Denny Hamlin has signed a multi-year contract with Joe Gibbs Racing to continue driving the No. 11 JGR Toyota Camry through 2024.
Three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin has finally signed a contract extension with Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) following much speculation and waiting. He has also won the Darlington Southern 500 three times as well as the Coke 600 at Charlotte in 2022.
The news comes after it seemed like 23XI Racing, a team that Hamlin co-owns and that now has a technical partnership with Joe Gibbs Racing, was complicating talks between the driver and the team.
However, the partnership between 23XI and JGR will not change, according to Hamlin, who stated as much on his podcast this week.
“It is amazing to think it has been almost 20 years since J.D. (Gibbs) first saw him race and we signed him to that first contract,” said Joe Gibbs, owner and founder of JGR.
“He has been a big part of Joe Gibbs Racing ever since then and we look forward to that continuing for years to come.”
Hamlin has been with Joe Gibbs Racing since the start of his Cup campaign in 2005. He has participated in around 650 races and has secured 50 victories. He and Junior Johnson, an inductee of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, are the drivers with most race wins in NASCAR Cup history without having won a driver’s championship.
Hamlin’s second-place finish in the championship standings in 2010 was his greatest performance.
“Joe Gibbs Racing has been my home for almost 20 years now,” said Hamlin in a release from the team.
“My relationship with Joe (Gibbs), my team, and everyone at JGR means a lot to me. We have accomplished so much together over the years.
“I’m excited to finally announce this so we can put all our focus on chasing the championship.”
On his podcast, Actions Detrimental, Hamlin was joined by Coach Gibbs to address the news. He claimed that Hamlin’s comeback was extremely beneficial to them because it defines their direction for the years to come.
After winning two races this season, Hamlin is currently running in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs for the 17th time in his career. In four of the past nine years, he has advanced as far as the Championship 4.
Martin Truex Jr., who is Hamlin’s teammate and the 2017 NASCAR Cup champion, announced earlier this year that he will make a comeback in 2024 and continue to race the No. 19 JGR Toyota Camry.
