Another long-time sponsor may be exiting the world of NASCAR.
Denny Hamlin took to social media to express his gratitude to FedEx ahead of the Cup Series season finale at Phoenix on Sunday. According to Sports Business Journal, the shipping company is unlikely to renew its partnership with Joe Gibbs Racing in 2025.
Shortly after Hamlin’s social media post, FedEx seemed to confirm the end of their relationship.
FedEx has been a prominent sponsor at JGR since 2005, forming the longest-standing driver-sponsor duo in the Cup Series with Hamlin. However, rumors had circulated for months about FedEx’s future involvement in NASCAR, and the company had been reducing its sponsorship commitments in recent years.
In 2020, FedEx sponsored Hamlin’s car for all 36 Cup Series races, but their participation has dwindled since then. Including the Phoenix race on Sunday, FedEx has been the primary sponsor for Hamlin in 14 points races in 2024.
Throughout his full-time NASCAR career starting in 2006, Hamlin has achieved 54 wins, with the majority of those victories coming in a FedEx-sponsored car.
Should FedEx opt not to continue in NASCAR and partner with another team, their departure would add to a growing list of major brands that have exited the sport in the last decade. Companies like Lowe’s, Target, Nationwide, and MillerCoors have all ended their sponsorships after being key figures in modern NASCAR. These departures followed similar moves by brands like Home Depot and UPS.