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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — FedEx announced a contract extension with 2016 Daytona 500 winner, Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin on Thursday from Daytona International Speedway.
While the terms of the new contract weren’t disclosed, Hamlin smiled and allowed, “I’ll be much grayer” before I will need another extension.
“FedEx has been synonymous with the Number 11 car and Denny Hamlin for many years and together we have enjoyed great successes on and off the race track,” said Patrick Fitzgerald, senior vice president, FedEx Integrated and Marketing Communications.
The company has backed Hamlin since the beginning of his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series career, which now includes 29 race wins — including last year’s Daytona 500. He has made NASCAR’s playoffs in 10 of his 11 full-time seasons on the circuit.
“It’s great,” Hamlin said of the extension. “Obviously we’ve had a great relationship over 12 years … to do this with one team and one sponsor is very rare and hard to do. To have a company like FedEx stick behind you … I’m definitely blessed and wake up every day thanking my lucky stars.”
In addition to backing Hamlin’s team, FedEx introduced a new program called, “Delivering Laps for FedEx Cares,” which means a $111 donation to the non-profit Safe Kids Worldwide for every lap Hamlin leads this season. The company will donate $11,000 for each of Hamlin’s race victories and $111,000 should his team win the 2017 Cup championship.