NASCAR
Denny Hamlin To Drive With New Sponsor; Christopher Bell Earns Top NASCAR Cup Series Championship Odds
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He joined the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.
Get to know Jeff Hawkins betterPublished18 Mar 2025
Denny Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota will have a new look for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series event at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
The Joe Gibbs Racing team announced Progressive Insurance will serve as the team’s primary sponsor. The new deal covers 18 races this season.
“We are thrilled to have them partner with Denny (Hamlin) and our No. 11 team,” owner Joe Gibbs said, as reported by NASCAR.com.
Hamlin, a 20-year veteran, ranks 12th on the circuit’s all-time win list with 54. Through five races this season, Hamlin ranks 12th in the driver standings. Along with Chase Elliott (+900), Hamlin, who has three wins at Homestead, drew the fifth-best sports-betting odds to capture the Cup title, according to BetOnline Sportsbook.
Christopher Bell, who has three wins this season, remains the favorite at +375, followed by Kyle Larson (+500), who was scheduled to compete in all three National Series events at the 1.5-mile oval.
Now that’s progressive pic.twitter.com/ukj50eGQes
— Denny Hamlin (@dennyhamlin) March 18, 2025
Trio Leads Win Total At Homestead-Miami Speedway
With a 26-race history, Homestead-Miami Speedway has created some timeless moments since its series debut in 1999, especially when it served as the regular-season finale.
Who can forget the Joey Logano-Carl Edwards big wreck while racing for a championship in 2016, causing Martin Truex Jr.’s No. 78 Toyota to burst into flames?
Or when Kurt Busch lost a tire, but still managed to claim the 2004 Cup title?
Tony Stewart, who claimed the venue’s first two events, Greg Biffle, and Hamlin each compiled a series-high three wins at Homestead. Kyle Busch has two wins.
"CARL EDWARDS INTO THE WALL!"
Edwards' crash after blocking Joey Logano was a championship-defining moment at Homestead-Miami in 2016. #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/33TobMsVf9
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) October 23, 2024
NASCAR Cup Series Championship Odds
Here is an early look at the drivers’ odds for capturing the NASCAR Cup Series championship, according to BetOnline Sportsbook:
| Driver | NASCAR Cup Series Championship Odds |
|---|---|
| Christopher Bell | +375 |
| Kyle Larson | +500 |
| William Byron | +600 |
| Ryan Blaney | +800 |
| Denny Hamlin | +900 |
| Chase Elliott | +900 |
| Tyler Reddick | +950 |
| Joey Logano | +1000 |
| Kyle Busch | +2000 |
| Ross Chastain | +2000 |
| Josh Berry | +2200 |
| Chase Briscoe | +2500 |
| Ty Gibbs | +2800 |
| Chris Buescher | +3300 |
| Alex Bowman | +3300 |
| Brad Keselowski | +3300 |
| Austin Cindric | +4000 |
| Bubba Wallace | +5000 |
| Daniel Suarez | +10000 |
| Carson Hosevar | +10000 |
| Shane van Gisbergen | +10000 |
| Daniel Suarez | +10000 |
| Noah Gragson | +15000 |
| Michael McDowell | +20000 |
| Austin Dillon | +20000 |
| Zane Smith | +20000 |
| Todd Gilliland | +20000 |
| Erik Jones | +25000 |
| Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | +25000 |
| Justin Haley | +25000 |
| AJ Allmendinger | +25000 |
| Cole Custer | +30000 |
| John Hunter Nemechek | +50000 |
| Ty Dillon | +50000 |
| Corey LaJoie | +50000 |
