NASCAR’s SpongeBob Gimmick sends racing fandom into a frenzy as Denny Hamlin’s Bizarre Phobia gets laughs

As a highly competitive racer with nearly two decades of full-time Cup Series racing, Denny Hamlin knows all too well the rigors of racing at the most elite level. His career choice is precarious, to put it mildly. Nevertheless, the fact that he fears the things others treasure most sets him apart.

NASCAR’s official Instagram page recently featured photos of all past winners at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, a track with a distinct tradition. But it was Denny Hamlin’s reaction to one of the photos that grabbed the most attention, and NASCAR fans wasted no time poking fun at the veteran.

When Denny Hamlin had an awkward encounter with a 44-pound monster

After winning the 301 Cup race from Overton in 2017 and securing his playoff spot, Denny Hamlin’s mood quickly changed from elation to terror when NHMS organizers presented him with his traditional gift.

Team leader Michael Wheeler gave Hamlin a live lobster weighing 44 pounds in honor of the town of Loudon, Tennessee. Hamlin, on sighting the monster, pushed through the passers-by and fled the other direction. Be Shy at first about holding the gigantic lobster, driver Joe Gibbs Racing plucked up the courage to pose for a few photos with his prize.

He then told reporters that he had a terrible fear of lobsters. Denny Hamlin said it during the post-race press conference: “Yeah, I never really liked them to begin with; I don’t like their taste; I don’t—I just don’t like to look at them. They have darts, really, so I don’t like anything ugly that has darts.

“I don’t know, it’s just a big scorpion in my mind. I try to stay away from them, and, yeah, I had some interesting times with them for sure that I don’t care to recall or bring back.

Now NASCAR has uploaded a photo of Hamlin looking genuinely scared of the lobster, presumably to spark interest in the upcoming NHMS race. In response to the NASCAR Cup Series champion’s victory photo being posted on Instagram, fans mocked him with comments like, “Denny’s face is priceless”; “It’s so funny how scared Denny Hamlin is of lobsters”; “The denny one never fails to be funny”; “Hamlin’s picture will never get old lmaoooooo”; And “Everyone seems happy so there’s @dennyhamlin😬”

Although the NHMS boasts of a particular celebratory tradition, it is not the only one. Let’s take a look at some equally outrageous ones.

Other unique NASCAR trophies that are one of a kind

Texas Motor Speedway winners also take home unique novelty prizes, including NASCAR six-shot revolvers, cowboy hats and boots. Another of NASCAR’s “crown jewel” races, the Coca-Cola 600, sees the winning driver take a refurbished old Coke machine and a conventional piston-style trophy known as the Bruton Smith Trophy since 2010.

Watch this story: Denny Hamlin admits having a disagreement with a member of JGR after being victim of HMS Star

Since 2004, winners of races at Dover International Speedway, sometimes known as “The Monster Mile”, have been awarded the Monster Trophy. With the mammoth mascot, Miles holding the die-cast winner’s car in his gigantic palm, it might seem odd, but that’s part of what makes it so awesome.

The Martinsville Speedway Grandfather Clock is the clear winner of NASCAR’s biggest novelty awards. NASCAR drivers like Brad Keselowski, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr have all pointed out that the trophy is still the most sought after.

Let us know which trophy you liked the most. And do you think that this time, if Denny Hamlin wins the New Hampshire Speedway Race, he will have overcome his shellfish phobia?