Denny Hamlin
#11 FedEx Ground Toyota
Joe Gibbs Racing
Race Info:
Race: Can-Am 500
Date/Time: Sunday, Nov. 11/ 2:30 p.m. ET
Race Distance: 312 laps/312 miles
Track Shape: Oval
Track Length: 1 mile
Banking: 9-11 degrees
2017 Winner: Matt Kenseth
Express Notes:
Texas Recap: Denny Hamlin finished 30th in Sunday’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway after a first-turn, first-lap incident foiled the #11 FedEx Racing team’s chances for victory in the event won by Kevin Harvick. Hamlin started the race from the sixth position, but as the field dove into turn 1, Hamlin was hit in the left side as the drivers fought for positions. The contact resulted in a severe tire rub, and Hamlin was forced to pit multiple times after only 10 laps of racing, dropping the #11 FedEx Office Toyota three laps down to the leaders. Between the aerodynamic disadvantage and the lack of cautions, the FedEx Team was unable to put themselves in a position to get back on the lead lap and Hamlin remained multiple laps down throughout the remainder of the 337-lap race.
Phoenix Preview: With only two races remaining in the 2018 season, the Series returns to Phoenix for the first race on the reconfigured one-mile ISM Raceway. In 26 starts at Phoenix, Denny has secured 11 top-five and 15 top-10 finishes, including a single victory in 2012. In his last appearance at the track in April, Denny rallied from the rear of the field after a pit road miscue to finish fourth.
Denny Delivers at ISM Raceway: In advance of Sunday’s Cup race, Hamlin will visit ISM Raceway to help the track deliver and install the final grandstand seat into their newly renovated stadium. Hamlin will be joined by Julie Giese, President of ISM Raceway, as well as by the season ticket holder of that very seat – Section 150, Row 38, Seat 11 – to commemorate the delivery. The event is scheduled to take place from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. MT this Wednesday, Nov. 7.
Happy Campers: Hamlin will make his way through the ISM Raceway campgrounds on Friday, Nov. 9 from 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. MT to interact with fans and pass out some treats to campers with the help of FedEx. For information on how you can take more control of deliveries with FedEx Delivery Manager, visit fedex.com/deliver.
Delivering Laps for FedEx Cares: This season, FedEx is tying the performance of the #11 FedEx Toyota on the track to its efforts to improve road safety through a new program, Delivering Laps for FedEx Cares, by donating $111 for each lap Hamlin leads and $11,000 for each race victory to Safe Kids Worldwide, a nonprofit working to protect kids on the road, at home and at play. New for the 2018 season, the Denny Hamlin Foundation will also match the total donation to Safe Kids Worldwide.
After 34 total races this season, Hamlin has led 339 laps resulting in a $37,629 donation to Safe Kids Worldwide that will ultimately be matched by the Denny Hamlin Foundation. Fans can track the total amount donated to date from the Delivering Laps for FedEx Cares program on the homepage of fedexracing.com.
Press Kit: Download the 2018 FedEx Racing press materials at www.fedexracing.com/presskit, including bios for Denny Hamlin, Mike Wheeler and Joe Gibbs Racing leadership, program highlights and statistics.
Hamlin Statistics:
Track: ISM Raceway (Phoenix)
Races: 26
Wins: 1
Poles: 2
Top-5: 11
Top-10: 15
Laps Led: 671
Avg. Start: 11.1
Avg. Finish: 11.5
Hamlin Conversation – Phoenix:
You had a chance to test ISM Raceway last month, but Sunday will be the first time the Cup Series will be competing on the reconfigured track surface. What can we expect in the desert this weekend?
“It was pretty incredible to see firsthand all of the new changes ISM (Raceway) has made to both the track surface and the fan experience. The new position of the start/finish line will obviously keep things interesting, and restarts are going to be wilder than ever. I have no doubt that the fans are going to see an exciting race.”
FedEx Ground Great Plains District Along for the Ride at Phoenix: FedEx Ground will recognize the company’s Great Plains district at ISM Raceway this weekend by featuring the call letters “GPLS” on the #11 FedEx Ground Toyota.
