FedEx Racing Express Facts – Richmond International Raceway
Denny Hamlin
#11 FedEx Ground Toyota
Joe Gibbs Racing
Race Info:
Race: Toyota Owners 400
Date/Time: April 25/7:00 p.m. ET
Distance: 400 laps/300 miles
Track Length: 0.750-mile
Track Shape: Oval
Banking: 14 degrees
2014 Winner: Joey Logano
Express Notes:
Press Kit: Download the 2015 FedEx Racing press materials at www.fedexracing.com/presskit, including bios for Denny Hamlin, Dave Rogers and Joe Gibbs Racing leadership, program highlights, statistics and the 2015 crew roster.
Return to Roots: Denny Hamlin will be joined by NASCAR regulars and local Virginia drivers in Thursday night’s Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown presented by FedEx, a charity Late Model race at South Boston (Va.) Speedway. The event, in its eighth year, is a 200-lap feature race pitting Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing teammate David Ragan, reigning Xfinity Series champion Chase Elliott, and other NASCAR drivers against the best short track competitors in the region, and benefits the Denny Hamlin Foundation which raises awareness and resources for Cystic Fibrosis research. The event has raised more than $150,000 in the last three years for charity, and this year’s race will be broadcast tape delayed on NBC Sports Network. Matt Bowling is the defending race winner.
Richmond Preview: Hamlin will return to the cockpit of the #11 FedEx Ground Toyota in Saturday night’s Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond International Raceway. Following neck spasms that forced him out of the car after 22 laps Sunday at Bristol, Hamlin will compete at his hometown track this weekend. The Chesterfield, Va., native is a two-time Richmond winner, capturing the checkered flag in back to back fall races at the track in 2009 and 2010. In 17 starts at the three-quarter-mile facility, Hamlin has recorded nine top-10 finishes and has led 1,390 laps. He also owns a pair of poles at Richmond, in 2006 and 2008. He has completed 6,802 of 6,810 (99.9%) of possible laps at Richmond in his career. Hamlin will also compete in Friday night’s Xfinity Series race in the #20 Joe Gibbs Racing entry.
Hamlin Statistics:
Track: Richmond International Raceway
Races: 17
Wins: 2
Top-5: 7
Top-10: 9
Average Start: 10.5
Average Finish: 10.4
Laps Led: 1,390
Hamlin Conversation — RICHMOND:
How are you feeling after the injury on Sunday and what is your outlook heading into Richmond?
“Obviously, getting out of the car on Sunday was a very tough decision, and Erik (Jones, replacement driver) did an admirable job under difficult circumstances. After treatment this week, I feel close to 100 percent, and I’m confident that I’ll be good to go this weekend in Richmond. It’s a great track for our team, and one that means a lot to me personally. Hopefully we can go out there and compete for the win on Saturday night.”
How important is it for you to showcase local racers with Thursday’s Short Track Showdown?
“The Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown has become a great event to highlight grassroots racers that are doing exactly what I did while coming through the ranks. We have raised a lot of money for the Denny Hamlin Foundation and cystic fibrosis research over the years, and certainly could not do the race without our sponsors. FedEx has been a huge supporter of the Foundation since the beginning in 2008, and they are a big part of the race again this year. With NBC Sports Network coming on board this year, we’ll be able to show this great event to a national audience.”
Provincial District Along for the Ride in Richmond: The FedEx Ground Provincial district will be recognized with its “PRVC” code letters on the b-post of the #11 FedEx Ground Toyota this weekend at Richmond. The district extends from Montreal to Vancouver, Canada,
#11 FedEx Racing – 2015 Crew Roster
Crew Chief – Dave Rogers
Car Chief – Joe Fiorelli
Engineers – Chris Gabehart, Kenny Oates
Shock Specialist – Ron Denton
Tire Specialist – Jamie Turski
Mechanics – Joey Forgette, Jerad Hewitt, Jason Clements
Spotter – Chris Lambert
Front Tire Changer: Dustin Necaise
Front Tire Carrier: Brandon Pegram
Rear Tire Changer: Mike Hicks
Rear Tire Carrier: Heath Cherry
Jack Man: Nate Bolling
Gas Man: Caleb Hurd
Pit Crew Coordinator: Paul Alepa
Athletic Director: Mike Lepp
Transportation – Bob Hannigan, Kyle Bazzell
