The 2025 season has flipped the script. The No. 11 driver is known for embracing boos rather than chasing cheers. He doubled down after his WWT win, declaring, “ Y’all can boo me. But, you can get on the bandwagon or you can get run over by it.” It was a defiant moment that perfectly summed up his love-hate relationship with NASCAR fans.

Yet this season, that volatile dynamic has taken a surprising turn. As the finale draws near, the spotlight once again centers on NASCAR’s self-proclaimed villain. But this time, the energy feels different. The same defiance that once fueled the boos seems to have earned him a strange sort of respect. Hamlin’s unexpected appearance on the most popular driver shortlist has stunned even seasoned observers like Jeff Gluck, and, it seems, Hamlin himself.

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