Denny Hamlin’s two Cup Series victories this season — at Martinsville and Darlington Raceway — showcased the fact that he still has what it takes to win in a sport where many of his peers have already retired. Celebrating his first win of the year at Martinsville, Hamlin waved a blue flag, emblazoned with ’11 Against The World’, connecting his car number with the Ohio State football team’s rallying slogan. Kevin Harvick, however, was not happy with the flag act.
Advertisement
On his Happy Hour podcast, Harvick articulated his discontent with Hamlin’s post-victory antics, while describing what transpired. “I wish he would have just stayed out of the car right there and not pulled that flag out because everybody was cheering,” he said, pointing out how the crowd’s initial boos had transformed to cheers. But then, Hamlin took out the flag, and Harvick felt his action marred the moment.
Harvick added that considering that the crowd was cheering, and Hamlin’s position as a veteran driver, it would have been prudent not to display the flag. Even Hamlin seemed surprised by the positive reception, and admitted it as well. Harvick substantiated his critique by highlighting how Hamlin exuded class while celebrating the victory at Darlington, without the flag.
“Here’s why I didn’t like the flag, because I want everyone to like Denny. When he got out of the car last week, it had been a long time since he had won in Virginia at Martinsville… I felt like the crowd was more on his side before the flag than after the flag,” elaborated Harvick.
“This week, there was no flag and there were a lot of [No.] 11 fans in the crowd giving the 11 salute. There was no indication that they may have been cheering when he got out of the car,” he added.
“I’m a Denny Hamlin fan. I like Denny Hamlin, love what Denny Hamlin does. I don’t know, I felt like if there was no flag — and I know a fan made it for him — but you can hang it on the wall in your shop. You don’t have to bring it to Victory Lane,” stated Harvick.
However, it appears Hamlin has fully embraced his role as the antagonist and is reluctant to shed this persona. Harvick analyzed the fans’ discomfort with Hamlin, attributing it to his habit of taking jabs at fans and others during his podcast and various media appearances.
With recent victories, he has a growing fan base too. So it remains to be seen how Hamlin will wield his image as a villain moving forward.
