Sparta, KY (Sports Network) - Denny Hamlin revealed prior to Saturday night's
Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway that he has signed a contract extension
with Joe Gibbs Racing.
Hamlin posted on his twitter account, "IT'S OFFICIAL. I've signed an extension
with @JoeGibbsRacing. Happy to know where my future is. Excited for tonight
and beyond with my team."
He did not announce the terms of his extension.
The 31-year-old Hamlin has driven for Joe Gibbs Racing in all seven of his
years in the Sprint Cup Series. He also has qualified for the championship
Chase in each year since his rookie season in 2006. Hamlin has recorded 19
career wins in NASCAR's premier series.
In 2010, Hamlin finished a career-best second in points and won a Sprint Cup
season-high eight races. He scored only one victory during the 2011 season and
barely made the Chase by earning a wild card position.
Hamlin, with two wins so far this year, entered the 400-mile race at Kentucky
eighth in the point standings.
While Hamlin and his teammate, Kyle Busch, are set with their futures with
JGR, Joey Logano's status with the team remains unknown. Logano, who won
earlier this month at Pocono Raceway, is in the last year of his contract with
JGR.
With Matt Kenseth's announcement that he is not returning to Roush Fenway
Racing in 2013, there is speculation that Kenseth will join JGR to either
replace Logano in the No. 20 car or Gibbs will add a fourth team.
Team owner Joe Gibbs would neither confirm nor deny rumors that Kenseth will
join his racing organization.
"We've got a lot of decisions that need to be made, and we're working through
that right now," he said.
Gibbs did note the team is "working really hard" on extending Logano's
contract.
The Sports Network