The victory at Pocono Raceway was a feather in the cap for Denny Hamlin, marking his 50th NASCAR race win and his seventh triumph at the circuit. His presence alone makes every race exciting to watch, despite the fact that he is one of NASCAR’s most divisive characters. Along with Michael Jordan, he owns the 23XI NASCAR team, making him a successful businessman in addition to a racecar driver.

In fact, just like every other driver, he has always had a burning love for cars and hitting the road, as spilled by none other than Joe Gibbs himself. Recently, during Denny Hamlin’s 50th win celebration, Gibbs recounted the encounter when he met the 12-year-old, who made a daring statement at such a young age.

What did 12-year-old Denny Hamlin say to Joe Gibbs?

Joe Gibbs has a well-deserved reputation for standing by and encouraging his players, no matter what. Even when he’s subjected to harsh criticism by fans, like after the crash between Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin at Pocono Raceway, he’s willing to stick up for his crew and defend them, as he did recently: Joe Gibbs tweeted a picture of Denny Hamlin exiting his #11 Toyota with the JGR team’s comment, “@dennyhamlin made no contact with 48.”

Despite the current scenario with Denny Hamlin, the crew celebrated Denny Hamlin’s historic 50th career victory. In the clip, Joe Gibbs can be heard talking about Denny Hamlin and recalling the time they met when Hamlin was only 12 years old.

Additionally, he said that Denny Hamlin had made a bold assertion considering his age. He laughingly stated, “From the time I walked out of that restaurant, he was 12 years old. He looked up at me, and he goes, Will you sign this autograph? And when he told me, he says, I am going to drive for you someday, I patted him on the head and I went, Yeah, hey, great, and walked off.”

In a way, Joe Gibbs has always had a soft spot for the fact that Hamlin had all his ducks in a row when it came to racing for the Joe Gibbs Racing team. And what seemed like a shot in the dark at that time is now the real deal that Hamlin has brought to life. In fact, Joe Gibbs couldn’t help but sing praises for the driver’s big feat of 50 wins in 18 years.

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To whom does Denny Hamlin attribute his triumphs and accomplishments?

Despite facing criticism from fans and rival teams for his on-track tactics, there’s no denying that Hamlin is a true force to be reckoned with. He’s proven time and time again that he’s a standout among the racers of his generation. From the depths of disapproval to the heights of adulation, he has witnessed the full spectrum of human judgment.

Amidst the euphoria of his momentous 50th NASCAR race win, Hamlin exhibited true sportsmanship by humbly attributing his success to his esteemed team. He expressed that his colleagues have consistently been a breath of fresh air, making his work on the track easier.

As Hamlin eloquently expressed, “It’s been an honor to drive for you guys over the last 18 years. I certainly am very aware that the success that I’ve had is largely due to the race team that I drive for. You guys just continue to bring fast cars every single weekend, and Pocono was one of those race tracks where we have to have it all put together. I’ve got the wins there because the team that I drive for has all those boxes checked, and it makes my job way easier.”

Come what may, Denny Hamlin has consistently made headlines for his conduct, responses, and, undoubtedly, his triumphs. The one thing that NASCAR fans really want, however, is that Denny Hamlin continues to surprise them with his antics both on and off the track.

Read More: “They Don’t Care About Making Friends on the Racetrack” – Denny Hamlin Frustratingly Explains the Difference in Fans’ Narrative While Embracing His Villain Era for Wins