Joe Gibbs Racing, Denny Hamlin Sign Major Partnership With Progressive

After over a month into the Nascar Cup Series season, Joe Gibbs Racing announced that Progressive Insurance as the primary sponsor for Denny Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota.

The signing of Progressive marks the company’s return to the Cup Series, as Joe Gibbs Racing went on a multi-month hunt to find FedEx’s replacement. FedEx left the team at the end of the 2024 season, marking the end of a 20-plus-year partnership with Hamlin, the longest in Nascar at the time.

“This is a huge deal for our No. 11 team and everyone at Joe Gibbs Racing,” Hamlin said in a team release. “We’re really looking forward to having Progressive on board and being able to deliver for them on and off the racetrack. For me, it’s exciting to team up with a brand like Progressive that is so innovative with their marketing and the different ways you seem them activate. I can’t wait to get going with them starting this weekend.”

Progressive’s blue and white paint scheme will debut on the track this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The firm previously sponsored Ryan Newman at what is now RFK Racing in 2020. However, that partnership was only for two races and this is a much more significant investment.

“Progressive is a premiere national brand and a leader in the insurance industry. We are thrilled to have them partner with Denny (Hamlin) and our No. 11 team,” said Joe Gibbs, owner of Joe Gibbs Racing. “We all know that NASCAR fans love being active, and on the move, whether it is in their cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats or recreational vehicles, and we look forward to raising awareness on how Progressive can protect them and their families.”

FedEx previously scaled back its Nascar sponorship and only sponsored the No. 11 team in 13 races last year and 12 in 2023, down from a nearly full slate.

Mavis Tire sponsored Hamlin in seven races last year, with additional partnerships with Yahoo! and SportClips. This year, Hamlin and JGR signed National Debt Relief as a new primary sponsor, and his No. 11 car has been sporting Yahoo! and SportClips colors once again.

“When the opportunity arose for us to be a part of the Joe Gibbs Racing family and support renowned Nascar driver Denny Hamlin, we were all in,” said Sean Freeman, Progressive’s Business Leader of Direct Media. “We love JGR’s pursuit of excellence and Hamlin’s proven success on the track. Together, our marketing and their driving styles align well and can’t wait to see the No. 11 in action.”

The Progressive scheme debuts on track during Sunday’s Straight Talk Wireless 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway at 3 p.m. on FS1.