Denny Hamlin responds to Jeff Gordon's criticism: 'Thank God I don't drive for him'

Denny Hamlin had a lot to say in response to Jeff Gordon’s comments earlier last week, regarding Hamlin’s brash personality.

In the latter stage of his career, Hamlin has developed a sort of alter ego, and it’s worked wonders for him. While Gordon recognized that it’s been great for Hamlin, he stated that he wouldn’t want any of his Hendrick Motorsports drivers acting the way Hamlin does, as it’s a “distraction,” he said.

Well, Hamlin took issue with that comment, believing that Gordon’s strategy of not letting his drivers showcase their personality isn’t just bad for Hendrick, but NASCAR as a whole.

“What he’s saying is that, ‘I like it, but I don’t like my guys to do it.’ Well, that sounds like a guy that I don’t want to go to war with. Like, I’ll go to war, but you get upfront. I mean, Jeff Gordon said that? I mean, that is, how to stunt NASCAR growth 101. Say, ‘Ah, that’s too controversial for us. Call us stiff but, you know.’ I’m wondering how has his sponsors marketed his drivers, because I think his drivers have great personality. Anybody know? Nope. I haven’t seen much either,” Hamlin said, via his latest Actions Detrimental podcast. “So he wants me to sit back? He’s not — he’s saying he likes it, but he thinks it’s a distraction if it was on his team. Thank God I don’t drive form him.

“Has he been watching a race in the last twelve weeks? I don’t get it. … I go in Monday and I’m a professional, because that’s what professionals do. They go into a meeting and they act professional. I think he’s been to one too many Burning Mans. … He’s going against the logic that he said twelve months ago. … He’s basically saying that, ‘I want them to be tidy, not controversial.’ I couldn’t disagree more. I’m glad I drive for Joe Gibbs Racing. I’m glad I run my team the way I run my team, because I will never run my team saying things like that. That’s his opinion. He’s allowed to have that opinion. But certainly think that that’s the absolute wrong way to go if you want star power in this sport.”

Alas, Denny Hamlin isn’t planning to turn down his personality for anyone, and he shouldn’t. It’s helped him become the favorite for the NASCAR Cup Series title this season.

You can bet Jeff Gordon will be hearing about it if Hamlin does raise the trophy at the end of the season, that’s for sure.