after clinching his third win of the season (and at Bristol) with an impressive 51st in his racing journey. “They’ve really kicked a**es this whole first round. Really amazing how our team has been. So happy about the way we’re running. Can’t wait to keep going.”

Besides being optimistic about his current season, with a glint in his eye, he added, “It’s our year. I just feel like we’ve got it all put together. We’ve got the speed at every single type of race track. Nothing to stop us at this point.”

All eyes are now on Texas, the next hurdle in Hamlin’s 2023 playoff quest. However, given his track record on this turf, many are betting it’ll be a walk in the park for him.

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