NASCAR Fans Lose It Over Bristol Walk Out Songs Earning Denny Hamlin “God-Tier Troll” Tag

The walk-out song tradition at Bristol Motor Speedway has become one of the quirkiest and most anticipated pre-race rituals in NASCAR. Each September, under the lights of the Bass Pro Shops Night Race, the Cup Series drivers don’t just roll their cars onto the track, they also get to choose the music that plays as they’re introduced to the roaring Tennessee crowd.

It’s part rock concert, part sporting spectacle, and it adds an extra layer of personality to a race that’s already known as one of the sport’s crown jewels. Unlike other NASCAR tracks, Bristol leans into showmanship. The coliseum-style half-mile already has the drama, 160,000 fans packed around the high-banked bullring, so walk-out songs just amplify it. From silly to serious, from pop culture to classic rock, the selections often tell you as much about a driver’s personality as their sponsor logos do.

This year’s driver introductions at the Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway once again proved why the walk-out song tradition is such a fan favorite. Each Cup Series driver picked their own entrance music. But the biggest headline grabber was Denny Hamlin’s trolling choice: the Law & Order theme. Already one of the sport’s most polarizing drivers, often showered with boos during intros, Hamlin leaned into the role of NASCAR’s self-aware villain.

The pick sparked viral fan reactions online, with some calling it “God-tier trolling,” perfectly fitting Hamlin’s reputation for embracing his critics while keeping the spotlight on himself. His entrance may not have helped his rough night on the track, but off the track, it reinforced his place as one of NASCAR’s most talked-about personalities.

Others’ tracks ranged from Austin Cindric’s goofy

“Goofy Goober Rock” from SpongeBob SquarePants to Christopher Bell’s Jersey-approved “It’s My Life” by Bon Jovi, and Corey Heim’s throwback to Limp Bizkit’s “Rollin’”, a song older than he is.

That’s the magic of the tradition as it blends sports with entertainment. Fans aren’t just there to see who can tame 500 laps at “The Last Great Colosseum,” they’re also seeing drivers put on a show before the green flag drops.

For young stars like Carson Hocevar or Corey Heim, the walk-out song is a way to connect with fans who may not know them as well as the veterans. For established names like Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch or Joey Logano, it’s a chance to either have fun with their reputations or double down on their roots with country and rock staples.

It’s no surprise that NASCAR highlights these intros on social media every year. The clips rack up thousands of views because they let fans debate: Who nailed their pick? Who missed an opportunity? Who trolled the best?

In fact, Bob Pockrass’s coverage of the 2025 walk-out songs went viral on X, with fans reacting to everything from Elliott’s country choice to Hamlin’s “God-tier troll” moment. The conversation often continues throughout the night, sometimes overshadowing the race’s opening laps.

Bristol walkout songs have fans cracking up

The Bristol walk-out songs had fans on X losing their minds, with Denny Hamlin’s Law & Order theme stealing the show and earning him the “God-tier troll” crown. One fan cracked up: “Cindric and Hocevar chose the correct intros!” Austin Cindric’s “Goofy Goober Rock” from SpongeBob SquarePants was a repeat from 2024, turning his entrance into a meme fest and showing his playful side. Carson Hocevar’s “Ride the Dente” Chili’s jingle added to the silliness, fitting his meme-loving vibe and winning over the crowd with pure humor.

Another fan was all in, “Heim is gonna win. Not because he is the best driver but that song will give him supernatural powers that only a man from Jacksonville and Gastonia (the gateway to Charlotte) possess.” Corey Heim’s “Rollin’” by Limp Bizkit, a Jacksonville-born nu-metal anthem, bridged his Gastonia roots to Charlotte’s racing hub. Dropped in 2000, five years before Heim was born, the choice was a hilarious generational flex, but fans joked it channeled “supernatural powers” for the young star, who’s already a Truck Series standout and Toyota prospect.

The Jersey pride shone through, “Bell: I am from New Jersey, so seeing Bon Jovi or Bruce I approve. Cindric is a man of pure culture and class Preece: Perfect summary of him vs Superspeedways and Hamlin is a grade A troll.” Christopher Bell’s “It’s My Life” by Bon Jovi was a nod to his New Jersey roots, earning cheers from East Coast fans.

Ryan Preece’s “Flirtin’ With Disaster” by Molly Hatchet summed up his superspeedway woes, like his 2023 Daytona flip, while Hamlin’s Law & Order theme was pure villain energy, trolling the crowd amid his JGR-NASCAR lawsuit buzz.

One fan nailed the age gap, “Corey with a great choice – Song is older than he is.” Heim’s “Rollin’,” from 2000, predated his 2002 birth, making it a fun throwback in Bristol’s tradition of blending eras. Veterans often pick 80s and 90s rock, while newcomers like Heim pull from memes, but his choice bridged the gap, hyping his rising status.

Finally, a missed opportunity, “Kyle Busch missed an opportunity for laughs by picking ‘You spin me round’ as his walkout song!” Busch went with “Ice Cream Paint Job” by Dorrough Music, fitting his swagger, but fans joked “You Spin Me Round” by Dead or Alive would’ve poked fun at his spin-prone rep. Busch’s history of bristling at criticism, like his 2020 self-parody commercials, made the idea gold, but his safe pick fueled chatter on how songs can be self-aware tools.