DENNY HAMLIN
#11 FedEx Chevrolet Monte Carlo
FEDEX RACING EXPRESS FACTS
CROWN ROYAL 400 – RICHMOND INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY

RACE INFO:
Event: Crown Royal 400
Date/Time: May 6, 2006 / 7 p.m. ET
Track: Richmond International Raceway
Length: .75 Miles
Shape: Oval
Distance: 400 laps/300 miles
Banking: 14 degrees
2005 winner: Kasey Kahne
2005 polesitter: Kasey Kahne

EXPRESS NOTES:
Hamlin Heads Home to Richmond: This will be Hamlin’s first Nextel Cup race at Richmond International Raceway but the Chesterfield native has a long history of racing in the Richmond area. Starting his career in karts at the local tracks, it didn’t take long before Hamlin rose through the ranks at Southside Speedway in nearby Midlothian, Va., Amelia Motor Raceway in Amelia, Va. and Langley Speedway near Hampton, Va. Hamlin took home multiple championships in karts, mini-stocks and stock cars at the local tracks before his success catapulted him into a record-setting late model career and into a ride with Joe Gibbs Racing. In addition, Hamlin’s spotter and former NASCAR driver, Curtis Markham, hails from nearby Fredericksburg, Va.

Hamlin returned to RIR in the fall of 2004 to make his second career start in the Craftsman Truck Series for JGR and posted an impressive 16th place finish. In two starts at RIR in the Busch Series during the 2005 season, Hamlin posted finishes of 13th and 34th.

“I am really looking forward to coming home to Richmond and racing at Richmond International. Not only is it a great track, but I have spent a lot of time there over the years, watching Cup races and hoping someday I would have the chance to line up in front of the hometown fans. There are so many people in Richmond that helped me along the way and I owe an awful lot to them for getting me where I am. Whether it was advice, equipment, support or confidence, I know I couldn’t have done it without them. A lot of those folks will be there this weekend and I hope to run well for them.”

Hamlin to Visit Children’s Hospital of Richmond on Thursday: In addition to his racing prowess, Hamlin is bringing Operation FedEx Special Delivery to patients at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond. As part of the program, Hamlin will sign autographs and race r/c cars with the patients while joining FedEx in presenting the hospital with a $25,000 donation in support of their ongoing efforts. Hamlin also will be presented with a helmet designed especially for the Richmond race weekend by a patient at the hospital. For more information about the event, please contact Jon Mason at 612.387.8780.

2006 Points: Hamlin’s 22nd-place drops him one spot to 19th n the NASCAR Nextel Cup standings heading to Richmond. Hamlin currently sits 43 points behind fellow rookie Clint Bowyer in 18th, and 156 points behind Dale Jarrett in tenth. Joe Gibbs Racing drivers Tony Stewart and J.J Yeley sit in second and 22nd place, respectively.

2006 Rookie Race: Hamlin’s finish tightens the Raybestos Rookie Contender standings leaving Talladega. Hamlin now trails leader Clint Bower by four points (91-87). Martin Truex Jr. and JGR’s J.J. Yeley, both with 81 points, are tied for third.

Richmond International Raceway Chassis JGR 105 / 044: The Crown Royal 400 at RIR will be the second start of the season for chassis 105. In its only previous start this season, this car suffered late-race damage and was unable to finish the race at Martinsville. Prior to that, 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. Backup chassis JGR 044 ran at Phoenix on April 22 and, despite suffering engine trouble that relegated the team to a 34th place finish, provided valuable feedback for the Richmond set up.

FedEx Kinko’s Car at Richmond: Denny Hamlin will run the FedEx Kinko’s car for the second time in 2006 this weekend at Richmond International Raceway. 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.