Denny Hamlin is entering the final year of his contract with Joe Gibbs Racing but the more significant bit of news is that FedEx’s contract is also set to expire. This means the No. 11 car for Joe Gibbs Racing is fully for the 2024 season.
This is not the first time the organization has dealt with this situation. Kyle Busch, the most-known Toyota driver in NASCAR for over one decade, left the organization after Mars announced it would not return for the 2023 season.
It appears unlikely that Hamlin, 42, would leave Toyota considering he owns a team with the manufacturer in the NASCAR Cup Series; however, could that also be his way out for 2024 if nothing materializes?
Related: Denny Hamlin provides big updates on future at Joe Gibbs Racing
Denny Hamlin has reportedly said he wants to drive one season with 23XI Racing before retiring
With Hamlin in a contract year, the 2023 season represents a major one for his future in the NASCAR Cup Series. The 42-year-old driver is still chasing his first Cup Series title which is a huge reason to perform at a high level.
However, Hamlin’s future still has a question mark next to it. According to NASCAR.com, Hamlin has previously said he wants to race at least one season with 23XI Racing, the team he co-owns with NBA legend Michael Jordan, before retirement.
The driver of the No. 11 car for Joe Gibbs Racing has been optimistic that he will finish his career with the organiation. Therefore, it appears this would be a part-time effort if Hamlin were to drive for his co-owned race team.
Hamlin also stressed that owning a Cup Series organization will not expedite his retirement when the NASCAR world came together for Champion’s Week in Nashville last December. This comes as 23XI Racing has expanded to a two-car operation with a part-time car as a third entry.
It is one of several differences between Hamlin and Busch’s situations. Busch did not have a backup plan in the Cup Series. Hamlin can always drive for his own team if needed and it makes sense for the organization itself.
The future of the No. 11 car is up in the air as of right now with no official plans in place. We’ll see if Hamlin races one season with 23XI Racing but if not, Joe Gibbs Racing will continue to have him and FedEx on board.