Denny Hamlin pulls back curtain on emotions amid 60th NASCAR Cup win at Las Vegas, surprised by fan response

Denny Hamlin doesn’t usually get emotional after wins — except when he’s laughing while antagonizing the capacity crowd. But his victory at Las Vegas this past weekend was different.

Hamlin was visibly emotional after taking the checkered flag, as the win marked No. 60 of his NASCAR Cup Series career and clinched his spot in the Championship 4. The moment carried extra weight because of the man watching from home — his father.

Hamlin’s appreciation for everything his parents sacrificed to keep his racing dreams alive hit him all at once in the aftermath of the race. After the dust settled, Hamlin reflected on those emotions on the latest episode of Actions Detrimental.

“It’s just been such a buildup, I think, around the number,” Hamlin stated. “Obviously, there’s some home stuff going on, and I’m really happy that my dad was able to see 60 — because he and my mom made so many sacrifices to keep me going, to keep their son’s dreams alive. They were just so selfless.

“And you could argue reckless in keeping this thing alive. But it’s like working hard and finally getting a trophy — that’s what makes you proud. It’s that feeling of knowing it all paid off. It all paid off in the end.”

As Hamlin celebrated his milestone win, he heard something unexpected — cheers from the crowd. Known as one of NASCAR’s most polarizing figures, Hamlin admitted the positive fan response took him by surprise and made the moment even more meaningful.

“I truthfully was really surprised not to hear boos from the crowd after the race. Usually, it’s just a given — I’m going to get them. You know, fans in general, after the race, even if they’re not your fans, they usually cheer because it’s the end and it’s the winner,” Hamlin added.

“But all of my post-race interviews, when I got out of the car at the start/finish line, it felt 50–50 at worst. I’m sure there were some boos, but I didn’t hear them. I just didn’t hear them at all. I thought it was all really positive — and that was before I said anything, so I don’t think I influenced it in any way.

“It makes me very humbled and very appreciative of the fans for that. It meant a lot to me personally. That was a big accomplishment — a life accomplishment, a life goal in this sport and in my profession. And for them to kind of give me that moment, I really appreciated it.”

For Hamlin, win No. 60 wasn’t just another trophy — it was validation. After two decades in NASCAR, the veteran driver has heard it all, but in Las Vegas, for at least one night, the noise turned into applause — and it clearly meant the world to him. We’ll see if he can cap off this wonderful wave of momentum with his first Cup Series title.