RACE INFO:
Event: Goody’s Headache Relief Shot 500
Date/Time: Oct. 27/1:30 p.m. ET
2012 winner: Jimmie Johnson
2012 polesitter: Jimmie Johnson
Distance: 500 laps/263 miles
Track Length: 0.526-mile
Banking: 12 degrees
Track Shape: Oval
EXPRESS NOTES:
Special Scheme in Return to Martinsville: Denny Hamlin will run a special #11 FedEx One Rate paint scheme in Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway in his return to the half-mile track after missing the spring race due to a back injury. The flat purple paint scheme helps celebrate FedEx One Rate, a new flat-rate shipping option for FedEx Express customers that was introduced earlier this week. Hamlin is making his 16th career Cup Series start at Martinsville this weekend, arguably the 32-year-old Virginia native’s best track on the circuit, where he has recorded four wins and 12 top-10 finishes in 15 starts at the short, flat ‘paper clip.’ Hamlin has qualified on the pole twice at Martinsville and has led at least 12 laps in 10 races, including his last eight starts. Hamlin holds a 10.9 average starting position and 8.2 average finishing position at Martinsville, leading a total of 1,139 laps in his career. Mark Martin drove the #11 FedEx Toyota to a 10th-place finish filling in for Hamlin at Martinsville in April.
Talladega Recap: Hamlin finished 38th in Sunday’s NASCAR race at Talladega after a blown engine after 142 laps in the event won by Jamie McMurray. Hamlin ran among the leaders throughout the race on the high-banked, 2.66-mile track. Rain washed out qualifying and Hamlin started 15th, but quickly emerged as one of the strongest cars in the field. Few on-track incidents led to green flag pit stops for the majority of the race, and Hamlin stayed in the lead pack and was poised to challenge for the win before he felt the engine begin to let go on the backstretch. He coasted the car to the garage, where the team was forced to retire for the day.
Buffalo Ramp Along for the Ride in Martinsville: The FedEx Express center in Buffalo, N.Y. earned the company’s Ramp of the Year award for its commitment to operational excellence. For its efforts, the Ramp’s “BUFR” code letters will be on the b-post of the #11 FedEx One Rate Toyota this weekend at Martinsville Speedway.
FEDEX RACING CONVERSATION — DENNY HAMLIN:
What is your mindset heading into Martinsville with the new-look #11 FedEx One Rate Toyota this weekend?
“Martinsville is obviously one of my favorite tracks that we go to, and I have never been more anxious to get there after missing the spring race. It’s a great opportunity for our FedEx team to get a win, and a place that really suits my driving style. Hopefully we’ll get a good starting spot and pit box, which will help keep the #11 FedEx One Rate Toyota up front all day. Fans will be able to pick out the #11 pretty easily with the flat purple scheme. We have run some pretty good looking cars over the years, and this is right up there with the best. “
