RACE INFO:
Event: Curtiss Shaver 400
Date/Time: July 29/1 p.m. ET
2011 winner: Paul Menard
2011 polesitter: David Ragan
Distance: 160 laps/400 miles
Track Length: 2.5 miles
Banking: 9 degrees
Track Shape: Oval
EXPRESS NOTES:
New Hampshire Recap: Denny Hamlin dominated the most recent NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race — at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 15 — in the #11 FedEx Freight Toyota, leading five times for a race-high 150 laps at the ‘Magic Mile.’ However, a pit road miscommunication during the event’s final caution dropped Hamlin from the lead to 13th for the ensuing restart, where the 31-year-old driver marched through the field only to come up one position short, finishing second to Kasey Kahne. Hamlin had the strongest car throughout the event, and looked poised to win his third race of the 2012 season. The final caution came on Lap 235, and crew chief Darian Grubb planned a two-tire stop. Hamlin and Grubb discussed the strategy, and after Hamlin radioed that he wanted grip, Grubb audibled to a four-tire change. Unfortunately, the majority of lead lap cars opted for two tires, moving Hamlin deep in the running order for the restart. Putting on an impressive display of driving for the final 62 laps, Hamlin picked off positions on a charge to the front. He ran out of laps in the end and crossed the finish in the runner-up position. Hamlin started third and was comfortable in that position for the opening run. After taking the lead on Lap 72, the #11 machine was out front for 149 of the next 163 circuits. The finish moved Hamlin up to spots to fifth in the NASCAR standings following New Hampshire, now 79 points behind leader Matt Kenseth after 19 of 26 regular season races.
Brickyard Bound: Following the season’s final off-weekend, NASCAR heads to Indianapolis Motor Speedway this Sunday for a 400-mile event on the famed 2.5-mile oval. Hamlin has a pair of top-10 finishes in six starts at the ‘Brickyard,’ taking the checkered flag 10th in his 2006 rookie season and posting a career-best third-place result in 2008, when he led 26 laps. One year ago, Hamlin spent the majority of the last half of the 160-lap race in the top-10, but fell victim to fuel strategy, dropping to 30th after his final pit stop only to see the majority of competitors stretch gas to the finish line without another stop, relegating the #11 team to a 27th-place finish. Hamlin will also compete in the Nationwide Series event on Saturday at Indianapolis for the series’ inaugural race at Indy.
Race Series Date Start Finish Laps (Led)
Brickyard 400 Sprint Cup July 31, 2011 14 27 160/160
Brickyard 400 Sprint Cup July 25, 2010 18 15 160/160
Allstate 400 Sprint Cup July 26, 2009 14 34 144/160
Allstate 400 Sprint Cup July 27, 2008 23 3 160/160 26
Allstate 400 Nextel Cup July 28, 2007 10 22 159/160
Allstate 400 Nextel Cup Aug. 6, 2006 14 10 160/160
Averages/Totals 15.5 18.5 98.2% 26
FedEx Office – Closest to Indianapolis Motor Speedway: 5030 W. Pike Plaza Rd., Indianapolis, IN 46254, (317) 297-2679
Indianapolis Express Center Along for the Ride at the Brickyard: The FedEx Express location in Indianapolis, which includes the Indianapolis hub — the second-largest hub sorting facility in the worldwide Express system — as well as the Indianapolis ramp and Indianapolis terminal, will be recognized with its “IND” code letters on the b-post of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota this weekend.
2012 FedEx Racing Press Kit – Available for Download: Please visit www.fedexracing.com/presskit for the 2012 FedEx Racing press materials, including bios for Denny Hamlin, Darian Grubb and Joe Gibbs Racing leadership, program highlights, program statistics and 2012 crew roster.
HAMLIN CONVERSATION — Indianapolis Motor Speedway
What will it take for you to get your first win at Indianapolis?
“I think we’ve shown at Indy that we have what it takes to win there and the team really builds great cars for this track. It’s a track where JGR cars have won before and a track that I really like from the driver’s seat so we go there feeling like we can unload fast, get better in practice and compete on Sunday. To win here you need the car, the driver and the crew all at their best, and then have a lot of things go your way. We have had our share of issues at Indy, but if you take those away there is no reason we can’t run up front.
2012 FEDEX RACING – TEAM ROSTER
Crew Chief: Darian Grubb – Floyd, Va. Front Tire Changer: Nick Krizmanich – Kenosha, Wis.
Car Chief: Chris “Spider” Gillin – Smithtown, N.Y. Front Tire Carrier: Brandon Pegram – Statesville, N.C.
Engineer: Mike Wheeler – Southholt, N.Y. Rear Tire Changer: Mike Hicks – Salisbury, N.C.
Engineer: Ross Kippenbrock – Indianapolis, Ind. Rear Tire Carrier: Heath Cherry – Belmont, N.C.
Shocks: Drew Bible – Coldwater, Mich. Jackman: Nate Bolling – Swanton, Ohio
Tire Specialist: Kerry Ferris – Perry, N.Y. Gas Man: Scott Wood – Liberty, S.C.
Mechanic: Nick Fuller – Casa Grande, Ariz. Pit Crew Coordinator: Paul Alepa – Vienna, Va.
Mechanic: John Furino – Long Island, N.Y. JGR Athletic Director: Michael Lepp – Charlotte, N.C.
Spotter: Chris Lambert – Kannapolis, N.C. Hauler Driver: Jerry Hess – Lancaster, Pa.
Hauler Driver: Frank Hodel – Blythe, Calif.
