In NASCAR’s sponsorship landscape, few partnerships were as iconic or enduring as Denny Hamlin’s nearly two-decade alliance with FedEx. When the $64.28 billion shipping giant stepped away after 2024, it left a gaping hole in the No. 11 Toyota’s livery that seemed impossible to fill. With 54 career victories together—many in the purple and orange colors that became synonymous with Hamlin’s career. And this divorce marked the end of one of NASCAR’s most recognizable driver-sponsor combinations.
Not just FedEx but Mavis Tires also decided to pull its plug on the partnership with the No. 11 team by the end of 2024. Joe Gibbs Racing fans had seen this movie before when M&M’s parted ways with Kyle Busch and the No. 18 team, and it looked like the script was repeating itself. While JGR did the patchwork with King’s Hawaiian and National Debt Relief partnerships, they were looking for an anchor partner. Many believed that without anchor support, Hamlin’s future at JGR was uncertain.
But JGR has finally been able to shut down this noise and rumor mill with their announcement. As Hamlin pursues his elusive first championship in his 20th full-time season, Joe Gibbs Racing has secured a lifeline. Progressive Insurance has stepped up to become the anchor partner for Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota Camry XSE, covering 18 races of the 2025 season. The timing couldn’t be better for Hamlin, who currently sits 12th in points after a strong start that included a near-win at Daytona and a photo-finish second place to teammate Christopher Bell at Phoenix.
“This is a huge deal for our No. 11 team and everyone at Joe Gibbs Racing,” Hamlin said of the partnership. “We’re really looking forward to having Progressive on board and being able to deliver for them on and off the racetrack.” The sentiment was echoed by Progressive’s Sean Freeman, who stated, “When the opportunity arose for us to be a part of the Joe Gibbs Racing family and support renowned NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin, we were all in.”
Now that’s progressive pic.twitter.com/ukj50eGQes
— Denny Hamlin (@dennyhamlin) March 18, 2025
The Progressive colors will debut this weekend at the Straight Talk Wireless 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, kicking off a comprehensive schedule that includes prestigious venues like Bristol, Talladega, and the season finale at Phoenix. The partnership complements JGR’s previously announced two-race deal with ampm, further solidifying Hamlin’s sponsorship picture for 2025 after the departures of both FedEx and 2024 partner Mavis Tire & Brakes.
For a driver chasing his first championship after coming tantalizingly close multiple times, this deal provides the stability and assurance he needs to focus on the racetrack. With this monkey off his back, we can see Hamlin back to being his usual self, especially with tracks lined up on the schedule.
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