One might recognize FedEx as a shipping and delivery conglomerate with its purple and orange-colored logo. However, its popularity is not only restricted to the service sector but also holds a pivotal position in the American sports community. The organization has been a primary sponsor for Joe Gibbs Racing’s veteran driver Denny Hamlin since 2005. However, it seems that the shipping behemoth’s presence on the sporting front is gradually waning.

It might come as a shock to many that the transportation mogul and the Joe Gibbs Racing owner enjoy a deep connection that has lasted for decades. It is not just through the sponsorship deal involving Denny Hamlin but also through his former NFL team, the Washington Commanders. However, the recent development within FedEx and its aim of cost-cutting seems to have put both Joe Gibbs’ former and current teams in a pickle. 

Is a sponsorship woe in store for Denny Hamlin?

If one rewinds to the 2023 Cup Series season, it will be evident that the season was favorable for the rising villain of NASCAR, Denny Hamlin, to secure his first championship, except for a glaring absence, the #11 Toyota’s primary sponsor FedEx. Out of the 36 races in the season, the #11 team ran only 13 FedEx car liveries, compared to its 30 paint schemes. As a result, one might be left wondering as to what resulted in the dwindling presence of the organization, especially after sharing such an iconic bond for nearly two decades.

Well, the answer is quite simple: FedEx is on the verge of reducing its $4 billion expenses, which has resulted in cost-cutting through its FedEx Drive Initiative. However, it is not just Hamlin who has fallen victim to this initiative, but his team owner’s former NFL team Washington Commanders. The business giant who enjoyed the naming rights of the Commander’s stadium and has been known as FedEx Field since 1999 retracted its contract two years before the expiration. 

In an official statement to the Associated Press, Fed Ex stated, “We continuously review our marketing programs to ensure our investments are aligned with our evolving business objectives. As part of this review, we have decided to not continue as the naming rights sponsor of FedEx Field as we focus on our broader NFL sponsorship and opportunities that reflect our global footprint.”

After the drastic step by FedEx, one might feel what is in store for Denny Hamlin and whether he will meet with a similar fate. Well, even if the answer is affirmative, it won’t be as drastic and sudden as the brand’s partnership with Washington Commanders. The brand may have reduced its NASCAR presence from the 2023 season, after sponsoring at least 80% of the races in the past seasons, but still holds a pivotal place in the #11 Toyota team.

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Rick Cuellar, the Vice President of Right Formula earlier in the year expressed to Sports Business Journal, “It would have been easy for a brand like FedEx to make a full exit as they restructure business priorities – they’ve had a great run in NASCAR. But when you factor in the relationships and business solutions developed over the life of the partnership, you get compelling reasons to find ways to keep them involved.”

Nonetheless, it is still too early to worry for Denny Hamlin and Joe Gibbs Racing, as FedEx still remains a crucial sponsor for the 3x Daytona 500 winner, and sponsor for a limited number of races in the 2024 Cup Series season. While Hamlin is yet to fall into the clutches of FedEx’s cost-cutting initiative, the veteran driver has fallen victim to the intensifying pressure of the 2024 season. It was evident after the nail-biting performance in last Sunday’s race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. 

The JGR driver confesses to peeing in his racing suit

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The driver on his podcast Actions Detrimental confessed of peeing in his race suit. Speaking to his co-host, Hamlin revealed, “For the first time in my whole career … 19 years, peed my seat. I was hurting. I was so thirsty the second half of the race, but I couldn’t drink any more because my body, I was just sitting there in my seat saying, ‘Let it go. Let it go. And I just couldn’t let it go.”

Continuing on the same lines, Hamlin also added, “And then as soon as I got the first dribble, boom. It was warm, and then it was cold. I never felt what it felt like to pee in my seat. But I kinda liked it. Is that weird?”

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Whether it was weird or not is up to the readers to decide, but for now, it is to be seen how the driver performs in the upcoming race Las Vegas race, especially after crashing out at Atlanta Motor Speedway.