AVONDALE, Ariz. — Roughly one hour before the green flag marked the start of the season finale, Denny Hamlin dropped a video on social media thanking FedEx for everything the company has done for his career.
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The veteran driver didn't exactly say that Sunday's race would be his last with FedEx as his primary sponsor, but the video left little doubt. Hamin then confirmed as much after closing out his season with an 11th-place finish.
"It's been a great relationship," Hamlin said in a video captured by Fox Sports' Bob Pockrass. "If you'd say at the very beginning, 'Would you take 19 years in a row with the presence they've had?' Absolutely. They've been part of my racing career, the whole thing, in Cup."
https://twitter.com/dennyhamlin/status/1855688666674557214
FedEx has been Hamlin's biggest supporter since his first day in the Cup Series. The shipping company was his primary sponsor for his series debut at Kansas Speedway in 2005, and it remained in this role for six more races that season. Hamlin delivered early returns by winning the pole at Phoenix Raceway in only his sixth start.
FedEx remained Hamlin's primary partner as he kicked off his full-time career in 2006, and it continued to support him as the years rushed by. Hamlin captured 47 of his 54 Cup wins with a FedEx scheme, including three Daytona 500s and one Coca-Cola 600.
The situation changed in recent seasons. FedEx dialed back its support while other partners such as Yahoo, Coca-Cola, Mavis Tires & Brakes, Sports Clips, Interstate Batteries, and Shingrix took over the No. 11 Toyota.
2023 and 2024, in particular, featured only 13 FedEx schemes in each season. This was a significant decrease from the 30 races in 2022.
With FedEx having such a major spot in Hamlin's sponsor lineup, there were obvious questions about the future of the No. 11 Toyota. He said on pit road that Joe Gibbs Racing has "some good talks going on" with potential partners and that. some of his other partners will have some presence on the car. Hamlin did not detail which partners will be back.
