Denny Hamlin
#11 FedEx Office Toyota
Joe Gibbs Racing
Race Info:
Race: Kobalt Tools 400
Date/Time: March 6/12:30 p.m. PT
Distance: 267 laps/400.5 miles
Track Length: 1.5 miles
Track Shape: Quad-oval
Banking: 18-20 degrees
2015 Winner: Kevin Harvick
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.
Atlanta Recap: Denny Hamlin finished 16th in Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, unable to make up track position in the 330-lap event on the 1.5 -mile oval won by Jimmie Johnson. Hamlin battled a tight #11 FedEx Ground Toyota throughout the race that saw only three cautions. The long green flag runs took a toll on the ill-handling #11 machine. Hamlin started 12th and immediately began picking off cars, moving up to fourth by lap five. But, as the tires wore, the handling went away and Hamlin struggled to stay on the lead lap one-third of the way through the race, finally going a lap down just prior to halfway. Hamlin was never able to recover from the deficit and finished 16th. The finish dropped Hamlin from the top spot to fifth in the NASCAR standings following Atlanta, eight points behind leader Kyle Busch after two of 26 regular season races.
Las Vegas Preview: The Series heads to Las Vegas Motor Speedway for Sunday’s 400-mile event on the 1.5-mile oval. Hamlin has two top-five finishes and five top-10 results in 10 previous starts at Las Vegas, including a career-best third-place run in 2007. One year ago, Hamlin started 15th and finished fifth at the track. There will be an open test on Thursday, March 3 for teams to continue to work on the new aerodynamic package instituted at all non-restrictor-plate tracks this year.
Hamlin Statistics:
Track: Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Races: 10
Wins: 0
Top-5: 2
Top-10: 5
Average Start: 20.7
Average Finish: 12.2
Laps Led: 4
Hamlin Conversation — Las Vegas:
What are the team’s goals and objectives heading into Las Vegas this weekend?
“The win in Daytona certainly affords us the opportunity to work and try some things on the intermediate and short tracks, and after Atlanta, it’s nice to know that we have time to work on things and try to dial in this new package a little bit more. NASCAR is giving teams the chance to test on Thursday at Las Vegas, and that’s a good chance for us to put down some laps on a track that has a lot of the same characteristics as other mile and a half racetracks on the circuit. It will be good to get back into the normal race week routine and go for another win on Sunday.”
Phoenix JW Marriott Along for the Ride in Las Vegas: The FedEx Office location inside the JW Marriott in Phoenix will be recognized for its outstanding performance with the stores “1059” code numbers on the b-post of the #11 FedEx Office Toyota this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
FedEx Office – Closest to Las Vegas Motor Speedway: 2288 S. Nellis Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89104, (702) 431-5076
#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
