Denny Hamlin knew he wanted to continue his NASCAR Cup Series career with Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) — that is, as long as Toyota was on board long-term as the manufacturer to 23XI Racing, of which Hamlin is co-owner of alongside NBA legend Michael Jordan.
Once Hamlin got that assurance, an extension with JGR was never in doubt. Hamlin officially solidified his future Monday, inking a multiyear contract extension to continue driving the No. 11 Toyota. Speaking with SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Tuesday, Hamlin detailed the decision and how it came about.
“I think the goals are very similar but you know it’s just different when you have just the driver’s contract,” Hamlin said. “You’re just trying to figure out — is this the best organization to win races with? That’s all you’re really concerned about. Does the money match the performance? That’s what the team’s looking at from their perspective. When you’ve got other elements like a race team involved and you know, I have to make sure that my interests stay aligned. There’s no way that I could drive for another manufacturer or drive for one manufacturer and own a team for another.
“There’s just too many blurred lines there. Too much sensitive information that manufacturers have for that to be possible. I couldn’t commit to Joe [Gibbs] for a long-term deal unless I knew that my team was going to have a long-term deal with Toyota. With all those pieces aligned now, it made the process with Joe very, very seamless. That had been done for a very, very long time.”
Denny Hamlin remains with Joe Gibbs Racing, going for first NASCAR Cup Series championship
Hamlin, who has been with JGR for 18 full-time seasons, was set to be out of a contract after the 2023 Cup Series season before striking a new deal. Hamlin, 42, has been a model of consistency during his time with JGR, notching 50 wins and finishing in the top-10 of the final points standings in all but three seasons. A three-time Daytona 500 winner, Hamlin remains in search of his first Cup Series championship.
“Joe Gibbs Racing has been my home for almost 20 years now,” Hamlin said. ”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.”