NASCAR's top two drivers, Tyler Reddick and Denny Hamlin, turned their friendly rivalry into a high-stakes wager ahead of last week's Cup Series race in Nashville. The bet: if Hamlin won the Cracker Barrel 400, Reddick would have to slap a 'Denny Bros' sticker on his No. 45 car for the Michigan race. And after Hamlin powered to victory, he officially collected on that promise.
Hamlin took to social media to show off the spoils, posting a video of the sticker being applied to Reddick's car while Reddick watched with a less-than-thrilled expression. “45 team made a bet. If I won Nashville, the Denny Bros get a piece of the 45. Today we collected,” Hamlin wrote on X, alongside the clip.
The bet originated from an appearance by Reddick's car chief, Michael 'Rambo' Hobson, on Hamlin's podcast. Hobson wagered that if Hamlin won at Nashville, he'd not only wear an '11 Against The World' shirt but also ensure the 'Denny Bros' sticker made it onto the No. 45 car. Had Reddick won, Hamlin's podcast co-host Travis Rockhold would have had to don 23XI Racing gear, and Hobson would have scored free airtime on Hamlin's show.
Hamlin's victory at Nashville Superspeedway was a dominant one, with Joe Gibbs Racing sweeping the top three spots. Hamlin led much of the race, held off a late restart, and beat teammate Christopher Bell by just over a tenth of a second. Chase Briscoe finished third, while Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Shane van Gisbergen rounded out the top five.
The win marked Hamlin's second of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season, his first career victory at Nashville, and the 62nd Cup Series win of his career. It also underscored the strength of Joe Gibbs Racing, which has been a powerhouse this season.
Hamlin has never been one to shy away from a little trash talk or a creative bet. This latest stunt adds to his reputation as a driver who knows how to keep things entertaining both on and off the track. Fans have already started buzzing about whether Reddick will try to settle the score in a future race.
For Reddick, who drives for 23XI Racing—a team co-owned by Michael Jordan—the sticker is a temporary but visible reminder of a bet gone wrong. It's a lighthearted moment in a season where both drivers are battling for the championship. Michael Jordan's big bet on Reddick with a massive contract extension shows the team's confidence in him, but this week, it's Hamlin who's collecting.
As the NASCAR season rolls on, expect more playful jabs and maybe even a rematch. For now, Hamlin is enjoying the bragging rights—and the sticker—while Reddick plots his next move. Hamlin's recent no-mercy stance with Noah Gragson suggests he's not backing down from any challenge, on or off the track.
