DENNY HAMLIN
#11 FedEx Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS
FEDEX RACING EXPRESS FACTS
CHECKER AUTO PARTS 500 – PHOENIX INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY

EXPRESS NOTES:
Express Notes: Once again, Denny Hamlin and the #11 FedEx Racing team made the most of a trying day, posting a top-ten finish on a day when Hamlin spent the balance of the race running mid pack. The result drops Hamlin to fourth in the Chase for the Nextel Cup standings, 80 points behind new leader Jimmie Johnson with only two races to go.

Hamlin at Phoenix International Raceway: The Checker Auto Parts 500 will mark Hamlin’s third start at Phoenix International Raceway in a NASCAR Nextel Cup car and his 42nd career start in NASCAR’s top flight. On his most recent visit to Phoenix, Hamlin lost a cylinder on lap one and was forced to navigate the one-mile track down on power, ultimately settling for a 34th-place finish. He made his debut at the track in November of 2005 and made news by driving the #11 FedEx Chevrolet to his first ever Cup pole. Hamlin spent most of the afternoon in the top-five and led the race for 23 laps before a missed lug nut during a late-race pit stop forced the team to settle for a 13th-place finish. In two Busch starts at PIR Hamlin has posted finishes of 11th, ninth and 39th.

Phoenix Chassis JGR 133 & 140: The #11 FedEx Team will unload car JGR 133 at Phoenix this weekend. This is a new car from the #11 stable and has only served as a back up to date. It stayed on the truck at Richmond, Loudon and Martinsville but is ready for its debut this weekend. Back up car JGR 140 has one start this season, placing ninth at Dover in the second race of the Chase for the Nextel Cup.

Hamlin on Phoenix: “Again we are looking at a track where we feel we should be really competitive. Twice we have qualified well but had mechanical trouble or trouble on pit road that kept us finishing where we were capable of. This track sets up well for us. We have a good short track program and our results this season have proved it. We are also excited to see how this new car performs.

“As a driver I like this track because it fits my driving style. I grew up running short and flat tracks and it’s still where I am the most comfortable. It comes down to car control and these are the kind of tracks where I feel I am at my best and I think the racing is really exciting. I won my first ever pole here last year so this track is special to me for that reason also.”

Hamlin on the Chase – Two to Go: “We struggled for a lot of the day at Texas and it looks like it has put a little dent in our Championship hopes but, as this Chase has proven, anything can happen and we don’t feel like we are out of it. With as well as some of the other teams are running right now, we’ll have to put together a complete race at Phoenix to keep pace and hopefully have a chance by the time we get to Homestead.”

On the Competition Level of the Chase: “There is no question you have to be as close to your best as possible if you are going to challenge for this championship. Looking at our Chase results, outside of a couple of tough races for us, we are running top-ten every week. That’s has kept us within striking distance but hasn’t really allowed us to close the gap because every week it seems one or more of the Chase drivers are posting a top-five or a top-three finish. We’re hoping this is our weekend to go out there and post a big finish for this team.”

2006 Points: Hamlin’s tenth-place finish at Texas keeps the FedEx Racing team alive in the Chase for the Nextel Cup standings heading to Phoenix. Though dropping to fourth place in the standings, Hamlin trails new leader Jimmie Johnson by only 80 points. Dale Earnhardt Jr. sits in third place, two points ahead of Hamlin.

2006 Rookie Race: With two races remaining, Hamlin holds a 51-point lead (284-233) over Clint Bowyer in the Raybestos Rookie of the Year standings. Hamlin has been the Raybestos Rookie of the Race award winner on 16 occasions this season.