Report: Joe Gibbs Racing nearing sponsorship deal with Denny Hamlin, Progressive

With major sponsorship concerns early this season, Joe Gibbs Racing is ready to silence all of that regarding Denny Hamlin. The NASCAR organization is reportedly nearing a deal with Progressive insurance.

With FedEx and Mavis Tires leaving NASCAR after last season, Denny Hamlin looked like he had no sponsorship for 2025. National Debt Relief and Yahoo! have jumped on the car this season to fill in.

However, there is good news on the way. We are going to get a little more consistency if this report from Adam Stern of Sports Business Journal is correct.

According to Stern, Progressive wants to add team sponsorship to its marketing portfolio. The company already spends a lot of money advertising during NASCAR races.

“That’s continued this year, when it’s been the pit road sponsor of The CW’s new coverage of the Xfinity Series. But now, four people familiar with the matter say Progressive has shown a renewed interest in a team-side deal in NASCAR,” Stern writes.

“Sources have pegged Joe Gibbs Racing as the favorite to land Progressive’s business. The team’s No. 11 Toyota driven by Denny Hamlin has had a significant amount of inventory to fill with the loss of FedEx and Mavis Tires & Brakes over the offseason.”

Stern says that neither JGR nor Progressive has provided comment on the matter. If Denny Hamlin lands a big new sponsor that could ease a lot of worries around that team.

Denny Hamlin left all his luck in the Las Vegas casino

During the race weekend in Las Vegas, Denny Hamlin made sure to hit up the casino. He has won a lot of money in recent years playing blackjack and other games in Vegas. This time, it was the slot machine that came up big.

Before racing on Sunday, Hamlin had already made more than a quarter of a million dollars in jackpots. He hit one jackpot for $126,000+ on Friday night. Then he went back on Saturday and hit two more jackpots for $85k and $65k. Unreal luck.

Even though the money was flowing in the casino, luck was not on Hamlin’s side on the track. The 11-car really wasn’t a factor all race long. Hamlin appeared to get himself back on track with the leaders, but it wasn’t meant to be.

Through five races, Denny Hamlin has three finishes of P21 or worse. That can’t keep happening. This team has to get back to running up front each week or it will be time to panic sooner rather than later.