RACE INFO:
Event: Pure Michigan 400
Date/Time: August 17/1 p.m. ET
2013 winner: Joey Logano
2013 polesitter: Joey Logano
Distance: 200 laps/400 miles
Track Length: 2 miles
Banking: 18 degrees
Track Shape: Oval
EXPRESS NOTES:
Watkins Glen Recap: Denny Hamlin finished 24th in Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International after contact from behind in Turn 7 with less than seven laps remaining sent the #11 FedEx Ground Toyota into the barriers at the entrance to pit road and causing extensive cosmetic damage. Hamlin restarted 13th on Lap 83 and had moved up near the top-10 in the 90-lap event at the 2.45-mile road course won by AJ Allmendinger. While attempting a pass in the final corner, Hamlin was contacted from behind by another competitor, sending Hamlin spinning into the sand barrel barriers. Hamlin came to pit road for repairs, restarted 27th and made up three spots in the final two-lap dash to the checkered flag. Hamlin started 17th and ran in the top-15 for the majority of the event. Varying pit strategies moved the #11 machine up to fifth before a multi-car incident on Lap 57 brought out a red flag that lasted more than an hour. When the race resumed, Hamlin came to pit road for four tires and fuel, but with the majority of lead lap cars only needing a splash of gas, Hamlin dropped back to 19th for the ensuing restart.
Michigan Preview: The Series heads back to Michigan International Speedway for Sunday’s 400-mile event on the high-speed, two-mile oval. Hamlin is a two-time Michigan winner, taking back-to-back checkered flags in the June events at the track in 2010 and 2011. Hamlin has led 158 laps in his career at Michigan, including 123 of 200 en route to victory lane in 2010. Hamlin started eighth and finished 20th at Michigan one year ago, leading nine laps. He finished 29th at the track earlier this year.
HAMLIN CONVERSATION – MICHIGAN:
How can the #11 team recapture its success at Michigan?
“We have struggled a bit at Michigan since the repave a few years ago, but I think the track is starting to age a bit, which usually helps our team. Michigan is a big, wide, fast track, and you really have to have a lot of horsepower to get down the long straightaways and through the corners. We have made a lot of progress on our program over the last few weeks, and hopefully will take another step this weekend in the FedEx Freight Toyota.”
