Denny Hamlin gets honest about concerns for state of NASCAR sponsorships

Denny Hamlin‘s offseason was anything but quiet.

In addition to being front and center of 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports’ antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR, Hamlin saw his longtime crew chief Chris Gabehart promoted to Joe Gibbs Racing director of competition. Chris Gayle will now serve atop the pit box for Hamlin and the No. 11 team, which will look different from a sponsorship standpoint in 2025. FedEx, Hamlin’s sponsor for 19 years, has completely departed from the team after cutting back its sponsorship every year since 2021.

Sponsorships have become hard to come by in NASCAR, which Hamlin is well aware of. Hamlin addressed such issues with sponsorship while speaking with the media Saturday at Bowman Gray Stadium ahead of Sunday’s Clash.

Denny Hamlin’s hauler has a lot of open white space as JGR continues to look for an anchor sponsor for him now that FedEx no longer sponsors a car. What he said Saturday about the sponsorship search: @NASCARONFOX pic.twitter.com/jyzen8mgRs

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) February 1, 2025

“I mean it is tough out there,” Hamlin said, via Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports. “Sponsorship is hard to come by, and certainly, while it is such an important time in our sport to recognize that sponsorship dollars are not flowing like they used to for sure. Everyone has had to adjust quite a bit, and there are certain aspects that JGR has to price into their pricing as well that is probably tough. I don’t know. It is part of it.

“Certainly, having one sponsor for 20 years, made things pretty easy and now it is all catching up. Is it concerning from my end? Maybe a little bit, but it is probably more concerning from JGR’s standpoint.”

Denny Hamlin, JGR looking to find anchor sponsor for 2025

For JGR, this isn’t an unfamiliar situation when it comes to one of its drivers. Mars Inc. and its M&M’s brand left the team after the 2022 season, which ultimately led to Kyle Busch leaving JGR and joining Richard Childress Racing. Hamlin, with a year remaining on his current contract plus an option year, now finds himself without an anchor sponsor at JGR. His hauler? Full of open white space as JGR looks for more sponsorship.

Hamlin, however, does have some new sponsorship in place for this season. National Debt Relief will sponsor Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota in the Daytona 500 later this month, and three races after that. King’s Hawaiian will also serve as a primary sponsor for four races.