Hamlin confirms contract extension with Joe Gibbs Racing

Sparta, KY – 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.