RACE INFO:
Event: Daytona 500
Date/Time: Feb. 24/1 p.m.ET
2012 winner: Matt Kenseth
2012 polesitter: Carl Edwards
Distance: 200 laps/500 miles
Track Length: 2.5 miles
Banking: 31 degrees
Track Shape: Tri-Oval
2013 FedEx Racing Press Kit – Available for Download: Please visit www.fedexracing.com/presskit for the 2013 FedEx Racing press materials, including bios for Denny Hamlin, Darian Grubb and Joe Gibbs Racing leadership, program highlights, program statistics and the 2013 crew roster.
EXPRESS NOTES:
Sprint Unlimited Recap: Denny Hamlin was collected in a multi-car accident on Lap 14 of the season-opening Sprint Unlimited exhibition race at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday night, relegating the driver of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota to a 15th-place finish in the unofficial kickoff to the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. Hamlin was driving among the top-10 throughout the early laps of the race that included 2012 pole award winners and previous Unlimited winners, when an accident occurred in front of him. He was unable to avoid the spinning cars and was caught up in the wreck. He spun down into the infield grass with substantial damage, ending the team’s night early. Hamlin, who won the Sprint Unlimited as a rookie in 2006, started fifth in his eighth start in the prestigious non-points event won by Kevin Harvick.
Daytona 500 Preview: Hamlin is making his eighth start in the Daytona 500 on Sunday at the ‘World Center of Racing.’ The 32-year-old Virginia native recorded his best-career finish in the ‘Great American Race,’ taking the checkered flag fourth. Hamlin finished third in the July 2009 race at Daytona. Last Sunday, Hamlin posted the seventh-quickest time in Daytona 500 qualifying, and will start fourth in the first of two Duel races on Thursday that will set the starting grid for Sunday’s 200-lap, 500-mile event. The FedEx Racing driver won a 150-mile Duel race in 2008.
Race Series Date Start Finish Laps (Led)
Coke Zero 400 Sprint Cup July 7, 2012 21 25 156/160
Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Feb. 27, 2012 31 4 202/202 57
Coke Zero 400 Sprint Cup July 2, 2011 36 13 170/170 4
Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Feb. 20, 2011 18 21 207/208 7
Coke Zero 400 Sprint Cup July 3, 2010 4 24 158/166 4
Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Feb. 14, 2010 24 17 208/208 1
Coke Zero 400 Sprint Cup July 4, 2009 6 3 160/160 63
Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Feb. 15, 2009 10 26 152/152
Coke Zero 400 Sprint Cup July 5, 2008 15 26 162/162 6
Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Feb. 17, 2008 4 17 200/200 32
Pepsi 400 Nextel Cup July 7, 2007 2 43 99/160 10
Daytona 500 Nextel Cup Feb. 18, 2007 9 28 201/202
Pepsi 400 Nextel Cup July 1, 2006 6 17 160/160
Daytona 500 Nextel Cup Feb. 19, 2006 17 30 203/203
Averages/Totals 14.7 21 97.0 % 184
Brooklyn, N.Y. Team Along for the Ride in Daytona: The FedEx Express operations team in Brooklyn, N.Y. will be recognized for its efforts following Superstorm Sandy last fall with its FBTA code letters on the b-post of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota for Sunday’s Daytona 500.
HAMLIN CONVERSATION – Daytona 500:
Were you able to learn anything in the Sprint Unlimited that you can apply to the Daytona 500?
“Obviously, we would’ve liked to have been in the race a bit longer to see how the cars handle in a bigger pack on older tires, but the laps we did run gave us a gauge of how the cars will react around each other. It looks like the weather is going to be a lot different this weekend for the 500, so that will throw a curveball to the teams as we set up for the Duels on Thursday and practice to get ready. I’m confident that we have a strong car and I think we have as good a chance as anybody to win the Daytona 500.”
2013 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 – Southhold, 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.
