FedEx Racing Express Facts – Homestead-Miami Speedway

FedEx Racing Express Facts – Homestead-Miami Speedway

Denny Hamlin
#11 FedEx Express Toyota
Joe Gibbs Racing

Race Info:
Race: Ford 400
Date/Time: Nov. 20/2:30 p.m. ET
Distance: 267 laps/400 miles
Track Length: 1.5 miles
Track Shape: Oval
Banking: 18-20 degrees
2015 Winner: Kyle Busch

Phoenix Recap: Denny Hamlin finished seventh in the #11 FedEx Ground Toyota in Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Phoenix International Raceway and was eliminated from the 2016 Chase playoffs. Hamlin started fifth and ran most of the first half of the race in the top-five, but with track position at a premium, Hamlin and crew chief Mike Wheeler gambled and stayed out to inherit the lead during a caution period with 51 laps to go. The gamble began to pay dividends until another caution waved for debris four laps later. On the restart, the #11 was trapped on the bottom and cars on fresh tires began their assault on Hamlin, dropping him back to seventh before a spinning car brought out the yellow with just two laps remaining, sending the race to overtime. With his fuel tank running dry, Hamlin was forced to pit road for right-side tires and fuel, lining up eighth for a short-lived restart when leader Matt Kenseth spun after contact by another car. Hamlin, now up to seventh for the final restart was unable to make up any ground over the final two lap dash, with Joey Logano first to the checkered flag. The finish by Hamlin kept him sixth in the NASCAR standings with one race left in the season. Jimmie Johnson, Carl Edwards, Joey Logano and Kyle Busch advanced to the Championship 4 of the Chase and will race for the 2016 Championship on Nov. 20 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Homestead Preview: The Series heads to Homestead-Miami Speedway for Sunday’s season-finale at the 1.5-mile South Florida oval. Hamlin is a two-time winner at the track, capturing the checkered flag in 2009 and again in 2012. He started on the pole and finished 10th in the race one year ago, and has led 213 laps at the track, with seven top-10 finishes in 11 career starts.

Hamlin Statistics:

Track: Homestead-Miami Speedway

Races: 11

Wins: 2

Top-5: 4

Top-10: 7

Average Start: 24.7

Average Finish: 10.7

Laps Led: 213

Hamlin Conversation — HOMESTEAD:

“Obviously, this FedEx team is disappointed in not reaching Homestead with a shot at the title, but it was a solid year overall for this #11 group. Winning the Daytona 500 to start the year was a big accomplishment for us, and also getting our first road course win and another win at home in Richmond. Heading to Homestead, we have one more shot at a victory this year, and we have had a lot of success at the track in the past. It’s a worn out surface with multiple racing grooves, and as a driver, that’s all you can ask for in a track.”

Oakland Hub Along for the Ride at Homestead: The FedEx Express Hub in Oakland will be recognized for achieving an Excellent score on its most recent CSM AOD Audit by having its “OAKH” code letters appear on the b-post of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota at the Homestead-Miami Speedway.