Skip to main content
Join Now
NASCAR Logo

Freddie Kraft torches Denny Hamlin over catchphrase, hits Chris Buescher with unfortunate stray

ProfilePhotoby: Nick Geddes06/11/25NickGeddesNews
Denny Hamlin
Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Denny Hamlin said the thing after winning this past Sunday’s race at Michigan International Speedway: “Daddy, I’m sorry, but I beat your favorite driver, folks… all of them.”

Hamlin had to throw that apology in there as it was his dad who encouraged him to retire it. Freddie Kraft wishes Hamlin would have kept it locked away. Kraft, spotter for Bubba Wallace and the No. 23 team, said on the “Door Bumper Clear” podcast that “this was awful” and that he would like to see Hamlin, his boss, come up with something more original. Chris Buescher, who finished second at Michigan, caught an unfortunate stray.

“God Almighty. … Listen, I always say the guy is great, but this was awful,” Kraft said. “We have to do something better than this. … We’ve got to stop with this damn beat your favorite driver. Like, if he would have outrun Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson or Ryan Blaney, I’d be OK with it. But he just beat the folk hero, Chris Buescher. That’s not the ultra-popular driver.

“… We’ve just got to do a better job. I know he’s more original than that. He’s talking about it in the press conference afterwards how he’s cherishing these wins because he’s getting older… so, that’s what you want? You’re talking about how this could be your last win so that’s what you want in Victory Lane? This cheesy ass line you’ve already given three times? Let’s do better.”

Denny Hamlin explains why he relishes role of being NASCAR antagonist

Hamlin loves playing the heel. In March, Hamlin proudly waved an “11 against the world” flag after his win at Martinsville Speedway. At Michigan, “I beat your favorite driver” was reborn. Kraft understands NASCAR needs a villain, and Hamlin proudly fills that role.

“I like the leaning into the 11 against the world because they had the flag at the National Championship Game. That stuff’s fun, they had those fans at the track, that stuff’s funny,” Kraft said. “We need a heel. Kyle [Busch] has kind of softened up now that he’s not winning races, so we need an ass**** and Denny’s obviously happy to take that role.”

Hamlin may not be the fan favorite. But interacting with the crowd is something that means a lot to him, whether the reaction is positive or negative.

“I love having fun with the crowd and I just don’t want them to ever clap when they say my name,” Hamlin said after the race. “It’s like, ‘Alright, next guy.’ I want to make them feel a certain way. It could be positive, it could be negative, but I like to have those feels.”