Denny Hamlin Newest Endorser For Nike’s Jordan Brand Apparel

NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin doesn’t have a nickname, but that could change after he became the newest endorser for Nike’s Jordan Brand apparel.

“Air Denny,” anyone?

Hamlin, who finished second in the Sprint Cup Series point standings last year, holds Charlotte Bobcats courtside season tickets, and has struck up a relationship with Bobcats owner Michael Jordan over the last couple years. The two have played golf together, and Jordan often texts Hamlin about the races.

Their relationship has now expanded to the business side with Hamlin’s new endorsement deal. The Jordan Brand (famous for the “Jumpman” logo) will appear in NASCAR for the first time.

“I think it’s a big deal for myself, and really for NASCAR,” Hamlin said Thursday. “It’s a dream come true for me. For me, the Jordan Brand represents excellence in sports, and it’s really good to have that partnership.”

Hamlin said Jordan is a bigger motorsports fan than people realize.

“He always used to talk to me last year about how the race went, because he watched and had questions like, ‘Why did this happen?’ or ‘Why did that happen?’” Hamlin said. “So I dug a little deeper and found out that he’s had his motorcycle (race) team since 2004.

“He’s always been an avid motorsports fan, but he never knew the right situation to get into NASCAR – and he felt like I was the right representative for them.”

As part of the deal, Hamlin will wear a Jordan-branded firesuit and gloves. Shoes could be a piece of the deal that comes later, but Nike doesn’t produce any fireproof shoes for racing.

“Yet,” Hamlin interjected.

We assume it wouldn’t be good publicity if Hamlin’s Air Dennys melted every race, right?

Anyway, a shoe is possible sometime down the line. For now, the relationship is just beginning – and Hamlin thinks it will only be a good thing.

“A lot of these athletes that come to these races every week, they don’t always recognize or understand us,” he said. “They’re going to see it and recognize the brand. ... For me, this is a huge stepping point and hopefully something that turns into something very big within the sport.”

Hamlin added he hopes to develop an apparel line for race fans down the road through the Jordan brand.