Heading into the 2023 NASCAR playoffs, Denny Hamlin’s future still remains uncertain. In a dramatic saga that has been going on for months now, the Joe Gibbs Racing star is yet to finalize a contract extension with his team. His position as a team owner at 23XI Racing has marred his shot at the renewal and continues to pose a risk for getting the necessary signatures. The driver’s fortunes have fared better on the track, though. He stands at 3rd place in the standings behind William Byron and Martin Truex Jr. The race at Darlington will kick-start yet another campaign for him to win his first Cup Series championship.

With contracts having to be inked sooner than later, the driver appeared at the Charlotte Convention Center on Thursday for NASCAR’s media day. With all the uncertainties that surrounded him, he was able to provide confirmation on the extension of one partnership with which he won 50 Cup Series races, including 3 Daytona 500s.

FedEx will continue to feature on Denny Hamlin’s No. 11 car

Seldom do partnerships be as successful and long lasting as the one between FedEx and Denny Hamlin. The logistics company has been Denny’s primary sponsor since his debut season with Joe Gibbs Racing in 2005. But in recent months, the FedEx decal has not featured on the driver’s car as prominently as it usually does. Other decals have taken the primary sponsorship spot, and FedEx has been limited to smaller features.

While it is a commendable attribute that Joe Gibbs Racing has been able to bring in attractive sponsors like Coca-Cola and Mavis Tyres & Brakes, the future of their primary partnerships with both Denny and FedEx stands in the balance. Answering a reporter’s question on media day, Denny was able to clear the air on at least one of them.

Coming out from talks of his contract extension, one of the reporters asked Denny about the situation with FedEx as his primary sponsor. Denny answered, “Yeah I mean the relationship with FedEx has continued to be strong and they’re definitely going to be on the car next year. On the #11 car.” 

As the reporter went on further to ask if they would be a full-time sponsor or a partial one like they’ve been this season, Denny continued, “I don’t know the details of it but certainly we’re going to continue that partnership that’s been 20 years strong or so now.”

Will Denny Hamlin drive the JGR-FedEx No. 11 car next year?

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While the 42-year-old did confirm that FedEx will return as a sponsor next year, he did mention that they would do so for the “No. 11” car. This begs whether it will be him behind that car for Joe Gibbs Racing. His contract extension is yet to be inked and, as the days pass, the deadline to do so draws closer. With spells needing to bind the terms of contracts between Denny and JGR, his position as a co-owner of 23XI complicates things further.

Toyota manufactures the cars for both racing teams and there appears to be quite the snag on that front. Speaking of it earlier, Denny said, “Certainly, I have to always look out for the long-term viability of 23XI…The relationship with us, Joe Gibbs Racing, and Toyota has been really strong for our first 3 years. And certainly, all parties would like to continue that. But you know, there’s a lot of paperwork and red tape that you gotta go through to make sure that happens.”

Should Denny Hamlin not be able to strike a deal with Joe Gibbs Racing, there is the possibility that he could move as a driver to his own team. It would mean a huge financial back step for the racing entity, but with the illustrious driver and the legend Michael Jordan as its owners, it is bound to survive. In such a scenario, whether FedEx will continue to feature on Denny’s 23XI Racing car will be a question. Regardless of how things turn out, the Denny Hamlin-FedEx legacy will remain as one of the most memorable partnerships in racing history.

Read More: Denny Hamlin Gets Philosophical With a 9-Worded Witty Comment About His Haters

Driving the No.19 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Xfinity race at Darlington, Denny finished P1 a few hours earlier. He will soon be piloting his No. 11 towards Cup Series glory at the raceway. Watch the Essentially Sports’ NASCAR page for further updates on the upcoming race!

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