RACE INFO:
Event: Sprint Unlimited
Date/Time: Feb. 15/8:15 p.m. ET
2013 winner: Kevin Harvick
2013 polesitter: Carl Edwards
Distance: 75 laps/187.5 miles
Track Length: 2.5 miles
Banking: 31 degrees
Track Shape: Tri-Oval
EXPRESS NOTES:
Sprint Unlimited Preview: Denny Hamlin will make his ninth-career Sprint Unlimited start on Saturday night at Daytona International Speedway in the #11 FedEx Express Toyota Camry. Hamlin won the event in his first attempt in 2006, and remains the only rookie to ever win the prestigious, pre-season, non-points exhibition race that began in 1979. He led 16 of 72 laps en route to victory lane, spring boarding Hamlin to a ‘Rookie of the Year’ campaign that season.
The 75-lap, three-segment race features past Unlimited winners and 2013 Sprint Cup Series pole award winners. Hamlin qualified as a previous winner, but also recorded a series-high five poles last year (Fontana, Charlotte-1, Dover-1, Bristol-2 and Martinsville-2).
Hamlin was collected in a multi-car incident in Turn 2 on Lap 14 in the event one year ago, finishing 15th. He has four top-10 finishes in eight Sprint Unlimited starts.
Race Series Date Start Finish Laps (Led)
Sprint Unlimited Sprint Cup Feb. 16, 2013 5 15 14/75
Budweiser Shootout Sprint Cup Feb. 16, 2012 16 5 82/82
Budweiser Shootout Sprint Cup Feb. 12, 2011 4 12 75/75
Budweiser Shootout Sprint Cup Feb. 6, 2010 24 5 76/76
Budweiser Shootout Sprint Cup Feb. 7, 2009 5 13 78/78 4
Budweiser Shootout Nextel Cup Feb. 9, 2008 12 9 70/70
Budweiser Shootout Nextel Cup Feb. 10, 2007 21 17 70/70
Budweiser Shootout Nextel Cup Feb. 12, 2006 15 1 72/72 ___ 16_____
Averages/Totals 12.8 9.6 89.9% 20
FedEx Office – Closest to Daytona International Speedway: 2274 W. International Speedway Blvd., Daytona Beach, FL 32114,(386) 323-7840
HAMLIN CONVERSATION – Sprint Unlimited:
How can you use the Sprint Unlimited to help you for the Daytona 500?
“Anytime you can get in the car in race conditions, it obviously helps you for future races at the track. Darian (Grubb, crew chief) and the team can collect data from the cars to learn for the (Daytona) 500, and I’ll be able to see how the cars handle in the draft, which gives us a little bit of a leg up on the guys that aren’t in the race. There will be a lot of practice for the 500, so everyone will catch up, so the Sprint Unlimited gives our FedEx team the chance to go out with no points on the line and race for the win. It’ll be exciting on Saturday night, that’s for sure.”
2014 FEDEX RACING – TEAM ROSTER
Crew Chief: Darian Grubb – Floyd, Va. Front Tire Changer: Dustin Necaise – Gulfport, Miss.
Car Chief: Wesley Sherrill – Robbinsville, N.C. 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: Caleb Hurd – Pulaski, Va.
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.
