Denny Hamlin, Erik Jones to split driving duties for Sport Clips
GEORGETOWN, Texas (Feb. 8, 2017)
Sport Clips Haircuts announced today its continued partnership with Joe Gibbs Racing and driver Denny Hamlin for the 2017 season, and the addition of Furniture Row Racing and driver Erik Jones. Sport Clips will increase its sponsorship in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series to include two races with Hamlin and four races with Jones. In addition, Sport Clips will continue to have a presence in the XFINITY Series with one race with Hamlin.
Veteran Denny Hamlin will pilot the No. 11 Sport Clips Toyota Camry for two Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races during the 2017 season beginning at Auto Club Speedway on March 26 and at Darlington Raceway on Sept. 3. In addition, the 2016 Daytona 500 winner will return to the XFINITY Series behind the wheel of the No. 18 Sport Clips Toyota Camry for the Sport Clips-sponsored Help A Hero 200 at Darlington Raceway on Sept. 2.
No stranger to the Sport Clips Toyota Camry, Hamlin visited victory lane at Atlanta Motor Speedway in 2012 in the Cup Series and twice in the XFINITY Series at Richmond International Raceway in 2011 and most recently at Darlington Raceway in 2015.
New to the Sport Clips program for the 2017 season will be Furniture Row Racing with Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender Erik Jones. Entering his first season with Furniture Row Racing, Jones will pilot the No. 77 Sport Clips Toyota Camry for four races beginning at Bristol Motor Speedway on April 23 followed by Daytona International Speedway on July 1, Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 23 and ending with Sport Clips’ home track, Texas Motor Speedway on Nov. 5.
Jones has previously represented Sport Clips for two races in the No. 20 Sport Clips Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing in the NASCAR XFINITY Series, earning one pole and a best finish of second, both coming in 2016 at Pocono Raceway.
“When Denny began driving for Sport Clips, we had a few more than 700 locations open at the time, and we now have more than 1,600 locations in the U.S. and Canada – a milestone we were proud to reach in 2016. We are pleased to have Denny, and now Erik, along for the ride in 2017!” said Gordon Logan, founder and CEO of Sport Clips.“ Joe Gibbs Racing and its drivers have been excellent ambassadors for our brand over the years, and we’re thrilled to add another partner in Furniture Row Racing. We look forward to an exciting and successful race season!”
The 2017 season will mark the ninth season that Sport Clips has been involved with the Joe Gibbs Racing family of partners and the first season as a partner of Furniture Row Racing.
2017 NASCAR SCHEDULE
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
March 26: Auto Club Speedway – Denny Hamlin – No. 11 Sport Clips Camry
April 23: Bristol Motor Speedway – Erik Jones – No. 77 Sport Clips Camry
July 1: Daytona International Speedway – Erik Jones – No. 77 Sport Clips Camry
July 23: Indianapolis Motor Speedway – Erik Jones – No. 77 Sport Clips Camry
Sept. 3: Darlington Raceway – Denny Hamlin – No. 11 Sport Clips Camry
Nov. 5: Texas Motor Speedway – Erik Jones – No. 77 Sport Clips Camry
XFINITY Series
Sept. 2: Darlington Raceway – Denny Hamlin – No. 18 Sport Clips Camry
About Sport Clips Haircuts
Sport Clips Haircuts is headquartered in Georgetown, Texas. It was established in 1993 and began franchising in 1995. The sports-themed haircutting franchise, which specializes in haircuts for men and boys, is ranked by Entrepreneur Magazine as one of the “Fastest-Growing Franchises” and in the top 10 in its “Franchise 500.” There are more than 1,600 Sport Clips stores open in the U.S. and Canada. Sport Clips is the “Official Haircutter” of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), offers veterans preferential pricing on haircuts and franchises, and was named a “2016 Best for Vets: Franchises” by Military Times. Sport Clips provides “haircuts with heart” through its annual Help A Hero fundraiser that has given $5 million to the VFW; national partnership with St. Baldrick’s Foundation, the largest private funder of childhood cancer research grants; and other national and local philanthropic outreach. Sport Clips is a proud sponsor of Joe Gibbs Racing’s NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin and Furniture Row Racing’s Erik Jones, and partners with numerous NCAA and professional sports teams. To learn more about Sport Clips, visit sportclips.com
About Joe Gibbs Racing
Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) is one of the premier organizations in NASCAR with four Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series teams, three NASCAR XFINITY Series teams and a driver development program. Its 2017 driver lineup will consist of Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, Matt Kenseth, and Daniel Suárez in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Meanwhile Matt Tifft will run fulltime in the NASCAR XFINITY Series, joining Kyle Busch, Erik Jones, and Daniel Suárez who will all run partial schedules. In addition, Cody Coughlin is currently in JGR’s driver development program. Based in Huntersville, N.C., and owned by Joe Gibbs — a three-time Super Bowl winner as head coach of the Washington Redskins and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame — JGR has competed in NASCAR since 1992, winning four Cup Series championships, and four Nationwide Series owner’s championships along with more than 270 NASCAR races, including four Brickyard 400s and two Daytona 500s.
About Furniture Row Racing
Furniture Row Racing began its NASCAR journey in 2005 by participating in the XFINITY Series in addition to running two races in NASCAR’s Cup Series. The Denver, Colo.-based team shifted its main focus to NASCAR’s premier division in 2006. While operating as a single-car team, Furniture Row Racing qualified for the Chase playoffs in three of the past four seasons. The team announced in August 2016 that it will add a second car, beginning in 2017. The team’s driver lineup includes Martin Truex Jr. in the No. 78 Toyota Camry and rookie Erik Jones in the No. 77 Toyota Camry. The team’s owner -- Barney Visser – is also the founder and CEO of the Furniture Row Companies, one of America’s largest, family-owned and operated specialty home furnishings and bedding retailers. Furniture Row operates more than 330 stores in 30 states. For race team information visit FurnitureRowRacing.com and for Furniture Row company information visit FurnitureRow.com