TOYOTA NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS)
Denny Hamlin – Notes & Quotes
Dover International Speedway – May 29, 2015
DENNY HAMLIN, No. 11 FedEx Cares Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing
What does it mean to be a part of FedEx and running a special paint scheme this weekend?
“It’s obviously the FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks. It’s a great relationship we’ve had with Autism Speaks over the last few years. Obviously it’s kind of a spin-off from that, but the FedEx Cares paint scheme is more of an appreciation for the nearly 70,000 hours that all the employees have put in at FedEx. FedEx has donated over $45 million and is one of the 10 connected charities that they donate to each and every year. Just as a spin-off of that and a thank you for the time that those employees have put in and obviously FedEx is a car that is carrying a new paint scheme and this is a weekend we’d like to win for them.”
What happened with the dehydration you experienced last weekend in Charlotte?
“We also had an exhaust leak in the car. We blew a hole in our header and exhaust system that was leaking in the car. That didn’t help at all either. We were also running the XFINITY race the day before — we’re not doing that this week. You just have to be prepared. I felt like I kept up with my fluids pretty well last week, but obviously it wasn’t enough. I’ve got to go above and beyond. The conditions and the car didn’t make things very easy for me. The headache had nothing to do with the dehydration. The migraine that I suffered, what I felt like, was from the exhaust inside the car.”
What is your relationship like now with Brad Keselowski?
“I think you get older, you get wiser and you figure out what it takes to be successful at this level of racing. Brad (Keselowski) went through a time when we were racing together that I had been here a few more years longer than what he had. I was racing what I thought was the correct way. He was racing what he thought was correct and who knows what the correct way is. Those two clashed. I felt like he raced with a chip on his shoulder as well as he felt like he needed the time to prove himself and get himself in a good ride. He did that and once he got to that top level, I thought that his attitude and the way that he raced on track changed. I thought he became more successful when that did change. That’s just my general opinion of it, no issues with Brad whatsoever now. I feel like we race together great. Obviously the respect he paid me at Martinsville was two guys racing for a win. Typically you don’t want to wreck anyone for a win, and didn’t and did what you feel would be by the rule. Maybe you rough someone up or rub them a little bit, but you don’t take them out. He did all those things and obviously if I’m in the same situation as him, second to him, I would do the same and pay that respect back in that type of way. We haven’t had that chance, obviously running one-two here lately. It will all come back around. You just build a bank of currency when it comes to respect with these guys and you get it here and there.”
What has Carl Edwards brought to Joe Gibbs Racing this year?
“It’s been really good working with him (Carl Edwards). Obviously he’s got a lot of knowledge and he’s really talented so I would say really he’s just brought an extra element – more information for me to be able to process every single week. I think that he’s really good at a few race tracks that I feel like I really, really struggle at so I lean on him for that information. I’ve been running XFINITY quite a bit so I haven’t been able to be with him in the debriefs as much as I’d like to, but since that schedule is starting to taper itself down now I’ll be able to use him quite a bit more. But, I feel like he’s very detailed in all the talkings that I go through with him. He’s just going to be that next guy at JGR (Joe Gibbs Racing) that’s going to push you to the next level.”
Do you have any concerns that the new pit crew rules will impact your pit crew’s speed?
“I would think in some way it would hinder speed, but it’s going to be the same for everyone so hopefully everyone takes that step back. But, my guys obviously are exceptional. They find ways around getting slowed up by anything else, so I’m sure they’ll do the same for that. I think it’s a great step on NASCAR’s part to make that mandatory. It’s something that’s definitely needed around pit area any time there’s lug nuts flying around or sparks flying and fuel you’re going to have the chance of what’s happened with those RCR (Richard Childress Racing) teams those last few weeks. Obviously a great step and it’s just something that the team guys will all adapt to for sure.”
