DENNY HAMLIN
No. 20 Rockwell Automation CHEVROLET
California1 Quotes and Notes
EVENT: STATER BROS. 300
DATE: FEBRUARY 24, 2007
TRACK: CALIFORNIA SPEEDWAY
TV: ESPN2 7:30 PM ET
LAPS/MILES: 150 / 300
RADIO: MRN 7:00 PM ET
QUOTES
Driver Denny Hamlin on racing at California…
“I am really looking forward to climbing into my Rockwell Automation Chevrolet at California. Dave (Rogers) and the crew made some great gains in our intermediate program especially at the end of last season. Last fall, the car we brought to California was the best I have driven on a two-mile track and if not for a long green flag run at the end, we would have finished in the top-five. It was a new setup that we experimented with at the end of the season and gave us a direction for the off-season. If the Las Vegas test is any indication of the cars we have built for intermediate tracks this season, I look forward to competing for wins each week I am in the car.”
Crew Chief Dave Rogers on California….
“I always look forward to California because it can give me a good read on where we stand against the rest of the teams. The guys at the shop have put in a lot of hours in the off-season rebuilding cars and getting them ready for the season and it is time to see that hard work payoff. We were fortunate that we did not lose too many of the key members of this team and the ones that we needed to replace have stepped in and done a great job.
Coming into last season, I was a little behind. I had never worked with Busch Cars before and needed to get up to speed on the equipment, the members of the team and figure out Denny’s driving style. With one year under my belt of understanding Denny and what each member of the team brings to the table, I definitely expect us to be a factor each race weekend.”
NOTES
#20 Car Drivers …This season will see the seat of the #20 Rockwell Automation Chevrolet rotated through several drivers. Denny Hamlin, the pilot of the car for the last two seasons, will be driving 24 races including defending his race wins from 2006 at Mexico City and Darlington Raceway. Aric Almirola, a graduate of JGR’s driver development program, will take the seat for 10 races beginning at the spring Bristol race. This will not be Almirola’s first time in the #20 car. He assisted the team in setting up the car last season at Busch standalone events while Hamlin was attending to his Nextel Cup duties. Almirola showed his skill by winning the pole at the Milwaukee Mile last July before turning the car over to Hamlin. Almirola will also make 7 starts in the #18 Busch Car. Tony Stewart will run one race (Atlanta) in the #20 car sponsored by Goody’s.
Car History … This week the #20 team is bringing car #2073. This will be the third race for this chassis. Designed at the end of 2006, it was borrowed by the JGR 19 team where Tony Stewart drove this car from to a runner up finish at the Texas Motor Speedway (Nov – 2006). Hamlin also raced this car once at the season finale (Homestead – 2006) where he drove to a 4 th place finish. Since the 2006 season, this car has been updated with a 2007 Chevrolet Monte Carlo body.
