Joe Gibbs Racing announced a multiyear contract extension Friday with veteran driver Denny Hamlin.
Hamlin, 44, has been behind the wheel of JGR’s No. 11 car for all 706 of his starts in the NASCAR Cup Series.
The company’s longest-tenured driver ranks 11th all-time with 58 Cup Series wins, including four this season.
“Joe (Gibbs, owner) and everyone at JGR are family to me and have done so much for me over the last 20 years, Hamlin said. “We’ve had a solid start to this season, and we have been able to welcome some great new partners this year, so there are a lot of exciting things happening with our team, not only now but also in the future.”
Hamlin currently ranks fourth in the Cup Series points standings following his victory at Dover last Sunday.
“I really appreciate Denny and everything he has meant to our organization,” Gibbs said. “It is just really special when you think about everything we’ve experienced over the past 20 years, from the first moment when J.D. (Gibbs) recognized his talent at a test session, until now. It is remarkable in any sport to compete at the level Denny has for this long, and we are thrilled he has been able to spend his entire career with us.”
His track record includes three wins at the Daytona 500, three in the Southern 500 and one at the Coca-Cola 600. He has qualified for the Cup Series Playoffs a record 18 times, advancing four times to the Championship 4.
–Field Level Media