End of an era: Denny Hamlin reflects on 20 seasons with FedEx sponsorship
11/11/2024 03:38 PM
Just one hour before Sunday‘s NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway, Denny Hamlin posted a tribute video to longtime sponsor FedEx. It encapsulated a relationship spanning two decades.
Ever since Hamlin inherited the No. 11 car for the final seven races of the 2005 season, FedEx has been his primary sponsor. The global shipping company‘s relationship with Joe Gibbs Racing predates Hamlin, as it signed on to be Jason Leffler‘s anchor sponsor for the 2005 season. Leffler was fired during the middle of the season, allowing Hamlin and JJ Yeley to get a crack at the Cup Series before moving to JGR full time in 2006. Terry Labonte also drove the No. 11 car in five races.
After 20 NASCAR Cup Series seasons together, FedEx will not return to JGR in 2025.
"It‘s certainly emotional because of the relationship that I‘ve had with them for 19 years," Hamlin told Jayski.com after finishing 11th on Sunday. "Nineteen years — there‘s not many out there anymore that are around that long, especially with all the opportunities to sponsor different sports leagues and arenas.
"They still found value in their NASCAR partnership with Joe Gibbs Racing. I think that‘s a testament to what Joe does with his team and the representation that I took seriously as a driver to represent their employees. I hate that it ends, but sometimes good things come to an end."
Hamlin, a future Hall of Famer, has earned 47 of his 54 career Cup Series victories in FedEx colors. He won as a rookie out of the gate in FedEx colors in what was known as the Budweiser Shootout — now the Busch Light Clash — at Daytona International Speedway. Hamlin swept the two races at Pocono Raceway in 2006, his first two wins with FedEx.
The last time he brought the brand to Victory Lane was in the fall race at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2023.
In a post on X, the FedEx account said, "What a ride it‘s been! Denny and the entire Joe Gibbs team, it‘s been an incredible 20 years of racing with the best. Team Fedex will always be cheering you on."
Hamlin didn‘t rule out FedEx never returning to sponsor one of his racecars. And reflecting on how much the company means to him is nearly indescribable.
"It‘s really hard to put into words because I got to know so many of the employees, so many of the executives over 20 years," he said. "I bleed purple. Every time that a FedEx truck goes by, my kids are yelling, 'Daddy.‘ That‘s some of that brand awareness that I hear from fans, as well. Whether they are going to be on my racecar in the future or not, doesn‘t matter, I‘m still going to be a part of the purple family."
Hamlin ended the 2024 season with three victories, and his 943 laps led checked in at third-most in the series. He finished eighth in the championship standings after getting eliminated from the Playoffs in the Round of 8.
Joe Gibbs Racing has not announced what company or companies will take over as the primary sponsor of the No. 11 Toyota in 2025.
See more on FedEx not expecting to return to Joe Gibbs Racing in 2025.
