DENNY HAMLIN
#11 FedEx Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS
FEDEX RACING EXPRESS FACTS
3M PERFORMANCE 400 – MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY

RACE INFO:
Event: 3M Performance 400
Date/Time: June 18, 2006 /1p.m. ET
Track: MIS
Length: 2.0 Miles
Shape: Tri-Oval
Distance: 200 laps/500 miles
Banking: 18 degrees
2005 winner: Greg Biffle
2005 polesitter: Ryan Newman

EXPRESS NOTES:
Hamlin Collects First Cup Win at Pocono: Denny Hamlin built upon his foundation of quality starts Sunday at Pocono Raceway, recovering from a cut tire that caused substantial left-side damage to lead 83 of 200 laps and dominate the field on the way to his first career Nextel Cup win. In 21 Cup starts Hamlin has recorded nine top-ten finishes, three top-five finishes, two poles, one win and earned a spot for life in the Bud Shootout with his win at Daytona in February.

Hamlin on his First Career Cup Win: “This has been an unbelievable day for this whole team. I have been a fan of this sport for so long and I have the utmost respect for the drivers who have been winning races for years because it’s a really hard thing to do. I consider myself lucky to add my name to that list of guys that have done it. You need a great team around you giving you great equipment and you need a certain amount of luck to win a Cup race. It all came together today but this #11 FedEx team doesn’t take any success for granted and we will continue working hard, hoping to build on this for the rest of the season.”

FedEx Team Streaking: Much like their teammates in the #20 Home Depot Chevrolet did in 2005, the FedEx team appears to be recovering from an unpredictable start to the 2006 season and is hitting their stride at the right time. Starting with a second-place finish at Richmond International Raceway on May 7, Hamlin and team have put together an impressive streak of results over the past five races, culminating in Sunday’s win. In those five races, Hamlin has posted starting and finishing positions of 6.6 and 5.6, respectively. He has gained 10 spots in the Nextel Cup standings and been awarded Raybestos Rookie of the Race in five of six races.

Hamlin at Michigan International Speedway: The 3M Performance 400 will mark Hamlin’s first Cup appearance at Michigan International Speedway. Hamlin has one start in the Busch Series at the 2-mile track, where he started seventh at finished eighth in August of 2005.

Double Duty – Michigan to Kentucky: On another non-companion race weekend, Denny Hamlin will continue his run in both the Busch and Nextel Cup series. Hamlin will fly to Kentucky to qualify and race in the Meijer 300 at Kentucky Speedway on Saturday and then return to Michigan in preparation for the 3M Performance 400 on Sunday afternoon at MIS.

2006 Points: Hamlin’s win at Pocono propels the rookie into ninth place in the 2006 NASCAR Nextel Cup standings heading to Michigan this weekend. Hamlin currently sits 33 points behind Kevin Harvick in eighth and 463 points behind leader Jimmie Johnson. Hamlin has picked up ten spots over his last four races.

2006 Rookie Race: Hamlin once again captured the Raybestos Rookie of the Race award at Dover and increases his lead over second-place Clint Bowyer to 26 points (164-138). The Pocono 500 marks the eighth time this season, and fifth consecutive race, that Hamlin has been the highest finishing rookie.

Michigan Chassis JGR 137/092: The #11 FedEx Team will roll out car JGR 137 this weekend at Michigan. In its sole Cup start Hamlin drove this car to a fourth place finish at Texas Motor Speedway on April 9, 2006. It also served as a backup for the Coca-Cola 600. Backup chassis JGR 092 raced to a 12th-place finish at California in February and has served as a backup on six occasions since.

FedEx Express Car at Michigan: Hamlin’s #11 Chevrolet will sport the FedEx Ground colors for the sixth time this season this weekend at Michigan. Throughout the season, Hamlin and FedEx Racing will feature schemes representing four of the FedEx operating companies; FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, FedEx Freight and FedEx Kinko’s

Hamlin on His Climb to Ninth Place: “I have been talking a lot about momentum lately and that is exactly what we have going right now. Things are clicking, we are putting great cars on the track and we are not making mistakes that keep us from finishing races. There are so many good cars out there each and every weekend and that means there is no room for error. You have to be really good and really consistent. I am fortunate to have all these guys on the FedEx team working with me because I don’t think there is anyone better.”