After winning his first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race of the season Sunday and locking himself into the playoffs, Denny Hamlin’s excitement and relief quickly turned to fear when New Hampshire Motor Speedway presented him with its traditional gift.
Martinsville Speedway gives grandfather clocks, Kentucky Speedway gives jukeboxes and the New England track – where the Overton’s 301 was held this weekend – gives away gigantic lobsters.
Unfortunately for Hamlin, his “lobster phobia” got in the way of celebrating.
According to NBC Sports, the lobster weighed in at 44 pounds, which isn’t exactly the size of one you’d order for dinner. But Hamlin explained after the race that he can’t handle that scenario either.
After his Victory Lane celebration, Hamlin was asked what he plans on doing with the lobster, and he explained why he ran away at first.
“I’m not going to do anything with it. I’ve seen it and touched it for the last time. I have a lobster phobia. I don’t know why. I just don’t like them. I cannot eat dinner if someone beside me is eating lobster. I can’t look at it. So as far as I’m concerned, they need to put it back in the water and let it live.”
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(Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)
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(AP Photo/Charles Krupa)