Kevin Harvick clarifies comments about Denny Hamlin ‘11 vs. the world’ flag

After Denny Hamlin‘s victory at Martinsville, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver stood on the top of his No. 11 Toyota proudly holding up a flag that read “11 against the world.” Oddly enough, a lot of the fans in attendance were cheering Hamlin before he pulled out the flag.

That, Kevin Harvick said on Tuesday’s “Happy Hour” podcast, is the reason why he wasn’t a fan of Hamlin celebrating with the flag, as he previously stated last week. Harvick said he wants everyone to like Hamlin and felt the reaction would have stayed a consistent cheer if not for the flag.

“Here’s why I didn’t like the flag because I want everyone to like Denny,” Harvick said. “When he got out of the car last week, it had been a long time since he had won in Virginia at Martinsville… I felt like the crowd was more on his side before the flag than after the flag. This week, there was no flag and there were a lot of 11 fans in the crowd giving the 11 salute. There was no indication that they may have been cheering when he got out of the car.

“Now, he has a lot of fans and I’m a Denny Hamlin fan. I like Denny Hamlin, love what Denny Hamlin does. I don’t know, I felt like if there was no flag — and I know a fan made it for him — but you can hang it on the wall in your shop. You don’t have to bring it to Victory Lane.”

Denny Hamlin on ‘11 against the world’ motto: ‘If I can’t shit talk then it takes away my superpower’

So, who is behind this flag? Well, it came from a fan. This fan knew that Hamlin’s friends were Ohio State fans, and the Buckeyes were using “Ohio Against the World” during their College Football Playoff run. Talking to reporters after his first Martinsville win since 2015, Hamlin was asked about the flag. It’s just part of who he is as a driver and competitor.

“Why not is the question? Why not?” Hamlin said, smiling. “It’s just, that’s me. I mean, go shoot hoops with me, play pickleball with me, play golf with me. If I can’t shit talk, it takes away my superpower. I’m not nearly as good. My friends, it drives them absolutely crazy. To me, that part of it, it fuels me and it just makes me feel good. That’s it.”

With his latest win at Darlington, Hamlin is up to 56 career NASCAR Cup Series victories. Even without a Cup championship, Hamlin is already an all-time great. Harvick recognizes that and wants to see him go out with the fans cheering him.

“I want them to all cheer for Denny because I want Denny to get the exit he deserves over how many years it is as he’s winning and driving the car,” Harvick said. “Same thing for Kyle Busch. I hope when Kyle Busch wins a race that they tear the place down with everyone cheering because that’s the way it should end. I just don’t want him to go out with everybody booing.”