Being in the sport for almost 18 years with 49 Cup Series wins, Joe Gibbs Racing veteran, Denny Hamlin has been often lauded as well as trashed as the ‘best driver to never win a championship.’ Unfortunately, Hamlin’s demon returns from the underworld to haunt the driver as fans bash his tweet following NASCAR’s inaugural street race in Windy City.

While 3-time Supercars champion, Shane Van Gisbergen won his first-ever Cup race at the grand stage, passing one car after the other like a hot knife through butter, veteran Hamlin’s disputable tweet turns fans against him as fans exclaimed, “That’s a horrible take. Denny needs to chill on this one.”

Denny Hamlin Scores an Own Goal as the Veteran’s Praise for the Kiwi Turns Out to Be Troublesome for the Driver

The Grant Park 220 race was indeed a spectacle to behold. With NASCAR bringing the Cup Series action to downtown Chicago, the community was on the edge, following an exhilarating race with debutant SVG clinching the win.

Trackhouse Racing‘s Project 91 certainly was a hit as team owner Justin Marks’ idea of bringing on a Supercars champion to NASCAR’s first-ever street race turned more heads than anyone would have imagined as the #91 Chevy speared through the field on a rain-soaked tight city lane to take home the win, trumping renowned Cup drivers in their own backyard.

While the New Zealander became the first driver to win his Cup Series debut since Johnny Rutherford at Daytona in 1963, veteran Hamlin’s tweet praising the 34-year-old turned ugly as fans slammed the driver for his far-fetched words as he complimented the Kiwi as the, “Greatest Fu**ing athlete in the history of our sport.”

Fans soon started calling out the 42-year-old as his startling comments made a huge debate online with fans mentioning greats of the sport and slamming Hamlin for his statement on his popular podcast, Action Detrimental where he crowned SVG as the GOAT. He said, “He’s on the other side of the car? He’s shifting with the opposite hand! That blows my mind. Crown him. Greatest fu**ing athlete in the history of our sport.”

With such comments coming from a veteran, almost belittling the past legends of the sport, fans did not hold back as they expressed their distaste vividly in the comments.

READ MORE: Alex Bowman Comments on Old Rival Denny Hamlin as NASCAR Asked to Suspend the Joe Gibbs Driver by Fans

Top Stories

When an American Legend Confessed to His Long Kept Promise to Dale Earnhardt That He Still Honors

Dale Jr & JRM’s Cup Dreams in Shambles as NASCAR Charters Break $100M Barrier

Richard Childress’ Grandson to Be the ‘First Casualty’ of RCR-Kaulig Racing Divorce, Claims Dale Jr.

Kyle Larson Declares 7-YO Daughter Audrey’s Talent “Better Than Mine” After Red Bluff Triumph

Dale Jr. Warns of Deeper Issues as Joe Gibbs Parts Ways With Decade-Long Executive

Fans Bash Hamlin Left and Right, Speculating About the Start of a Campaign to Bring the Kiwi to 23XI Racing

Former NASCAR driver and Trackhouse Racing co-owner, Justin Marks’s idea of bringing in international talents to NASCAR via Project 91 certainly was a runaway hit as the New Zealander gave seasoned Cup drivers a run for their money while taking the biggest piece of the 7.5 Million prize money that was distributed among the field.

Though Kaulig Racing’s Justin Haley and NASCAR’s golden boy, Chase Elliott put on a valiant effort to hold off the #91 driver, the final laps of the race had the Kiwi on a neck-and-neck battle with Haley, with him passing the #31 driver effortlessly to claim his first win.

While it flummoxed NASCAR nation to see a debutant tear through the division, Hamlin, who started the race in the pole position, lauded SVG as the GOAT, even naming him the best in the sport’s history. And this did not sit well with the fans, as they displayed their displeasure vividly.

“Driver yes. Athlete no,” said one user. 

While another user speculated about Hamlin’s desire to bring the 3-time champ to his own team, 23XI Racing. “Man, @dennyhamlin already starting the campaign to get him to 23XI in 2025. Hang on tight @JustinMarksTH we saw what happened with Reddick…”

On the other hand, a fan brutally roasted Hamlin for his over-the-top comments. “Denny talks a lot for no championship.”

“Greatest in the history of our sport??! I like him, but that’s a horrible take. Denny needs to chill on this one. I’d take Jimmie Johnson, Dale Sr, Jeff Gordon, or Tony Stewart any day in their prime.”

WATCH THIS STORY: How Shane Van Gisbergen’s Chicago victory became an embarrassing nightmare for Cup driver?

With the weather in the antagonistic role with the heavy downpour, a fan thanked SVG for his exceptional performance. “Congratulations to @shanevg97. He singlehandedly turned a bad race into news.”