Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin solidified his status as a NASCAR villain last year following the Bristol playoff race. Despite being booed by the crowd, he clinched victory and famously retorted, “I beat your favorite driver,” sparking both cheers from his supporters and increased animosity from his detractors. Hamlin carried this controversial energy into the start of the 2024 season, triumphing at the LA Clash at the Colosseum from the pole position with a consistent performance. Once again, he delivered his notorious one-liner post-win, drawing criticism from former NASCAR driver and race analyst Kyle Petty.
Petty, the son of legendary NASCAR Cup champion Richard Petty, expressed displeasure at Hamlin’s repetition of the cocky comment. While acknowledging its effectiveness initially, Petty urged Hamlin to seek a new tagline, suggesting that its novelty had worn off. Despite this critique, Hamlin appears undeterred, demonstrating resilience and confidence heading into the Daytona 500, where he aims for his fourth victory in the prestigious race.
The LA Clash not only showcased Hamlin’s continued dominance but also highlighted the performance of Toyota Racing Development (TRD) cars. With all TRD cars, except Christopher Bell’s, qualifying for the race, both Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) and 23XI Racing drivers displayed competitive performance throughout the event, indicating that the recent changes to the Toyota Camry’s body have not impacted their competitiveness.