Event: AdvoCare 500
Date/Time: Nov. 11/1 p.m. MT
2011 winner: Kasey Kahne
2011 polesitter: Matt Kenseth
Distance: 312 laps/312 miles
Track Length: 1 mile
Banking: 9/11 degrees
Track Shape: Oval
EXPRESS NOTES:
FedEx Lends Helping Hand after Hurricane Sandy: FedEx is working with the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, Direct Relief and Heart to Heart in donating transportation to help distribute equipment and supplies in the affected area following Hurricane Sandy. Along with the emergency shipping aid, FedEx is an honor roll member of the Annual Disaster Giving Program for the American Red Cross in support of their relief efforts in our communities. A strong supporter of the Red Cross for more than 16 years, FedEx has provided funding to serve as a base for disaster relief services that enable Red Cross response. For more information and updates, please visit http://www.redcross.org/ and http://www.disaster.salvationarmyusa.org/.
Texas Recap: Denny Hamlin finished 20th in Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway, fighting an ill-handling #11 FedEx Office Toyota throughout the 335-lap event on the 1.5-mile oval won by Jimmie Johnson, Round 8 of the 2012 Chase for the Sprint Cup championship. Hamlin qualified 12th and ran among the top-15 throughout the first half of the race, with crew chief Darian Grubb calling for a host of changes during green flag pit stops. During a stop on pit road with just over 100 laps remaining, Hamlin made contact with Greg Biffle leaving his pit box, causing right-front damage to the #11 machine. The contact disrupted the balance of the car, and Hamlin crossed the finish line in 20th. The finish dropped Hamlin two spots to seventh in the Chase standings following Texas, 73 points behind leader Johnson with two races remaining.
Phoenix Preview: The Series heads to Phoenix International Raceway for Sunday’s 312-lap event on the one-mile desert oval. Hamlin has seven top-10 finishes in 14 career PIR starts, including a victory in the spring race at the track earlier this season. In that race, Hamlin took the lead on a restart with 58 laps remaining Sunday at Phoenix International Raceway and never looked back, guiding the #11 FedEx Office Toyota Camry to victory lane in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. Hamlin masterfully circled the one-mile desert oval while conserving fuel for the final 84 laps, and had enough gas to be the first to see the checkered flag, ahead of Kevin Harvick, Greg Biffle, Jimmie Johnson and Brad Keselowski.
Race Series Date Start Finish Laps Led
Subway Fresh Fit 500 Sprint Cup March 4, 2012 13 1 312/312 61
Kobalt Tools 500 Sprint Cup Nov. 13, 2011 33 12 312/312
Subway Fresh Fit 500 Sprint Cup Feb. 27, 2011 12 11 312/312 9
Kobalt Tools 500 Sprint Cup Nov. 14, 2010 17 12 312/312 190
Subway Fresh Fit 600 Sprint Cup April 10, 2010 26 30 376/378
Checker Auto Parts 500 Sprint Cup Nov. 15, 2009 5 3 312/312 23
Subway Fresh Fit 500 Sprint Cup April 18, 2009 12 6 312/312
Checkers O’Reilly 500 Sprint Cup Nov. 9, 2008 8 5 313/313
Subway Fresh Fit 500 Sprint Cup April 12, 2008 16 3 312/312
Checker Auto Parts 500 Nextel Cup Nov. 11, 2007 15 16 312/312
Subway Fresh Fit 500 Nextel Cup April 21, 2007 3 3 312/312 70
Checker Auto Parts 500 Nextel Cup Nov. 12, 2006 22 3 312/312
Subway Fresh 500 Nextel Cup April 22, 2006 6 34 289/312
Checker Auto Parts 500 Nextel Cup Nov. 13, 2005 1 13 312/312
Averages/Totals 13.5 10.9 99.4% 353
FedEx Office – Closest to Phoenix International Raceway: 1619 N. Dysart Rd., Ste 102, Avondale, AZ 85392, (623) 536-8077
New York Metro Along for the Ride at Phoenix: The FedEx Ground New York Metro district will be recognized for its sustainability efforts with its district code “NYME” on the b-post of the #11 FedEx Ground Toyota this weekend at Phoenix International Raceway. The New York Metro district includes New York City, Long Island, the lower and mid-Hudson Valley, and southern Connecticut.
2012 FEDEX RACING – TEAM ROSTER
Crew Chief: Darian Grubb – Floyd, Va. Front Tire Changer: Dustin Necaise – Gulfport, Miss.
Car Chief: Chris “Spider” Gillin – Smithtown, N.Y. Front Tire Carrier: Brandon Pegram – Statesville, N.C.
Engineer: Mike Wheeler – Southholt, N.Y. Rear Tire Changer: Mike Hicks – Salisbury, N.C.
Engineer: Ross Kippenbrock – Indianapolis, Ind. Rear Tire Carrier: Heath Cherry – Belmont, N.C.
Shocks: Drew Bible – Coldwater, Mich. Jackman: Nate Bolling – Swanton, Ohio
Tire Specialist: Kerry Ferris – Perry, N.Y. Gas Man: Scott Wood – Liberty, S.C.
Mechanic: Nick Fuller – Casa Grande, Ariz. Pit Crew Coordinator: Paul Alepa – Vienna, Va.
Mechanic: John Furino – Long Island, N.Y. JGR Athletic Director: Michael Lepp – Charlotte, N.C.
Spotter: Chris Lambert – Kannapolis, N.C. Hauler Driver: Jerry Hess – Lancaster, Pa.
Hauler Driver: Frank Hodel – Blythe, Calif.