For nearly two decades, Denny Hamlin and FedEx shared a bond that defined one of NASCAR’s most iconic pairings. The No. 11 Toyota and its sleek FedEx livery were fixtures on the track, bringing fans countless memorable moments. But as the 2025 NASCAR season approaches, the duo decided to part ways. This marked the end of an era as FedEx has been synonymous with Hamlin’s legacy in NASCAR. A loyal partner of Joe Gibbs Racing, Sport Clips, has stepped up in a big way. The Georgetown, Texas-based haircut franchise has taken the reins as the primary sponsor of Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota.

This partnership is already making waves, as evidenced by a special gesture that has fans talking. Recently, Hamlin received a special gift from the Sport Clips team which is going viral on social media.

Denny Hamlin’s special partnership kicked off

Since the debut of Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota in 2005, the FedEx logo became synonymous with his excellence on the track. Together, they celebrated 47 of Hamlin’s 54 career wins, including marquee victories at the Daytona 500 and Coca-Cola 600. Yet, the 2024 season marked the end of this era. In 2024, when FedEx decided to cut down its involvement, Sport Clips, along with other brands, helped JGR.

Denny Hamlin took to Instagram to share an unexpected gift from Sports Clips. In a video post, Hamlin unboxed a one-of-a-kind transparent cap. He humorously reviewed the item and said, “We got a special package here and sports clips and lids. Whoa. Well, that’s a first. A clear lid. Sport clips, clear lids. So, what you’re telling me is after I get my fresh haircut, still show it off with a hat on.”

The white transparent cap is being launched by the sponsors ahead of the upcoming racing season. Fans can also win it in a giveaway announced by Hamlin, “If you want one of these of your own, you can go to Sport Clips or lids Instagram and register. Try to win your own, but this one I’m going to keep for myself.”  It’s worth noting that Sport Clips has been a longtime partner for Joe Gibbs Racing. They joined JGR as sponsors of two-time Cup Series champion Kyle Busch in 2009 and since then have been an integral part of their program. Apart from Busch, the Georgetown-based franchise has supported 2017 Cup series champion Martin Truex Jr. However, Sport Clips will kick off a special journey with Hamlin in the upcoming season. They will be keen to win Hamlin’s Cup series title together. It’s the one achievement that’s eluded Hamlin in his two decades of racing in NASCAR. Now, with Sport Clips as the primary sponsor and a new crew chief, Hamlin is keen to get going.

In the 2025 season, Hamlin will partner with Ty Gibbs’s crew chief Chris Gayle. He will replace Hamlin’s longtime crew chief Chris Gabehart. Notably, JGR promoted Gabehart to a new role which ended a five-year-long partnership at No.11 Toyota. Gabehart and Hamlin won 22 Cup Series races since 2019 and have been one of the most successful in recent years.

Speaking about his 2025 prospects, Denny Hamlin had said, “They’ve got to do what’s best for the company. Chris Gayle has been with the company for 20 years, and I think it’s going to be a welcomed change for both of us.” Notably, Hamlin believes that this decision was taken to improve Ty Gibb’s performance as he said, “I think they’re looking for an improvement on the performance of the 54, and they’re looking for an overall performance for all the teams.”

JGR’s plans for 2025

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While Hamlin focuses on navigating 2025 with a revamped sponsor lineup, the future of Joe Gibbs Racing is also transforming. Ty Gibbs, the grandson of team founder Joe Gibbs, is set to take on dual roles as a driver and team owner. Starting in 2025, Gibbs will assume ownership of the No. 54 NASCAR Xfinity Series team while continuing his Cup series journey.

Notably, the No.54 Xfinity team has been Ty Gibbs’ Xfinity Series championship-winning car. He drove it to victory lane in 2022. Under Gibbs’ leadership, the No. 54 car will return to the Xfinity Series with Taylor Gray as its full-time driver. Apart from his ownership journey, Gibbs will also aim for a successful run in the Cup Series. The 2023 Rookie of the Year has been looking for success in the premier series in the last two seasons. In the 2025 season, Tyler Allen will join Gibbs as his new crew chief. He has been phenomenal as crew chief in his rookie Xfinity season. In 2024, he led Joe Gibbs Racing’s No.20 car to victory lane eight times. His performance earned him a well-deserved promotion to the premier series.

“Tyler Allen was successful at the Cup level with us while working under Adam Stevens and was impressive last season in the Xfinity Series, leading that 20 team to eight wins while working with several different drivers. We have an exciting young and talented team on the No.54 car,” team owner Joe Gibbs had said. This statement and move reflect how JGR is focusing on young talents in both Cup and Xfinity teams. The squad will hope Ty Gibbs to step up and deliver in the upcoming season.