NASCAR icon Denny Hamlin has broken his silence after Michael Jordan grabbed him by the throat on live TV, in a bizarre incident after their team’s victory on Sunday.
At Kansas Speedway, Jordan’s 23XI Racing driver, Tyler Reddick, continued his stunning form as he roared by Kyle Larson on the final lap to win the race.
In the same race, Denny Hamlin, who co-owns 23XI Racing along with NBA icon Jordan, had to watch from fourth place as Reddick reached the victory lane yet again.
As Hamlin got out of his car, he looked visibly frustrated after missing out on his own podium place. However, when he emerged from his vehicle, he was mobbed by Jordan, who celebrated their victory by wrapping his hand around Hamlin’s throat.
The moment instantly went viral on social media, with many fans left disturbed and puzzled by Jordan’s choice of celebration, which also saw him kiss Hamlin’s head.
Now, NASCAR icon Hamlin has spoken out about the matter and revealed that he had been goading Jordan in the build-up to race day.
NASCAR icon Denny Hamlin has spoken out after Michael Jordan grabbed him by the throat
Jordan bizarrely grabbed 23XI Racing co-owner Hamlin by the throat Sunday after their victory
‘I was telling him all weekend that we were gonna win. He was very happy about all the s*** I talked to him,’ Hamlin explained, according to BroBible.
‘I know it’s hard to believe but I talk a lot of trash to him. When it’s head-to-head he wants to see the 23XI drivers beat me because I talk that trash.’
Although Hamlin is a co-owner of 23XI Racing, he races for a different team – JGR – so it’s not surprising he was miserable after losing to Jordan on the track.
Speaking after the race, Jordan said: ‘I mean. Look, I am racing against Denny. So, I really wanted to beat him. Because I know we’re going to talk a lot of trash a little bit later, but it was a good race!’
Meanwhile, reflecting on Reddick’s win, Jordan added: ‘This kid is on fire. I don’t know what to say. I don’t think I can cool him down.
‘When you win, it’s always fun, and right now it’s fun for everybody at 23XI. Me being here and being able to see all the wins, I am so happy for the team.’
While Jordan saw the funny side to the encounter, many on social media were left baffled by his actions.
One posted: ‘It’s pretty demeaning how he grabs him by the throat and pats him on the head like a good little boy.’
Hamlin and Jordan celebrated with Reddick eventually after his victory at Kansas Speedway
A second asked: ‘Why is he holding his neck? He doesn’t look happy.’
‘That was the weirdest exchange ever,’ another claimed.
A fourth commented: ‘This is dumb. Denny is a competitor. It would be weird if he wasn’t disappointed.’
‘Why did he grab his neck like that?’ another confused onlooker commented.
The shocking incident comes less than two months after social media was left confused by Jordan’s interaction with Reddick’s six-year-old son, Beau, after they won the Daytona 500.
Jordan was caught on camera appearing to grab at the young child’s lower back and bottom area as they celebrated on the podium.
Some critics questioned his actions, but Jordan’s defenders claimed he was trying to remove ice that had fallen down Beau’s shirt during the wild celebrations.
Jordan’s team has been dominating NASCAR so far this season after his landmark legal victory
Jordan was criticized for the way he celebrated the team’s Daytona win with Reddick’s son
Reddick spoke out about the incident at the Daytona 500 days later during an appearance on Stephen A Smith’s Sirius XM radio show.
‘From my perspective, I’ve gotten to know Michael and his family very well over the years I’ve been here with 23XI, and I don’t see what other people see when it comes to this,’ Reddick said.
‘For me, it’s a huge moment; this is the biggest moment of my career. It’s a huge moment for my family and for his family.
‘And I just put that off to the side and think about the look on (Michael Jordan’s wife) Yvette’s face and the whole family and his whole group when they got to victory lane too, and just how happy everybody was celebrating together. So, that’s where I’m at with it.’
