Major Update on Denny Hamlin’s Future Clears All Doubt Over Him Becoming the Next Kyle Busch for Joe Gibbs Racing

For a while now, it was feared that Denny Hamlin would follow in the footsteps of former Joe Gibbs Racing driver Kyle Busch out of Coach Gibbs’ organization. After all, the biggest reason why the Candyman had to look for another team was because of the sponsor crisis he found himself in last season with longtime sponsor M&M’s. So the fear of Hamlin also following that route was pretty justified, as the NASCAR future of his longtime sponsor FedEx also remained unclear.

However, in the last few days, a major report suggested that FedEx might just renew its contract with JGR and, in turn, allow Hamlin to stay in that organization for another year. And now, there has been another report that more or less solidifies that Hamlin will indeed be staying in the #11 team for 2024 as well.

Denny Hamlin won’t become the next Kyle Busch for JGR

According to journalist Adam Stern of the Sports Business Journal, FedEx is “close to striking a contract extension” with Joe Gibbs Racing as a sponsor for the 2024 season. If that happens, FedEx would be a major player in not only Hamlin’s career but also in that of JGR for the 19th year in a row.

This would mean that while Hamlin’s former teammate Kyle Busch had to leave because Coach Gibbs couldn’t make M&M’s stay, he is clearly not risking losing another big name from his organization both on and off the racetrack.

As for why the doubts about FedEx’s future have been brewing, it’s because of the fact that the Memphis-based company has been cutting costs across its operations which in turn has led towards a decline in their presence in NASCAR over the last few years.

.@JoeGibbsRacing nearing extension with @FedEx for 2024

📰: https://t.co/plIKeq7vq2 pic.twitter.com/Uj8g8G5idn

— Adam Stern (@A_S12) June 5, 2023

Could Hamlin make a move away from JGR and end his career elsewhere?

In an interview from earlier this year, Denny Hamlin was quizzed about the possibility of finishing off his stellar career in a different organization. Considering the age of the driver and the looming uncertainty over his sponsor’s future a few months ago, many wondered if Hamlin would spend the last few years of his career looking for that elusive Cup championship in a different organization.

But Hamlin swiftly cleared his stance on the matter with not only a statement of his intent but also one that hinted toward his transition from being a driver-owner to being purely an owner.

“Certainly, I’ve always wanted to finish my career at (Joe Gibbs Racing) and I’m optimistic that will be the case,” he said as per SportsNaut. “There’ll be a time where my attention will be more needed as a team owner than a driver, but it’s going to be on my terms and when I want it to happen and when I think it needs to happen.”

“But I don’t think it … I don’t foresee ownership expediting my retirement. I think that my retirement will be a totally independent decision, regardless of where we’re at with the race team.”

Independent or enforced by circumstances, that’s something time will tell. But it’d surely be interesting to see if Hamlin actually ends his driving career at Coach Gibbs’ team or if he spends the last few years of his career at his own team, 23XI Racing.