Losing the sponsorship from a longtime partner in FedEx was a major blow for Denny Hamlin and Joe Gibbs Racing, but it appears they’ve managed to fill the void.
On Tuesday, it was announced that Progressive will sponsor Hamlin for 18 races in 2025, beginning with the Straight Talk Wireless 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday.
FedEx sponsored Hamlin since his Cup Series debut in 2005, but the company ended its sponsorship of Hamlin and Joe Gibbs Racing at the conclusion of the 2024 season after cutting back its involvement over the past several seasons.
The long-term future of Progressive’s sponsorship is unknown, as is Hamlin’s long-term future as a driver. Even if the partnership only lasts for the rest of 2025, it can make Hamlin’s mostly-blank hauler colorful again for the rest of the season and provide Joe Gibbs Racing with much-needed stability in terms of business relationships and finance.
In a modern NASCAR world where sponsorships seemingly change every week, a star driver pairing up with a well-known company for half the Cup Series schedule is great for the brand of both NASCAR and Hamlin.
Sunday’s race at Homestead-Miami Speedway will be the first time fans will be able to see the Progressive colors sported on Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota.
