Does strong Daytona transfer to Talladega for Denny Hamlin?

Denny Hamlin is 12/1 to win at Talladega Sunday

Event: Aaron’s 499
Date/Time: May 4/12 p.m. CT
2013 winner: David Ragan
2013 polesitter: Carl Edwards
Distance: 188 laps/500 miles
Track Length: 2.66 miles
Banking: 33 degrees
Track Shape: Tri-Oval

EXPRESS NOTES:

Fans First for FedEx 400: Race fans have the opportunity to “ride along” with Denny Hamlin and the #11 FedEx Freight/Autism Speaks Toyota for the FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks at Dover on June 1. For a minimum $11 donation to Autism Speaks by this Sunday, May 4, fans can get their names on the special #11 paint scheme at the ‘Monster Mile,’ while helping a great cause. Space is limited so for more information, visit www.fedexracing.com/fedex400.

300th Start for Hamlin: Hamlin will make his 300th career Sprint Cup Series start this Sunday at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway in the #11 FedEx Express Toyota. In 16 previous races at Talladega, Hamlin has recorded five top-10 finishes and has led 204 career laps at the 2.66-mile high-banked oval. He finished second in the first restrictor plate race of the season this year, the season-opening Daytona 500.

Richmond Recap: Hamlin finished 22nd in Saturday night’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Richmond International Speedway after contact from behind while battling in the top-10 with less than 30 laps to go caused the #11 FedEx Ground Toyota to spin and lose valuable track position. Hamlin was forced three-wide in Turn 2 on a late-race restart at the three-quarter-mile oval, and jostled for position down the backstretch. Heading into Turn 3, the cars bottled up and Hamlin was tapped from behind and sent spinning to bring out another caution. After a pit stop under the race’s final caution, Hamlin took the checkered flag in 22nd in the event won by Joey Logano. After starting 28th, he quickly worked into the top-20, while changes called by crew chief Darian Grubb helped with the car’s handling, and quick pit stops by the FedEx crew gained him more spots. He managed to work into the top-five with less than 100 laps to go, and was lined up eighth on the restart before the incident.

FedEx Office – Closest to Talladega Superspeedway: 117 Resource Center Pkwy, Birmingham, AL 35242, (205) 981-0077

Mobile, Ala., Along for the Ride in Talladega: The FedEx Air Ground and Freight Services operations team in Mobile, Ala., will be recognized for operational excellence with its “BFM” code letters on the b-post of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway.

HAMLIN CONVERSATION – TALLADEGA:

Do you expect to have another strong restrictor plate package after the team’s success in Daytona?
“We certainly had a strong SpeedWeeks, with wins in the Sprint Unlimited and our Duel race, and backed it up with a second-place finish in the (Daytona) 500. Hopefully we can be that competitive again this weekend and run up front. These restrictor plate races come down to a lot of circumstances and luck, but the plan is to keep the FedEx Camry up front throughout the day, stay out of trouble, and be there at the end.”

 

2014 FEDEX RACING TEAM – SEASON RESULTS
DATE	EVENT	LOCATION	START	FINISH	LAPS	STATUS	WINNINGS	LED	PTS	TREND
Feb. 23	Daytona 500	Daytona	4	2	200/200	Running	$1,148,451	16	2nd	▬
March 2	The Profit on CNBC 500	Phoenix	12	19	312/312	Running	$87,480	8th	▼
March 9	Kobalt Tools 400	Las Vegas	27	12	267/267	Running	$121,410	1	8th	▬
March 16	Food City 500	Bristol	1	6	500/500	Running	$116,865	4	7th	▲
March 23	Auto Club 500	Fontana*	13	17	202/202	Running	$107,410	11th	▼
March 30	STP 500	Martinsville	2	19	500/500	Running	$94,475	12th	▼
April 7	Duck Commander 500	Texas	6	13	340/340	Running	$137,770	20	13th	▼
April 12	Bojangles’ Southern 500	Darlington	10	19	374/374	Running	$101,905	3	15th	▼
April 26	Toyota Owners 400	Richmond	28	22	400/400	Running	$88.890	14th	▲
Averages/Totals			11.2	14.0	100%		$1,897,246	44

* Driver: Sam Hornish Jr.

- Weber Shandwick Worldwide for FedEx Racing