Denny Hamlin May Finally Have a Solution to His Sponsorship Woes

DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 16: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 National Debt Relief Toyota speaks to a crew member on the grid during a weather delay in the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 16, 2025 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)

What’s Happening?

Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin has not been quiet about his sponsorship woes since losing FedEx and Mavis Tires and Brakes this past off-season. However, an unlikely source could be stepping in to fill the rest of Hamlin’s 2025 sponsor inventory.

  • According to Adam Stern of Sports Business Journal, though a deal has yet to be completed, sources claim Joe Gibbs Racing is a prime candidate to sign Progressive Insurance as a primary sponsor in the NASCAR Cup Series. If the brand signs with JGR, it will be the first time it has sponsored a car since it did so with Ryan Newman in two races during the 2020 season.
  • JGR lost two major sponsors of their veteran driver, Denny Hamlin, this past offseason. The first to go was FedEx, which had sponsored the No. 11 since 2005 and sponsored 13 races in 2024. The second was Mavis, a short-term sponsor at JGR who sponsored eight races across two brands in 2024.
  • Returning sponsors from 2024 include SportClips and Yahoo. However, to fill the spots left by FedEx and Mavis, JGR has signed King’s Hawaiian, National Debt Relief, and AMPM Convenience stores to the No. 11 during the offseason and early part of the 2025 season.
  • Hamlin, a now 21-year veteran of NASCAR, has been open and honest about the difficulty in finding a new sponsor. During media availability at the 2025 Clash, Hamlin stated, “Is it concerning from my end? Maybe a little bit, but it’s probably more concerning from JGR’s standpoint.”

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Chris Gabehart and Denny Hamlin

Chris Gabehart Responds to JGR’s Lawsuit

What’s Happening?

Chris Gabehart has responded to Joe Gibbs Racing’s lawsuit, strongly denying the allegations and calling the claims “false,” “frivolous,” and “retaliatory” in a public statement released this Friday.

After the lawsuit became public, on Thursday, Gabehart spoke out for the first time, stating that he did not share any confidential JGR information with Spire Motorsports or any third parties and that he intends to prove that in court. He also said a third-party forensic review of his personal devices found no evidence supporting the accusations, adding that JGR declined an offer to examine Spire’s systems before filing suit.

“Yesterday afternoon, Joe Gibbs Racing filed a lawsuit claiming — falsely — that I shared JGR confidential information with Spire Motorsports and/or other unnamed third parties… I feel compelled to speak out today and forcefully and emphatically deny these frivolous and retaliatory claims.”

Gabehart said he will address the matter further in a formal legal response in the coming days.

You can learn more about the lawsuit, why it started and all the context surrounding it in the article linked below

What Happens if it Rains at Atlanta This Weekend?

What’s Happening?

Weather could play a major role in the NASCAR weekend at EchoPark Speedway, with current forecasts calling for a 40% chance of rain Saturday afternoon and increasing to 55% in the evening. While conditions are expected to improve, contingency plans are already in place in case races cannot be completed as scheduled

If Saturday Goes as Planned
  • All scheduled events run normally across the NASCAR Truck Series, O’Reilly Series, and Cup Series
  • No changes to Sunday’s schedule
If One Saturday Race Is Postponed
  • The delayed race would move to Sunday morning
  • It would run before the Cup Series race
  • Other races remain in their original slots
If Both Saturday Races Are Postponed
  • Sunday becomes a tripleheader, with the expected running order being: 1. O’Reilly Series, 2. Cup Series, 3. Truck Series
  • Schedule subject to change depending on conditions

NASCAR has not announced any official schedule changes yet, as decisions will be based on how conditions develop in real time. With rain chances increasing through Saturday afternoon and evening, teams are preparing for multiple outcomes, and Sunday is expected to serve as the primary backup window if events can’t be completed as planned.

Conditions are constantly being monitored, but fans should be prepared for possible schedule adjustments throughout the weekend. We’ll keep you updated throughout the race weekend here on The Daily Downforce

Joe Gibbs Racing/Chris Gabehart Lawsuit is WILD | Complete Breakdown

Just when things finally seemed to calm down in the NASCAR garage, a bombshell dropped. Joe Gibbs Racing is officially suing former competition director Chris Gabehart, and the allegations are serious. Power struggles, confidential data, secret photos, and a potential move to Spire Motorsports.

  • What exactly is Joe Gibbs Racing accusing Gabehart of taking?
  • Did a disagreement with Joe Gibbs spark this entire fallout?
  • How deep does the alleged data access really go?
  • And the biggest question: how badly does Spire still want him now?

From competition department tension to an $8 million damages figure, this lawsuit could have major implications beyond just one team. Gabehart helped elevate Denny Hamlin back into championship form and played a key role in JGR’s recent success, which makes this split even more shocking. This preview only scratches the surface. The full breakdown dives into the timeline, the alleged evidence, and what this could mean for the Cup Series balance of power moving forward. Watch the full video to learn much more

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