RACE INFO:
Event: Bank of America 500
Date/Time: Oct. 12/7:30 p.m. ET
2012 winner: Clint Bowyer
2012 polesitter: Greg Biffle
Distance: 334 laps/501 miles
Track Length: 1.5 miles
Banking: 24 degrees
Track Shape: Quad-Oval
EXPRESS NOTES:
Kansas Recap: Denny Hamlin piloted the No. 11 FedEx Office Toyota to a 23rd place finish in Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway. Starting the day in the 10th position and reaching as high as second place, pit strategy and caution flags down the stretch did not go in the FedEx team’s favor in a race that featured 15 yellow flags. Kevin Harvick claimed the checkered flag after starting the day on the pole. Hamlin worked the FedEx car to fourth place by lap 90 of 267 when the car’s handling started to loosen. Wedge and track bar adjustments on the subsequent two pit stops helped keep the No. 11 FedEx machine running in the top-10. A caution flag on lap 155 brought Hamlin to pit lane for four tires and fuel. Much of the field made the decision to stay out, leaving the FedEx team in 26th place when green flag racing returned. Fifteen laps later, the FedEx team was able to reap the benefits of the early pit stop. As the remaining cars pitted under caution, Hamlin kept the No. 11 car on the track and moved into second place behind Logano. Despite a tightening race car, Hamlin maintained a top-10 position until being forced to pit under caution on lap 217. Taking four tires, fuel and a track bar adjustment, the No. 11 returned to the pack having fallen to 31st place. Needing the race to stay green until stops cycled through, the caution came out once again with Hamlin one lap down.
Charlotte Preview: The Series heads to Charlotte Motor Speedway for Saturday night’s 500-mile event on the 1.5-mile oval. Hamlin is making his 17th career Cup Series start at Charlotte on Saturday, and has posted nine career top-10 finishes in 16 events at the track, including six-straight top-10 finishes in the last six Charlotte races. Earlier this year, Hamlin set the track qualifying record when he qualified on the pole for May’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte, a race that he led six laps in before a fourth place finish.
Race Series Date Start Finish Laps (Led)
Coca-Cola 600 Sprint Cup May 26, 2013 1 4 400/400 6
Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup Oct. 13, 2012 9 2 334/334 36
Coca-Cola 600 Sprint Cup May 27, 2012 8 2 400/400 13
Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup Oct. 15, 2011 15 9 334/334
Coca-Cola 600 Sprint Cup May 29, 2011 4 10 402/402 24
Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup Oct. 16, 2010 24 4 334/334 1
Coca-Cola 600 Sprint Cup May 30, 2010 7 18 400/400 3
NASCAR Banking 500 Sprint Cup Oct. 17, 2009 17 42 192/334 54
Coca-Cola 600 Sprint Cup May. 25, 2009 13 11 227/227
Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup Oct. 11, 2008 12 16 334/334
Coca-Cola 600 Sprint Cup May 25, 2008 16 24 399/400 1
Bank of America 500 Nextel Cup Oct. 13, 2007 11 20 337/337
Coca-Cola 600 Nextel Cup May 27, 2007 6 9 400/400 1
Bank of America 500 Nextel Cup Oct. 14, 2006 22 28 265/334
Coca-Cola 600 Nextel Cup May 28, 2006 8 9 400/400 25
UAW-GM Quality 500 Nextel Cup Oct. 15, 2005 39 8 336/336 1
Averages/Totals 13.3 13.5 96.3% 165
FedEx Office – Closest to Charlotte Motor Speedway: 7741 Gateway Lane NW, Ste 110, Concord, NC 28027, (704) 979-1971
Ontario, Canada Along for the Ride in Charlotte: The FedEx Ground Ontario district will be recognized for outstanding service quality with its district code “ONTO” on the b-post of the #11 FedEx Ground Toyota this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The Ontario district, part of FedEx Ground’s North American operations based out of the Toronto hub, comprises the Ontario province as well as Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
FEDEX RACING CONVERSATION — DENNY HAMLIN:
How can you turn the consistency the team has shown at Charlotte into your first career win at the track?
“Charlotte has been one of our more consistent tracks over the past couple years. We have been fortunate to bring fast cars there and get good qualifying positions to try to stay up front in the races. We need that again on Saturday night. Charlotte is going to be fast and fun under the lights, and hopefully we have a car that can compete for the win when it gets down to the end.”
2013 FEDEX RACING – TEAM ROSTER
Crew Chief: Darian Grubb – Floyd, Va. Front Tire Changer: Dustin Necaise – Gulfport, Miss.
Car Chief: Chris “Spider” Gillin – Smithtown, N.Y. Front Tire Carrier: Brandon Pegram – Statesville, N.C.
Engineer: Mike Wheeler – Southold, 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.
