NASCAR fans can always count on Denny Hamlin’s No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota to have FedEx’s logo and colors on it anytime it hits the race track. The company sponsors Hamlin’s entire 36-race season after all.
But Sunday for the GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway, the car will look a little different.
Instead of FedEx anything on the car, Hamlin and Joe Gibbs Racing are honoring the National Civil Rights Museum with an all-black paint scheme and a black-and-white version of the museum’s logo on the hood. The museum is at the former Lorraine Motel, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968.
For today’s race, @FedEx has chosen to remove all of their branding and traditional colors, with this week’s theme being to listen and learn as they spotlight the @NCRMuseum, which they are featuring on the hood. pic.twitter.com/hfd5aGq2e9
— Joe Gibbs Racing (@JoeGibbsRacing) June 21, 2020
As Hamlin explained in a Twitter post Sunday, the paint scheme is an extension of his commitment to listen and learn as the first steps to fighting racism. In response to the police killing of George Floyd, among so many others, and subsequent nationwide protests against racial injustice and police brutality, Hamlin joined several other top NASCAR stars, who recently pledged to educate themselves and advocate for change.
FedEx is also donating $500,000 to the National Civil Rights Museum, the museum’s Twitter account said Sunday.
I promised to listen and that’s what I’m doing. Today you will see my #11 car will not carry the traditional paint scheme that you usually see. @FedEx and myself instead want to give that voice to the @NCRMuseum. Exhibit photos courtesy of the NCRM. pic.twitter.com/KJ0sKumnUT
— Denny Hamlin (@dennyhamlin) June 21, 2020
Along with tweeting photos of his recent visit to the museum in Memphis, Hamlin — who’s won three races in 2020, including last weekend’s race at Homestead-Miami Speedway — wrote:
“I promised to listen and that’s what I’m doing.
On Thursday I had the unique pleasure of visiting the National Civil Rights Museum. To say that this was informative, humbling, eye opening is a huge understatement.
Today you will see my #11 car will not carry the traditional paint scheme that you usually see. FedEx and myself instead want to give that voice to the NCRM. I want to thank them personally for taking the time to educate me on so many topics. I encourage anyone who wants to broaden their perspective on African American history to please visit this historic museum. Let’s all come together to make a difference.”
According to the National Civil Rights Museum’s website, it’s temporarily closed until July 1, so it appears Hamlin was able to take a special tour.
Here’s a closer look at the No. 11 Toyota’s paint scheme for Sunday’s GEICO 500 at Talladega.
Thanks to @JamieLittleTV for some looks at the Denny Hamlin paint scheme supporting the National Civil Rights Museum … FedEx is a big supporter of the museum in Memphis. #nascar @NASCARONFOX pic.twitter.com/2yQsn8SmYm
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) June 21, 2020
Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway is at 3 p.m. ET on FOX.
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