Denny Hamlin Reacts to Michael Jordan’s Viral Kiss Moment After NASCAR Race

Some things astir Michael Jordan simply ne'er change.

The man who erstwhile trash-talked opponents into submission connected nan hoops tribunal has recovered a caller arena for his relentless competitory streak — and his latest target happens to beryllium his ain business partner.

After nan last thigh astatine Kansas Speedway connected Sunday, April 19, cameras captured a moment that perfectly encapsulated nan Jordan mystique. 

As 23XI Racing driver Tyler Reddick celebrated yet different victory, Jordan was spotted stepping toward Denny Hamlin — his co-owner and, connected title day, his rival. What happened adjacent was axenic Jordan theater.

He wrapped his manus astir Hamlin’s cervix and planted a buss connected nan broadside of his caput earlier stepping away. No words necessary. The connection was clear to anyone who has ever watched Jordan operate: I sewage you.

The Setup That Makes It All So Michael Jordan

To understand why this infinitesimal was truthful delicious for Jordan, you person to understand nan dynamic. 

Hamlin and Jordan jointly ain 23XI Racing, a squad launched up of nan 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season. Three full-time Cup drivers compete for nan organization: Reddick, Bubba Wallace and Riley Herbst.

Here’s wherever it gets interesting. Despite co-owning nan team, Hamlin continues to thrust for rival squad Joe Gibbs Racing and plans to title full-time against his ain cars done nan conclusion of nan pursuing season. 

That intends connected immoderate fixed Sunday, Hamlin is some Jordan’s partner and his competition.

For a man who famously turned everything — from paper games to play rounds — into a humor feud, this statement is practically a gift.

A Race That Played Right Into Michael Jordan’s Hands

At Kansas Speedway, Hamlin was dominant. Driving nan No. 11, he led for 131 laps — much than immoderate different driver. With 2 laps to go, Hamlin was positioned to win. Then a precocious be aware triggered an overtime restart that disrupted his lead.

Hamlin yet crossed nan decorativeness statement successful 4th place. Meanwhile, Reddick — Jordan and Hamlin’s driver — overtook Kyle Larson connected nan last thigh to declare victory. 

The triumph would person been Hamlin’s 5th profession triumph astatine nan Kansas track. Instead, Reddick earned his 5th triumph of nan 2026 season.

Jordan couldn’t person scripted it amended himself.

Michael Jordan Pokes Fun astatine Denny Hamlin

During an interview pinch FOX Sports aft nan race, Jordan laid bare nan mindset that defined six NBA championships and now fuels his NASCAR ownership.

“Look, I’m racing against Denny. So successful essence, I really wanted to hit him because I cognize we’re going to talk a batch of trash a small spot later.”

That azygous quote tells you everything. Jordan doesn’t spot himself arsenic a passive squad proprietor watching from nan suite. He’s competing. Hamlin isn’t conscionable his business partner — he’s nan feline Jordan wants to beat, personally.

Denny Hamlin Reveals nan Trash Talk That Led to nan Moment

On nan April 20 section of his Actions Detrimental podcast, Hamlin pulled backmost nan curtain connected nan afloat scope of their rivalry. He acknowledged that nan sting of losing was still caller erstwhile Jordan approached him.

“I mean, I don’t expect him to understand wherever I’m astatine successful that moment, right,” Hamlin said. “Every different Reddick win, I’ve been split, happy, sad, happy, sad and it conscionable benignant of depends connected really my time went.”

“This one, I was afloat a 100 percent successful my measurement connected this one, you cognize what I mean. Like nan emotions were each connected Team 11 connected that 1 for sure,” he added.

But Hamlin besides admitted he’d group nan shape for Jordan’s glee by talking trash earlier nan title moreover started.

“I told him nan aforesaid point I said connected this podcast past week, that if thing weird doesn’t happen, Kansas is simply a guaranteed win,” Hamlin explained.

“He’s very happy because of really overmuch [expletive] I talk to him, actually. I cognize it’s difficult to believe, but I talk a batch of trash to him,” he continued. “He astir apt wants to hit maine arsenic overmuch arsenic anyone. … When it’s head-to-head, he wants to spot nan 23XI drivers hit maine because I talk that trash.”

The Competitive Spirit Lives On

The hoops court, nan play course, a NASCAR way — nan venue changes, but nan small heart ne'er does. 

Jordan’s buss astatine Kansas Speedway was conscionable nan latest impervious that his request to compete, to triumph and to fto everyone cognize astir it remains arsenic fierce arsenic ever.

The friends banter won’t beryllium stopping anytime soon. For fans who grew up watching Jordan move rivalry into an creation form, that’s precisely nan point.