NASCAR flock concluded its Playoff Round of 16 with an exhilarating final race at Bristol, where the eyes of the racing world were fixed on four drivers who would no longer be part of the playoff picture as they headed to Texas. The regular season champion arrived at Bristol in a precarious position, teetering on the cutline, but managed to navigate the treacherous waters and collect crucial advantages. Meanwhile, heavyweights like Kevin Harvick, the 2014 NASCAR champion, and the reigning Cup Series champion, Joey Logano, saw their title dreams dashed.

Bristol Speedway, renowned for its penchant for drama, delivered a race that had it all: heart-pounding wrecks, numerous caution flags, and an intermittent rain that played a capricious role, causing delays and adding to the typical chaos that Bristol is known for. Oh, and also an unexpected appearance by a cucumber resting on the front stretch of the track.

Denny Hamlin leaves behind his naysayers’ gift

Denny Hamlin stormed Bristol to claim his 51st career win with the infamous backdrop of vehement boos that echoed through the air as he celebrated his victory. Hamlin, seemingly impervious to the negativity, responded with a knowing smirk. “I beat your favorite driver. All of them,” he quipped.

The chorus of haters was relentless throughout the champagne celebrations, their displeasure evident in the loud jeers and boos that punctuated the atmosphere. Yet, one fan took their disdain to the next level by hurling an entire cucumber onto the track at Hamlin.

The incident has left fans baffled, not only by the intense disdain someone had for Hamlin but also by the effort to smuggle in a vegetable into a NASCAR race. Many wonder, did they bring it just for this stunt or coincidentally had it on hand? The who, when, how, and why of this cucumber toss has left fans pondering and sharing a hearty laugh. Twitter exploded with amusement when a snapshot of the cucumber sitting on the start-finish line hours later surfaced.

In the face of relentless criticism and a growing legion of haters, Hamlin has fully embraced the role of the villain. Following his triumphant win at Bristol, Hamlin made it abundantly clear that he harbors no illusions about winning any “Most Popular Driver” awards. Instead, he has set his sights firmly on the championship, prioritizing victory on the racetrack over the adoration of the masses.

“I mean, at some point, I got to realize 18 years in that I’m probably not going to win the most popular driver award,” he stated with a wry smile.

Still, fans at home joined in on the fun and left some hilarious comments on the post. Someone wrote, “Well. Atleast it was wrapped for safety”

“I have so many questions”

“Can we ask the deeper question. WHO brings a CUCUMBER to a race!?

“At least he’s protected!”

Watch This Story: Denny Hamlin Confesses Having A Disagreement With JGR Member After Falling Victim To HMS Star

Why is Hamlin NASCAR’s most hated figure?

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The question of why Hamlin has found himself wearing the crown of NASCAR’s most polarizing figure is not the result of a single race outcome but rather a culmination of events that spanned several years. It’s a story marked by intense on-track rivalries, questionable race maneuvers, and fierce competition, often centered around his encounters with the Hendrick squad.

One such incident occurred at Pocono. With just seven laps to go, Hamlin pulled a bold move to seize the lead from Kyle Larson, sending him crashing into the outside wall. This move was reminiscent of a similar incident involving Trackhouse Racing’s Ross Chastain the previous year. The fallout from the Pocono clash fueled the Hamlin hate bandwagon, dominating headlines for months and leaving lasting echoes of animosity.

Hamlin had previously also found himself in the crosshairs of fans and fellow competitors back in 2021 at Martinsville. His heated exchange with Alex Bowman led to Hamlin referring to Bowman as “an absolute hack” in a pit road interview, further stoking the flames of controversy.

Despite the backlash and the chorus of boos that often greeted him, Hamlin remained defiant. 2021, Championship 4 race Hamlin openly welcomed the hostility, “My life is chaos, and I thrive under chaos. Rather be booed than ignored. The moment you’re ignored, it’s bad news. You’re on your way out. … It’s just fuel for me. My tank is absolutely full with motivation.”

“Run Him in the Fence Off of 2”- Martin Truex Jr Openly Calls Out “Dirty” Denny Hamlin After Being at the Losing End

With all that said and done, Hamlin appears to be on a determined path to break his championship drought. As the 2023 NASCAR season unfolds, the question lingers, Could this be the year when Hamlin translates his unwavering resolve into championship glory?