I have ZERO respect for the way he slides other cars up into the wall time and time again, or how he blames everyone but himself for his own disasters, or how he positions himself as the “great sage of the sport” while participating in the tear down attempt of it’s sanctioning body. His years of “tantrums” have intimidated officials who regularly fail to hold him accountable for his belligerent antics on the track. He’s a narcissistic ego maniac, just like buddy MJ.
But I suppose his mama loves him.
I can understand not caring for him personally for refusing to sign on with Nascar and for all the legal disputes.
But I have never thought of Hamlin for being the nasty or dirty driver you described. At least when considering the full body of the work of a man that raced in over 10,000 times (^ + races after his claim).
I do remember him trying to bully Logano during Logano's first season with Penske. Hamlin was a pure a**hole deluxe in that case.
But Hamlin did pay the price, imo with a resulting injury that sidelined him for several races.
He also wrecked Elliot one year at Martinville, and Elliot returned the favor in the following race or two at Phoenix.
I would consider those cases even based on the results.
I dont recall Hamlin carrying a grudge against them for years. I also do not see other drivers who are routinely angry at Hamlin about something that happened on the track. He seems to be within most of the drivers' unwritten code imo.
I dont think of Hamlin as a bump and run artist either, I think he gets most of his wins based on his technical skills to finesse his way around the demading tracks.
If I were a driver lining up during a GWC, I would prefer to do it against drivers like Hamlin. I think he is more prone to try and beat you honestly than many of the others who would just try to drive through you.
But you know what they say about opinions, and this one is it just mine, and our milage will obviously be different