Denny Hamlin might find himself in the Kyle Busch situation in 2023
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Denny Hamlin (Via IMAGO)
Though Denny Hamlin hasn’t won a championship to date, he is one of the most accomplished NASCAR drivers of all time. He is arguably the most significant driver ever behind Kyle Busch as a driver for Joe Gibbs Racing. Unlike Busch, Hamlin is a one-team man and hasn’t yet driven for a non-JGR side since making his cup debut in 2005.
The three-time Daytona 500 winner has driven for Joe Gibbs Racing in 18 seasons and has scored 48 race wins. He also scored 312 top 10s and 38 poles in the 596 starts he made with JGR. He also has scored 17 Xfinity series win for JGR and 2 Truck series wins for KBM, which used to be the Truck series partner of JGR before the No:18 Drivers RCR move.
Denny Hamlin is also a NASCAR team owner as he joined hands with NBA legend Michael Jordan to launch 23×1 Racing in 2021. The team had two full-time and one part-time entry in the cup and has secured three race wins in two years. With all these achievements, Denny Hamlin is in for an uncertain 2023. A similar situation to his former teammate Kyle Busch found this year.
FedEx, one of the most extensive and considerable courier services, has been the primary sponsor for Denny Hamlin for decades. Their partnership is similar to Busch’s relationship with M&M since the end of the 2022 season. They were forced to call an end to their relationship, and JGR had no choice but to let their most successful driver join RCR.
FedEx has announced a $1 Billion cost cut for 2023 following their “quarterly earnings and sales fell from a year ago,” and they have no choice but to rely on “aggressive cost-cutting measures were softening the blow,” according to CNBC. Not renewing Denny Hamlin’s contract can be an option for the firm. This will put JGR, who already failed to attract sponsors for Hamlin, in big trouble.
Denny Hamlin wants to end his career with FedEx and JGR
Though it is hard to pull off, Denny Hamlin wants to end his career at JGR with FedEx as his partner. He expressed his opinion in conversation with dale Earnhardt Jr. In the Dale Jr. Download Podcast. He is also willing to end his career in a part-time deal.
“I think I would like to retire at Gibbs with FedEx because it’s so unique to have a sponsor that has been part of the sport as long as they have and backed me as long as they have. There’s just no way I could leave them,” Denny Hamlin said.
“Maybe at that point, I just run one or two races. I would like to retire at Gibbs with FedEx. But if things change, then things change, and you’ve got to reevaluate,” Denny Hamlin added.
Even if he fails to pull off the move, he can continue to race at the top level with his team, 23X1 racing. Part-time or full-time. But being an owner driver at the cup level comes with its problems, which might also pull back the team’s ambitions to become a championship contender.
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Justin P Joy
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