“We need a heel": Freddie Kraft doesn’t mince words for boss Denny Hamlin’s ‘awful’ taunt after outrunning ‘not ultra popular’ Chris Buescher

Denny Hamlin won his third race of the season and 57th Cup Series race at Michigan on Sunday (June 8), but his post-race antics took the limelight. While the Joe Gibbs Veteran was praised for his unfiltered confidence, 23XI Racing spotter Freddie Kraft believes his comments were redundant and misplaced.

Hamlin emerged as the race winner in the FireKeepers Casino 400, executing a perfect balance of fuel conservation and timing, despite leading only five laps. He took the checkered flag 1.099 seconds ahead of Chris Buescher, and said in his post-race interview:

"Daddy I'm sorry but I beat your favorite driver folks... all of them"

The 44-year-old went past race leader William Byron with four laps remaining and held his position till the finish line. But his post-race comments caught the attention of fans and critics alike. Bubba Wallace's spotter, Freddie Kraft, weighed in on the comments in his Door Bumper Clear Podcast:

"I always say the guy's great, but this was awful. Like, we've got to do something better than this.... we've got to stop with this d*mn beat your favorite driver. Like if he would have outrun like Chase (Elliott) or (Kyle) Larson or (Ryan) Blaney or somebody, I'd be okay with it. But he just beat the folk hero, Chris Buescher. That's not not the ultra popular driver." (42:07 onwards)

Denny Hamlin has long held the role of NASCAR's antagonist. From Twitter battles to unapologetic interviews, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver has carved a lane that leans into crowd hostility rather than avoiding it. He also raised his hands in an 'O-H' salute, reminding Michigan college football fans about his hometown.

Joined by Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Tommy Baldwin, he explained how the celebrations were uncalled for, especially against a driver like Buescher, who isn't considered a mainstream fan favourite in the same vein as Chase Elliott, who has won multiple Most Popular Driver awards. While Kraft added the importance of characters in NASCAR, he wishes his 23XI Racing owner were innovative:

"I liked when the leaning into the 11 against the world because they had the flag at the damn national championship game... That stuff's funny. We need a heel... So we need we need an ass***e and Denny's obviously happy to take that role." (43:05 onwards)

Kraft alluded to Denny Hamlin's earlier celebrations this year. At Martinsville, he led 274 laps to get his first win of the season and combined it by waving a flag reading' '11 AGAINST THE WORLD'. The "11" stands for his car number and his staunch support for the Ohio State Buckeyes, a team for which he is a well-known fan and a graduate of Ohio State University.

"60,000 people that are rooting against you": Denny Hamlin enjoys the hate at Michigan

Denny Hamlin gestures before the NASCAR Cup Series Würth 400 at Texas Motor Speedway. Source: Getty

Denny Hamlin's post-race theatrics extend beyond the recent Michigan incident. At the Texas Motor Speedway race, he famously flashed the "Horns Down" gesture during driver introductions. This direct dig to the Texas Longhorns, a popular local college football team, was met with boos from the crowd.

Hamlin, however, finds it satisfying. Speaking in the post-race press conference, he said:

"I do have a lot of fun with it. I do thrive on it just simply because it's you feel like you've got 60,000 people that are rooting against you and when you have that it just feels really really good and gratifying to prove them wrong. So, I just I love that feeling and it makes these winds more gratifying to me"

While Hamlin owns up to the hatred he receives as a result, his theatrics continue to divide opinions. Denny Hamlin's antagonist persona over the past few years suggests a deliberate effort to make him one of the most talked-about, and often controversial, drivers on the circuit.