RACE INFO:
Event: Federated Auto Parts 400
Date/Time: Sept. 7/7:30 p.m. ET
2012 winner: Clint Bowyer
2012 polesitter: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Distance: 400 laps/300 miles
Track Length: 0.750-mile
Banking: 14 degrees
Track Shape: Oval
EXPRESS NOTES:
Atlanta Recap: Denny Hamlin finished 38th in Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, forced to retire after 231 of 325 due to an engine failure in the event won by Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch. Hamlin qualified fourth in the #11 machine, but started at the rear of the field following a post-qualifying engine change prior to the race. Hamlin picked off positions in the early going, moving up into the top-20. Slight contact with Paul Menard caused some damage to the #11 car, and Hamlin radioed that he thought there was a problem with the rear-end of the car. While on pit road for repairs during green flag stops, Hamlin was penalized for pitting outside of his box, and eventually returned three laps down to the leaders. The team battled back to get two of the laps back, but an incident on Lap 207 brought Hamlin to the pits for more repairs. The engine expired less than 25 laps later.
Richmond Preview: The Series heads back to Richmond International Raceway for the final regular season race of the 2013 season, and a track that the FedEx Racing team has enjoyed great success over the years. Hamlin, born in nearby Chesterfield, Va., has two wins and nine top-10 finishes in 14 starts at the three-quarter-mile oval. Hamlin has led at least on lap in 11 Cup races at the track, including 202 of 400 one year ago. Hamlin missed the Richmond race earlier this season while recovering from a fractured back. Hamlin’s two wins at RIR came in back-to-back September races at the track in 2009 and 2010. He also has captured two Richmond poles, in Sept. 2006 and May 2008. He qualified seventh one year ago.
Oklahoma City Team Along for the Ride in Richmond: This weekend at Richmond International Raceway, the #11 FedEx Express Toyota will carry the letters ‘OKCA’ on the b-posts to recognize the enduring strength of the team at the OKC station following the devastating tornado that hit Moore, Okla., earlier this year. The OKC station is located just five miles from Moore.
FEDEX RACING CONVERSATION — DENNY HAMLIN:
Does this weekend’s race at Richmond give your team a good shot to get its first win of the season?
“Richmond has always been a special place to me and my family, obviously, and one that we have had a lot of success at over the years. This FedEx team always thinks we can win when we go to Richmond, and this weekend is no different. It’s been a difficult year, for sure, so Richmond will be a good time to go out there with nothing to lose and try for the win. I am ready to get there and on track since it’s one of my favorites and I wasn’t able to compete in the spring race.”
Classy way to explain the lap 207 incident. More so than the regular media. #Respect