RACE INFO:
Event: Sylvania 300
Date/Time: Sept. 21/2 p.m. ET
2013 winner: Matt Kenseth
2013 polesitter: Ryan Newman
Distance: 300 laps/317.4 miles
Track Length: 1 mile
Banking: 7 degrees
Track Shape: Oval
EXPRESS NOTES:
Chicagoland Recap: Denny Hamlin finished sixth in Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Chicagoland Speedway, a solid result for the FedEx Racing Team in the first race of the 2014 Chase playoffs. Hamlin restarted fifth on worn tires with less than 10 laps remaining in the #11 FedEx Office Toyota, holding off a host of challengers en route to the finish line in the 267-lap event won by Brad Keselowski. Hamlin started 24th but immediately showed to be one of strongest cars from the drop of the green flag, moving up nine spots to 13th before the race’s first caution. Hamlin battled a tight race car early in runs that prevented him from moving up in the running order until tire pressures built and the #11 machine’s handling came to him. He made his final stop under green on Lap 226, just before a caution came out, bunching the field with fresh tires for the restart. Hamlin restarted eighth and made a three-wide pass into sixth in Turn 3. He moved into fifth a few laps later and was reeling in Jeff Gordon for fourth when the race’s final caution waved with 10 laps to go. The finish moved Hamlin up to sixth in the Chase standings following Chicagoland, 18 points behind leader Keselowski, who automatically transferred to the second round with his victory.
New Hampshire Preview: The Series heads to New Hampshire Motor Speedway this weekend for the second race of the 2014 Chase. Hamlin is a two-time Loudon winner, taking the checkered flag in the 2012 Chase race at the track, leading 193 of 300 laps en route to victory lane. He was also victorious at New Hampshire in July 2007, in just his third start at the flat, one-mile layout. Hamlin has led 437 laps at the track, including 20 circuits earlier this year, when he started third and finished eighth.
How can the FedEx team build on the Chicago finish this weekend at New Hampshire?
“Obviously, we had a solid start to the Chase last weekend, but we have set our sights on a victory this weekend at New Hampshire. We took care of business in Chicago, putting together a mistake-free, consistent day, but I’d really like to get a win this Sunday to guarantee a spot in the second round of the playoffs. We know what we are capable of at this track, and hopefully we can carry some momentum there this weekend.”
