Joe Gibbs Racing has introduced a new primary sponsor for Denny Hamlin’s #11 Toyota. Ahead of the NASCAR race weekend at Las Vegas, JGR announced a two-race partnership with ampm, a well-known 24-hour convenience store chain on the West Coast.
On March 12, JGR revealed that ampm will debut as the primary sponsor for Hamlin’s car at Sonoma Raceway on July 13. The striking violet-and-black paint scheme will return for a second appearance during the playoff race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on October 12.
Hamlin expressed enthusiasm about the new partnership, highlighting the opportunity to introduce ampm to the NASCAR audience. He praised the car’s fresh design and looked forward to representing the brand on track later in the season. Since its founding in 1978 in Southern California, ampm has expanded to over 1,000 locations and operates under BP America.
The new sponsorship follows the end of Hamlin’s long-standing relationship with FedEx, which concluded after the 2024 season. FedEx had been the primary sponsor of the #11 Toyota for two decades, leaving Joe Gibbs Racing searching for new partners.
For the 2025 season, Hamlin’s car will feature a variety of sponsors. Sport Clips, National Debt Relief, and King’s Hawaiian will each serve as primary sponsors for four races. Yahoo! will also sponsor select races, while ampm will back Hamlin for two events. Additionally, ampm is set to sponsor JGR teammate Ty Gibbs for a race in 2026.
Meanwhile, NASCAR veteran Kevin Harvick voiced concerns about Hamlin’s diminishing chances to win races and claim his first Cup Series championship. After Hamlin narrowly missed victory at Phoenix Raceway to teammate Christopher Bell, Harvick reflected on the pressure of competing at an older age.
The 2014 Cup Series champion acknowledged Hamlin’s talent but emphasized that time is running out for him to achieve major milestones. Harvick, who retired with 60 career wins, compared Hamlin’s situation to his own struggles in the latter years of his career with Stewart-Haas Racing. Hamlin currently holds 54 career wins but remains without a championship title.
Hamlin will return to the track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 16 for the Pennzoil 400, as he continues his pursuit of victory and a long-awaited championship.
