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Denny Hamlin showered with boos after Gateway win, calls out haters

ProfilePhotoby: Nick Geddes09/07/25NickGeddesNews
Denny Hamlin
Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Denny Hamlin is a 59-time winner in the NASCAR Cup Series after his victory in Sunday’s Round of 16 race at Gateway. Hamlin continues to prove he’s one of the best drivers of his generation, but that hasn’t come with the adulation you might expect.

Hamlin is a polarizing figure for fans. Some like him, but many dislike him. And when he stepped out of No. 11 Toyota to speak with NBC Sports‘ Marty Snider on the frontstretch at Gateway, he was showered with boos. Hamlin isn’t bothered one bit by the boos; he delivered a strong message to those who aren’t on his bandwagon. In the words of Jack Parkman, “don’t stand on the tracks when the train’s coming through.”

“Y’all can boo me, but you can either get on the bandwagon, or you can get run over by it,” Hamlin said. “… Bring ’em [boos], bring ’em all.”

Is this finally Denny Hamlin’s year?

Hamlin is full steam ahead on this playoff run. He’s locked into the Round of 12, and he can now run a stress-free race next Saturday at Bristol Motor Speedway. A championship is the only thing missing from Hamlin’s resume; could this be his year?

Hamlin has a series-leading five wins and is operating at an elite level at 44 years old. Most drivers of his caliber saw a dip in performance at his current age, but not Hamlin. What’s the secret?

“Just step up,” Hamlin said. “All I can do is keep being a student of the game and keep trying to get better. Every week is a chance to get a little better.”

Hamlin is now one win away from 60. One more and he ties Kevin Harvick for the 10th most all-time in Cup competition. But this was also win No. 200 for Toyota, which became the fourth manufacturer to reach that mark. Hamlin knows how much this one meant to both his manufacturer and team.

“Big for everyone at Toyota and Joe Gibbs Racing,” Hamlin said. “Progressive Toyota was really great there at the end. So happy to get this victory. My dad’s not feeling well at home, shoutout to him. The whole family is here, so fantastic day and couldn’t be better.”