DENNY HAMLIN
#11 FedEx Chevrolet Monte Carlo
FEDEX RACING EXPRESS FACTS
DIRECTV 500 – MARTINSVILLE SPEEDWAY

RACE INFO:
Event: Direct TV 500
Distance: 500 laps/263 miles
Track: Martinsville Speedway
Date/Time: April 2, 2006 / 1:30 p.m. ET
2005 winner: Jeff Gordon
2005 polesitter: Scott Riggs

TRACK INFO:
Length: .526 miles
Shape: Oval
Banking: 12 degrees

EXPRESS NOTES:
Hamlin Hangs on for 14th at Bristol: Denny Hamlin and the FedEx Racing team overcame a stern Bristol Motor Speedway test to record a 14th place finish in the Food City 500 on Sunday. On account of the snow/rain mix that fell throughout much of the weekend - qualifying was cancelled and Hamlin was forced to start a car that was running in the top-ten during both practice sessions 33rd on the grid. He showed from the start he had a very competitive #11 FedEx Chevy under him, but a pit road penalty saw him forced to race from the back early on. The FedEx Racing crew was stellar on pit road all afternoon and Hamlin showed great perseverance to earn his spot on the lead lap back on lap 408. As the laps wound down on the half-mile track, Hamlin, through a combination of methodical passing and attrition in front of him, made his way through the crowded field to take the checkered flag in 14th.

“Considering the situation we found ourselves late in the race, I think it’s safe to say we are happy with the finish,” said Hamlin. “We knew our car was better than where we were running so it was just a matter of staying patient, getting that lap back, avoiding some of the trouble out there, and working as hard as we could for a good finish. The crew was great all weekend, whether it was working on the car in the cold and snow through the morning or consistently getting me off pit road quickly – they were the difference.”

2006 NNCS Points: Hamlin’s 14th-place finish at Bristol helped move the FedEx Racing team up to 17th place in the season standings, a gain of four spots. Hamlin currently sits on 530 points, 63 points out of 10th and 252 points behind new season leader Matt Kenseth.

Hamlin is Highest Rookie Finisher at Bristol: Hamlin’s Bristol finish moves him into a tie for second place with teammate J.J. Yeley in the Raybestos Rookie Contender standings – the two trail leader Clint Bowyer by six points. Hamlin’s finish at Bristol marks the second time this season Hamlin has been the highest finishing Rookie, he earned that distinction previously at Las Vegas where he finished 10th.

Hamlin at Martinsville Speedway: The DIRECTV 500 will be Hamlin’s second start at Martinsville Speedway in a NASCAR Nextel Cup car. He made his debut at the half-mile in October of 2005, in only his third career Cup start. However, Hamlin’s history at Martinsville dates back to his late model career and competing in the annual “Taco Bell 300” and “Bailey’s 300” on five occasions from 2000-2004. Hamlin won the pole for the race in 2003 and recorded finishes 15th, 12th, 7th, 10th and 3rd, respectively.

Martinsville Speedway Chassis JGR 105/JGR 067: This will be the first race of the 2006 NNCS season for Chassis 105. Hamlin qualified this car fifth and finished in eighth-place at Martinsville in Oct. of 2005. In addition, this car recorded finishes of 12th (Martinsville) and 29th (Phoenix) in the spring of 2005. Chassis 067 will serve as the back up this weekend and is the car Hamlin drove to a pole win at Phoenix last fall. It has made four previous NASCAR Nextel Cup starts dating back to 2003.

FedEx Ground Car at Martinsville: Denny Hamlin will run the FedEx Ground car for the second time in 2006 this weekend at Martinsville Speedway. 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.

QUOTES: Hamlin on Martinsville Speedway: “There were times a couple of years ago when I wasn't sure I would be back here in a late model let alone driving a Cup car, so I am really happy to be back at Martinsville driving in the Nextel Cup series. This is one of my favorite tracks, both because I know it well and because it really fits my driving style. I am a short track guy at heart and because of running late model cars here and similar tracks I have a certain level of comfort coming to a track like this. It’s also pretty close to home.

Running the Cup car here last year was a great experience. It was only my third Cup race but we qualified well and had a great setup for the race. We feel we should be competitive this year and I know I will look to be a little more patient this time out.”