Denny Hamlin
#11 FedEx Ground Toyota
Joe Gibbs Racing
Race Info:
Race: Toyota Owners 400
Date/Time: April 24/1:00 p.m. ET
Distance: 400 laps/300 miles
Track Length: 0.75-mile
Track Shape: Oval
Banking: 14 degrees
2015 Winner: Kurt Busch
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.
Bristol Recap: Denny Hamlin finished 20th in the #11 FedEx Freight Toyota in Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway, after two incidents foiled the FedEx team’s chance at victory in the race won by Carl Edwards. Hamlin started fourth and was running solid in the top-10, but while exiting pit road, made contact with another car causing body damage to the right front of the FedEx Toyota. The team was forced to make numerous stops to try and get the bodywork repaired, placing Hamlin deep in the field after 190 laps. Pushing hard to try and stay on the lead lap, Hamlin suffered his second setback of the day when the right front tire let go sending the car up the track and into the wall. The FedEx car was able to continue, but was 22nd, one lap down with just 84 laps left. Hamlin was the recipient of the free pass with six laps to go, allowing him return to the lead lap for the final restart, picking up two spots for the 20th place finish. Hamlin dropped one spot to ninth in the NASCAR standings, 65 points behind leader Kevin Harvick after eight of 26 regular season races.
Richmond Preview: The Series heads to Richmond International Raceway for Sunday’s 400-lap race at Hamlin’s hometown track. The Chesterfield, Va., native has two wins at the three-quarter-mile speedway, including back-to-back fall races in 2009 and 2010. In 19 career starts at RIR, Hamlin owns seven top-five finishes and 10 top-10 results, leading 1,404 laps and capturing two pole positions.
Hamlin Statistics:
Track: Richmond International Raceway
Races: 19
Wins: 2
Top-5: 7
Top-10: 10
Average Start: 10.8
Average Finish: 10.8
Laps Led: 1,404
Hamlin Conversation — RICHMOND:
How important is it to get a good finish at your home track this weekend?
“Obviously, there’s a little more pressure whenever we race at Richmond, a track I grew up going to races at and watching from the grandstands. There will be a lot of family and friends in attendance, and it always provides a little extra motivation. I’m encouraged after our performance at Phoenix earlier this year, another flat, short track, that we can translate that to success at Richmond. It’ll be interesting to see how the track responds now that it’s a day race, but that usually plays into our FedEx team’s strengths.
Provincial District Along for the Ride at Richmond: The FedEx Ground Provincial District, stretching from Vancouver to Montreal, will be recognized with its “PRVC” code letters on the b-post of the #11 FedEx Ground Toyota this weekend at Richmond.
FedEx Office – Closest to Richmond International Raceway: 1111 E. Main St., Richmond, VA 23219, (804) 783-9880
#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
