Hamlin Lands Progressive Insurance As New Anchor Partner

Denny Hamlin's No. 11 Progressive Insurance Toyota. (Joe Gibbs Racing photo)

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. – Any worries about a lack of sponsorship for Denny Hamlin in the NASCAR Cup Series were soothed Tuesday night, courtesy of a major announcement from Joe Gibbs Racing.

The organization revealed that Progressive Insurance, one of the nation’s leading auto insurance companies since 1937, will sponsor Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota Camry XSE in 18 Cup Series races this season.

Starting Sunday with the Straight Talk Wireless 400 at Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway, Progressive’s familiar blue-and-white branding will adorn Hamlin’s car and race suit, filling the large void in inventory left when FedEx – Hamlin’s anchor partner of 20 years – departed the team at the end of last season.

JGR unveiled the new paint scheme during a live stream broadcast on both the team’s X (formerly Twitter) account and YouTube channel.

“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 team owner Joe Gibbs. “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.”

In addition to Homestead, Progressive will sponsor Hamlin at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway on March 30; Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway on April 13; Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway on April 27; Texas Motor Speedway on May 4; Kansas Speedway on May 11; North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Speedway’s NASCAR All-Star Race on May 18; Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway on June 1; Pennsylvania’s Pocono Raceway on June 22; the Chicago (Ill.) Street Course on July 6; Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway on July 20; Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 27; Watkins Glen (N.Y.) Int’l on Aug. 10; Richmond (Va.) Raceway on Aug. 16; World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Ill., on Sept. 7; New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sept. 21; the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway ROVAL on Oct. 5; and Phoenix Raceway on Nov. 2.

Progressive will also be an associate partner of the No. 11 team and Hamlin for the full season.

Providing insurance for personal and commercial autos and trucks, motorcycles, boats, recreational vehicles, and homes; Progressive is the second largest personal auto insurer in the United States, as well as one of the top 15 insurance carriers for homeowners.

The new deal with JGR marks Progressive’s first sponsorship with a driver and team in NASCAR since appearing on Ryan Newman’s No. 6 Ford at Roush-Fenway (now RFK) Racing for two races during the 2020 season.

“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.”

In the midst of his 20th full season at NASCAR’s premier level, Hamlin has compiled a resume that will make him a likely first-ballot Hall of Famer when the time comes. He’s tied for 12th on the all-time win list with 54 victories, including three Daytona 500s (2016, ’19, ’20), three Southern 500s (2010, ’17, ’21), and the 2022 Coca-Cola 600.

The Chesterfield, Va., native has made the Championship 4 four times in his career since the advent of the elimination-style playoffs in 2014 and has a best points finish of second from 2010.

Hamlin sits 12th in the Cup Series standings through five of 36 races, with a best finish of second at Phoenix on March 9.

“This is a huge deal for our No. 11 team and everyone at Joe Gibbs Racing,” said Hamlin. “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.”

With Tuesday night’s news, Hamlin only has three races left where a sponsor hasn’t been announced for this season – Michigan Int’l Speedway on June 8, Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City on June 15, and Iowa Speedway on Aug. 3.

Broadcast coverage of Progressive’s debut with Hamlin at Homestead is slated for Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. ET, live on FS1, the Motor Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.