Denny Hamlin and FedEx have been on quite a journey. Of the Joe Gibbs Racing veteran’s 54 career wins, 47 have been achieved with the logistics giant as the primary sponsor of his No. 11 Toyota. The collaboration between the two has withstood the test of time, as the Florida native has been associated with the company ever since he made his Cup Series debut in 2005. However, all good things come to an end and every sign pointed towards the inevitable until the news was finally confirmed by both parties.

Having wrapped his 19th full-time season at NASCAR’s highest level, Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota featured the familiar FedEx paint scheme one last time at Phoenix Raceway. With speculation being rife about his sponsorship for 2025, the 43-year-old shared his insights on the matter in the post-race interview.

Denny Hamlin thankful for FedEx’s unwavering support

Few sponsorships in NASCAR are as iconic as Denny Hamlin and FedEx. The Memphis-based global delivery and logistics giant has been a reliable partner throughout the Joe Gibbs Racing driver’s career, spending as much as $25 million a year just in rights fees. Until 2021, the company and its sub-brands sponsored every race the No. 11 Toyota competed in during the 38-race schedule until it began cutting back its involvement to just 13 races in 2024.

Reflecting on the partnership between Joe Gibbs Racing and FedEx, Denny Hamlin said in the post-race interview, “It’s such a great relationship and obviously, if you would say it in the beginning, ‘Would you take 19 years in a row’ with the presence they’ve had? Absolutely! They have been a part of my racing career, the whole thing in Cup. Really happy to have been able to represent them.”

When asked about the No. 11 Toyota’s primary sponsor going forward, the veteran replied, “It’s a work in progress. Certainly, the Gibbs team is working really hard, got some good talks going on. We’ll see what goes on next year but obviously, we got some great partners that have been with the team for quite some time now.” With FedEx’s limited involvement, Joe Gibbs Racing has been forced to look for alternatives, with Mavis Tire and SportClips sponsoring Denny Hamlin for seven races, while Interstate Batteries and Yahoo have also stepped in.

FedEx is the second major sponsor to leave the racing team in recent years. Mars Incorporated and its M&M brand stopped their involvement in NASCAR after the 2022 season, which ultimately led to Kyle Busch departing for Richard Childress Racing. While Denny Hamlin is expected to remain with JGR for the foreseeable future, it’s the end of an era, now that the logistics giant is closing the curtains on a long and iconic partnership.

Why did FedEx end its partnership with Joe Gibbs Racing?

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Whether it’s because of the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, or simply a change in business approach, FedEx has been reshuffling its sports marketing portfolio in recent years in a bid to cut costs. Recently, the logistics giant ended its long-term naming rights deal with the Washington Commanders, a franchise that Joe Gibbs guided to three Super Bowl victories. The deal has existed since 1999 and marks a significant pivot in the company’s strategy going forward.

While Joe Gibbs Racing will find alternate sponsors, it’s unclear if they will be able to recoup the same kind of investment that the logistics giant put in, especially with TV ratings and attendance figures dropping down in recent years. FedEx has announced that it wants to cut $4 billion in costs by 2025, which has resulted in an end to the company’s longstanding partnership with Denny Hamlin.

Over the years, Denny Hamlin has been the face of the brand, featuring in several TV commercials and the logistics giant’s philanthropic efforts. Even though the iconic sponsorship has finally come to an end, both parties will reflect on their association with a positive outlook, and the amicable split could pave a potential return for FedEx in the future. Meanwhile, the Joe Gibbs Racing veteran will be without familiar support for next year, but could that finally lift the curse and propel him to lift the elusive championship in the 2025 season?