FedEx Racing Express Facts – Michigan International Speedway
Denny Hamlin
#11 FedEx Office Toyota
Joe Gibbs Racing
Race Info:
Race: Pure Michigan 400
Date/Time: Aug. 28/2:00 p.m. ET
Distance: 200 laps/400 miles
Track Length: 2 miles
Track Shape: Oval
Banking: 18 degrees
2015 Winner: Matt Kenseth
Bristol Recap: Denny Hamlin overcame a mid-race pit road penalty and loose wheel to record a third-place finish in Sunday’s rain-delayed NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway, rallying back from a two-lap deficit in the 500-lap race won by Kevin Harvick. The race began as scheduled Saturday night under the threat of approaching storms. Hamlin started second in the #11 FedEx Express Toyota and led the first eight laps before the rains came, stopping the race after 48 laps. Hamlin restarted fourth when the race resumed on Sunday and ran among the top-10 for the first half of the 500-lap event. But during a stop under yellow, Hamlin was caught speeding exiting the pits, sending him to the tail end of the field. Following the restart, Hamlin reported that he had a loose wheel, forcing him to pit under green flag conditions, losing two laps in the process. After some aggressive racing and two well-timed cautions following the penalty and loose wheel, Hamlin was able to take advantage of a wave around and free pass to get back on the lead lap with 110 laps to go. With the laps winding down and after battling back from the two lap deficit, Hamlin took the lead for the second time following a caution with 81 laps to go, after crew chief Mike Wheeler called for a two-tire stop. Hamlin held off a hard-charging Kevin Harvick for 10 laps before Hamlin’s two older tires gave way to Harvick’s four fresh tires. Hamlin lined up second, next to Harvick for the final restart with 52 laps to go. The third-place finish was Hamlin’s eighth top-five of the season and kept him seventh in the current NASCAR standings after 23 of 26 regular season races.
Michigan Preview: The Series heads back to Michigan International Speedway for Sunday’s 400-mile event on the fast, two-mile oval in the Irish Hills. Hamlin is a two-time Michigan winner, capturing back-to-back spring race victories at the track in 2010 and 2011. He started second and finished fifth in the summer Michigan race one year ago, and has led 158 laps in his career at the track.
Hamlin Statistics:
Track: Michigan International Speedway
Races: 21
Wins: 2
Top-5: 6
Top-10: 9
Average Start: 13.9
Average Finish: 15.5
Laps Led: 158
Hamlin Conversation — MICHIGAN:
How can the FedEx team build on the recent string of top-10 finishes?
“We have certainly shown the speed that we need to compete for race wins on a weekly basis, but we’re still not running completely clean races. You need to be flawless to win races at this level, and unfortunately, we have had a lot of mistakes this season that may have cost us a shot at a couple more wins. We’ll clean those up before the Chase and hopefully maintain that speed on the track to battle for victories.”
Thousand Oaks, Calif., Along for the Ride at Michigan: The FedEx Office Thousand Oaks AMGEN on-site location will be recognized with its “5024” code numbers on the b-post of the #11 FedEx Office Toyota this weekend at Michigan.
#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
Transportation – Frank Hodel
