FEDEX RACING EXPRESS FACTS BUDWEISER SHOOTOUT – DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY

RACE INFO:
Event: Budweiser Shootout at Daytona
Date/Time: Feb. 11, 2006 / 8:30 p.m. ET
Track: Daytona International Speedway
Length: 2.5 miles
Shape: Tri-oval
Distance: 70 laps/175 miles
Banking: 31 degrees
2004 winner: Jimmie Johnson
2004 polesitter: Dale Jarrett

EXPRESS NOTES:
Prepping for the Shootout: Denny Hamlin’s seven-race introduction to NASCAR Nextel Cup racing at the end of the 2005 Nextel Cup season gave NASCAR fans everywhere a lot to celebrate and a lot to look forward to. In addition to recording three top-ten finishes in his first seven Cup races, Hamlin won his first Bud Pole Award at Phoenix International Raceway on Nov. 12, 2005 to qualify for the 2006 Bud Shootout at Daytona. Hamlin will be the only member of the much-vaunted 2006 rookie class to run in the Shootout and will look to gain more valuable superspeedway experience before turning his attention to the Daytona 500, the 2006 Nextel Cup season and the race for Rookie of the Year honors.

Hamlin at Daytona International Speedway: To date, Hamlin’s experience at Daytona International Speedway has been limited to Busch Series events at the famous 2.5-mile track. Hamlin started both Busch Series races at Daytona in 2005, recording finishes of 33rd (2005 Hershey's Take 5 300 on Feb. 19, 2005) and 14th (2005 Winn-Dixie 250 Presented by PepsiCo on July 1, 2005). In addition to his Busch experience, Hamlin spent significant time on the track at Daytona during the three-day Cup series test in January.

Bud Shootout Chassis JGR 81: The FedEx team will take chassis JGR 81 to Daytona for the 2006 Bud Shootout. Despite having superspeedway experience, this will be its Bud Shootout for this car. Tony Stewart drove this car to a second place finish at the 2004 Daytona 500 and Jason Leffler recorded a 36th place finish in JGR 81 at the 2005 Daytona 500. In addition to Daytona races, this car ran both races at Talladega Superspeedway in 2005, posting finishes of 26th and 29th place.

Daytona Testing Recap: The #11 FedEx team spent three successful days testing at Daytona International Speedway focusing on two major goals. Goal number one was getting Hamlin as much seat time at possible in a Cup car at a superspeedway. The second goal was preparing the #11FedEx Chevys for duty in the Bud Shootout and Daytona 500. In the single car runs on days one and two of testing, Hamlin recorded times in the top-ten for both testing days. When the #11 took the track for drafting practice on day three, the focus shifted to Hamlin and his comfort in the pack. Hamlin not only gained valuable experience, both he and the cars performed admirably while posting a top-ten time of (47.390 seconds/189.913 mph).

QUOTES:
Hamlin on the 2006 Bud Shootout: “As excited as I was to win the pole in Phoenix, it was the idea that I had qualified for the Shootout and the opportunity to come to Daytona and run against the other Pole winners and past champions that took a while to sink in. It’s an exciting event for the fans and the drivers alike. You line up against a field full of drivers who have proven they are the best around - so to go out and race against them here at Daytona should be quite an experience and a great way to kick off the 2006 season.”

“It’s also great for the crew because it recognizes their hard work last year, though along with the privilege of qualifying for the Shootout comes the reality that we had to get another car ready for the event. We brought two cars down for testing in the middle of January and feel pretty good about what we had then and what we expect to have ready for both the Shootout at the 500.”

Hamlin on 2006 and the move to Nextel Cup Racing: “To say I am looking forward to 2006 is an understatement. The goal now is pretty simple; build on the success we found at the end of last year and sustain it through this season. My cup experience last year, running seven races and earning the job for 2006, was really incredible. It was a little hard to believe because it all happened so fast, and it was a long way from where I was just a year ago, but it’s exciting and now I am just looking forward to getting back on the track.”

Crew Chief Mike Ford on the Bud Shootout: “It will be a good experience for Denny to get out there and put some competitive laps under his belt on a track that he hasn’t spent a lot of time on. He did well here in the Busch cars last year and handled himself very well during testing here last month, but it never hurts to have more time in the seat at a place like this.”

“It’s also good for him and the team because they earned this by buckling down and putting in some really hard work at the end of last season, winning the pole and qualifying to run the Shootout. We’ll tell him to go out there and enjoy himself on Saturday night and then we will get right to work preparing for the 500.”

FEDEX OVER-THE-WALL CREW:
Car Chief – Chris “Spider” Gillin
Rear Tire Changer – Barry Cook
Windshield – Bobby “Spike” Christienson
Front Tire Changer – Donnie Brown
Rear Tire Carrier – Heath Cherry
Spotter – Curtis Markham
Front Tire Carrier – Blake Haughland
Gas Man – Scott Wood
Motor Specialist – Roger Purcell
Jackman – Chris Webb
Catch Can – John Eicher
Pit Crew Coord. – Paul Alepa