Thursday, November 6, 2014

Denny Hamlin heading to Phoenix: "We find ourselves in a pretty decent position"

Denny Hamlin is 20/1 to win at Phoenix Sunday
Event: Quicken Loans 500
Date/Time: Nov. 9/1:00 p.m. MT
2013 winner: Kevin Harvick
2013 polesitter: Jimmie Johnson
Distance: 312 laps/312 miles
Track Length: 1 mile
Banking: 9/11 degrees
Track Shape: Oval

EXPRESS NOTES:

Texas Recap:
Denny Hamlin finished 10th in Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway, climbing into a tie for first place in the Chase point standings with one race remaining in the Eliminator Round following the 341-lap event won by Jimmie Johnson. Hamlin started 20th and quickly moved forward at the drop of the green flag, but as the track temperature cooled, the handling went away on the #11 FedEx Office Toyota. A two-tire stop moved Hamlin to the lead for three laps mid-race, but the old tires didn’t work and the #11 machine fell back to 14th in the running order. Hamlin and crew chief Darian Grubb utilized a variety of strategies late in the race to secure a top-10 finish for the FedEx Racing Team. Hamlin is tied with Joey Logano for the points lead.

Phoenix Preview: The Series heads to Phoenix International Raceway for Sunday’s 312-lap event at the flat, one-mile oval. Hamlin is making his 19th career Cup Series start at the desert track, owning one victory and nine top-10 finishes in 17 previous events at PIR. Hamlin’s victory came in March 2012, in just his second race with crew chief Darian Grubb. In that race, he led 61 laps en route to the checkered flag. Hamlin also owns a pole position at Phoenix, coming in his very first Cup start at the track in November 2005.

FedEx Office – Closest to Phoenix International Raceway: 1619 N. Dysart Rd., Ste 102, Avondale, AZ 85392, (623) 536-8077

SmartPost Team Along for the Ride at Phoenix: A FedEx SmartPost team will be recognized with the letters “FXSP” on the b-post of the #11 FedEx Ground Toyota this weekend at Phoenix International Raceway. The team’s award-winning quality improvement enhanced package handling efficiency in their low-volume delivery operations.

FedEx Thanks Veterans at Phoenix: Hamlin will be running a special decal on the B-post of the #11 FedEx Ground Toyota to salute all of those who have served our country, in honor of Tuesday’s Veterans Day holiday.

HAMLIN CONVERSATION – PHOENIX:

What are your thoughts heading into the final race of the Eliminator Round this weekend?

“We find ourselves in a pretty decent position heading into this weekend with our FedEx Team. Obviously, we were a little disappointed with how our car performed last weekend at Texas, but we were able to get a top-10 finish out of it and give ourselves a shot at advancing to the final round of the Chase in Miami. We still need to take care of business at Phoenix, make sure we have a good handling car and good pit stops throughout the race.”

          2014 FEDEX RACING TEAM – SEASON RESULTS
DATEEVENTLOCATIONSTARTFINISHLAPSSTATUSWINNINGSLEDPTSTREND
Feb. 23Daytona 500Daytona42200/200Running$1,148,451162nd
March 2The Profit on CNBC 500Phoenix1219312/312Running$87,4808th
March 9Kobalt Tools 400Las Vegas2712267/267Running$121,41018th
March 16Food City 500Bristol16500/500Running$116,86547th
March 23Auto Club 500Fontana*1317202/202Running$107,41011th
March 30STP 500Martinsville219500/500Running$94,47512th
April 7Duck Commander 500Texas613340/340Running$137,7702013th
April 12Bojangles’ Southern 500Darlington1019374/374Running$101,905315th
April 26Toyota Owners 400Richmond2822400/400Running$88.89014th
May 4Aaron’s 499Talladega351188/188Running$303,3151212th
May 105-Hour Energy 400Kansas3018266/267Running$94,76512th
May 25Coca-Cola 600Charlotte622398/400Running$112,98514th
June 1FedEx 400Dover75400/400Running$136,8809th
June 8Pocono 400Pocono14160/160Running$137,50048th
June 15Quicken Loans 400Michigan2929198/200Running$92,64012th
June 22Toyota/Save Mart 350Sonoma1626110/110Running$97,03513th
June 28Quaker State 400Kentucky44227/267 
$71,58017th
July 6Coke Zero 400Daytona376112/112Running$135,37014th
July 13Camping World RV Sales 301Loudon38305/305Running$109,5652012th
July 27The John Wayne Walding 400Indianapolis273160/160Running$307,8901821st**
Aug. 3GoBowling.com 400Pocono139160/160Running$96,96521st
Aug. 10Cheez-It 355Watkins Glen172490/90Running$84,01520th
Aug. 17Pure Michigan 400Michigan217200/200Running$108,94020th
Aug. 23Irwin Tools Night RaceBristol1340160/500Accident$96,5652820th
Aug. 31Oral-B USA 500Atlanta173335/335Running$182,7053719th
Sept. 6Federated Auto Parts 400Richmond1121398/400Running$89,6159th
2014 CHASE FOR THE SPRINT CUP
Sept. 14MyAFibstory.com 400Chicagoland246267/267Running$131,0456th
Sept. 21Sylvania 300New Hampshire437265/303Running$87,2173213th
Sept. 28AAA 400Dover312400/400Running$96,540T-1st
Oct. 5Hollywood Casino 400Kansas257267/267Running$126,4705th
Oct. 11B of America 500Charlotte39334/334Running$106,640227th
Oct. 19GEICO 500Talladega3818194/194Running$96,5361T-1st
Oct. 26Goody’s 500Martinsville58500/500Running$97,140685th
Nov. 2AAA Texas 500Texas2010341/341Running$132,1653T-1st
Averages/Totals15.114.893.6% $5,029,329289  
* Driver: Sam Hornish Jr.
** Penalized 75 points following post-race inspection

- Weber Shandwick Worldwide for FedEx Racing

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