FedEx Racing Express Facts – FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks
Denny Hamlin
#11 FedEx Cares Toyota
Joe Gibbs Racing
Race Info:
Race: FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks
Date/Time: May 31/1 p.m. ET
Distance: 400 laps/400 miles
Track Length: 1 mile
Track Shape: Oval
Banking: 24 degrees
2014 Winner: Jimmie Johnson
Express Notes:
Special Scheme for FedEx 400: The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads to Dover International Speedway for Sunday’s FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks, the fifth time FedEx has sponsored the 400-lap event at the “Monster Mile.” Denny Hamlin will have a special #11 FedEx Cares Toyota paint scheme for the event. Through the FedEx Cares global charitable platform, FedEx and its team members are able to show their passion about sustainably connecting people and places and improving the quality of life around the world. In the last year alone, FedEx has donated over $45 million to charitable organizations in communities around the world and FedEx team members have volunteered nearly 70,000 hours of service. The #11 paint scheme will highlight 10 charitable organizations that FedEx supports, including Autism Speaks, American Red Cross, Direct Relief, Safe Kids, Junior Achievement Worldwide, United Negro College Fund, FIRST, Arbor Day Foundation, St. Jude and March of Dimes.
Autism Awareness: Heading into the FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks this weekend, Hamlin and his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Matt Kenseth are encouraging fans to make a donation to Autism Speaks by texting RACING to 30644 to get started. Visit www.AutismSpeaks.org/Racing for more information.
Dover Preview: Hamlin is making his 19th career Cup Series start at Dover in Sunday’s FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks, looking for his first victory at the high-banked, concrete oval. In 18 events, Hamlin owns six top-10 finishes, including a best result of fourth (twice) in the spring 2007 and 2010 events. He also has recorded two poles and led 143 total laps at the track. Hamlin started seventh and finished fifth in the FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks one year ago.
Charlotte Recap: Hamlin finished eighth in Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, forced to make an unscheduled pit stop from the lead in the #11 FedEx Office Toyota with 35 laps to go in the season’s longest event won by Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Carl Edwards. Hamlin retook the lead on a late restart on Lap 330 of 400, and kept a series of competitors — including Martin Truex Jr. and Kevin Harvick — at bay as the laps clicked. However, he radioed some 25 laps later that he thought he had a loose wheel, and crew chief Dave Rogers elected to bring him to pit road to change four tires. The majority of the field still needed to make one more stop for fuel as well, but Edwards and a handful of teams stretched their gas to the end, as the FedEx Racing Team settled for an eighth-place result. Hamlin started fifth and ran among the top-10 throughout the event. The #11 machine showed its strength on long runs during the race, as Hamlin took the lead from Joey Logano on Lap 44 and led 20 laps in the early going. A tight condition in the car dropped Hamlin back to ninth through the race’s midpoint, but with the help of good adjustments and quick work by the FedEx crew on pit road, Hamlin worked his way back through the field.
Hamlin Statistics:
Track: Dover International Speedway
Races: 18
Wins: 0
Top-5: 3
Top-10: 6
Average Start: 12.3
Average Finish: 19.2
Laps Led: 143
Hamlin Conversation — DOVER:
What are your thoughts heading into Dover?
“I’m very optimistic heading into Sunday’s FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks. We tested there a few weeks ago for three days and I thought it went pretty well. Dover was a tough track for me early in my career, but I have gotten more comfortable there over the years and put together some solid runs. We haven’t finished quite where we deserved there, but Dover is a really tough place. It’ll be important to put together a solid qualifying effort to start up front and hopefully get our first win there.”
How important is it for you to help recognize deserving charities through the special #11 FedEx Cares paint scheme?
“FedEx does so much for charities around the world. Many of the FedEx team members generously provide time volunteering for great causes. I’m proud that our FedEx race team can play a small part in recognizing those employees as well as bringing awareness to a handful of charitable organizations that do great work in local communities all over the globe. The #11 FedEx Cares Toyota looks great this weekend, and hopefully we can drive it right into victory lane.”
Hagerstown, Maryland, Along for the Ride in Dover: The FedEx Freight service center in Hagerstown, Maryland, will be recognized with its “HGR” code letters on the b-post of the #11 FedEx Cares Toyota for this weekend’s FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks at Dover International Speedway. The Hagerstown service center covers northern Maryland, southern Pennsylvania and the eastern panhandle of West Virginia.
FedEx Office – Closest to Dover International Speedway: 132 Elkton Road, Newark, DE 19711, (302) 368-5080
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.
#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 – Kyle Bazzell, Bob Hannigan
