FedEx Racing Express Facts – Daytona International Speedway
Denny Hamlin
#11 FedEx Express Toyota
Joe Gibbs Racing
Race Info:
Race: Daytona 500
Date/Time: Feb. 21/1 p.m. ET
Distance: 200 laps/500 miles
Track Length: 2.5 miles
Track Shape: Tri-oval
Banking: 31 degrees
2015 Winner: Joey Logano
Express Notes:
Press Kit: Download the 2016 FedEx Racing press materials at www.fedexracing.com/presskit, including bios for Denny Hamlin, Mike Wheeler and Joe Gibbs Racing leadership, program highlights, statistics and the 2016 crew roster.
Daytona Success: Hamlin was victorious in Saturday night’s Sprint Unlimited exhibition race at Daytona International Speedway, leading a race-high 39 of 75 laps for his third-career win in the unofficial season opening event. Hamlin sustained right door damage after an early incident at the back of the draft pack, but it proved only to be cosmetic, as quick work by the FedEx crew on pit road returned the #11 FedEx Express Toyota to the track. Hamlin and new crew chief Mike Wheeler elected to pit for fuel under green on Lap 22, and immediately benefited from a caution to make up the lost track position and inherit the lead. Hamlin held off a host of hard-chargers for the remaining laps, crossing the finish line first under caution after an overtime restart. Hamlin also won the race as a rookie in 2006 and again in 2014.
Great American Race: Hamlin and the FedEx team are looking for their first points-paying victory at the ‘World Center of Racing’ in Sunday’s Daytona 500. Hamlin has four-straight top-six finishes at the high-banked, 2.5-mile track dating back to a runner-up finish in the 2014 Daytona 500, and finished fourth in the race one year ago. In 20 career Cup starts at Daytona, Hamlin has led 267 laps.
Hamlin Statistics:
Track: Daytona International Speedway
Races: 20
Wins: 0
Top-5: 5
Top-10: 6
Laps Led: 267
Avg. Start: 19.2
Avg. Finish: 18.0
Hamlin Conversation:
How do you build on Saturday’s win heading into Sunday’s Daytona 500?
“We have certainly shown that we have the speed in the car that we need to win at Daytona. It’s just a matter of putting it all together in the big race on Sunday. We have put ourselves in position to win the Daytona 500 the last few years, but it hasn’t all come together yet. There are so many other variables involved that need to go your way to win the 500, and hopefully they will come together for our FedEx team this weekend.
FedEx Office – Closest to Daytona International Speedway: 2274 W. International Speedway Blvd., Daytona Beach, FL 32114, (386) 323-7840
#11 FedEx Racing – 2016 Crew Roster
Crew Chief – Mike “Wheels” Wheeler
Car Chief – Leo Thorsen
Engineers – Matt Beckman, Sam McAuley
Shock Specialist – Drew Bible
Tire Specialist – Kerry Ferris
Mechanics – Troy Welty, John Furino, Sean Kerlin
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 – Frank Hodel, David Ott
