FEDEX RACING EXPRESS FACTS
BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY

RACE INFO:
Event: Food City 500
Date/Time: March 16, 2008/2:30 p.m. EST
Length: .533 miles
Shape: Oval
Banking: 36 degrees
Distance: 500 laps/266.5 miles
2007 winner: Kyle Busch
2007 polesitter: Jeff Gordon

EXPRESS NOTES:
Despite Loss of Power Steering - Hamlin 15th at Atlanta: On a day that was noteworthy for many reasons; first 2008 wins for Kyle Busch and Joe Gibbs Racing, first-ever Cup win for Toyota, and any number of post-race tire concerns, Denny Hamlin's performance behind the wheel of the #11 FedEx Camry was unfairly lost. After losing the power steering with over one hundred laps to run, Hamlin ran out the race without the mechanical aid - gaining a total of five spots to finish an impressive 15th. It was a fitting end to a race weekend that started with on-track struggles in practice for the #11 team, but at times on Sunday looked certain to end with a top-five finish or perhaps a win. The combined crew and driver effort keeps Hamlin inside the top-20 in the points standings heading to Bristol this weekend.

Hamlin at Bristol Motor Speedway: This weekend will mark Hamlin's fifth career Cup start at Bristol Motor Speedway. In the spring race, Hamlin led 177 laps and looked prepared to challenge for the win before a late fuel-pickup problem stalled him on a restart with less than 20 laps to go. In the fall event Hamlin was forced to the back for the start last year after an engine change, but that didn't stop him from making his way up to sixth place in only 103 laps. It was at that time, however, that the first signs of engine trouble started and the #11 FedEx car would only make it 100 additional laps before the engine let go and Hamlin was forced from the race.

Bristol Chassis – JGR 154 and 162: Chassis 154 has been a workhorse for the #11 team, though this will be the first time on the track this season and the first start wearing a Toyota Camry badge. Chassis 154 started six races last season, including both Bristol events, and finished in the top ten on four occasions. JGR 162 will serve as the back up this weekend. 162 started three races in 2007, winning at New Hampshire in June and capturing the pole at the Martinsville Spring race.

HAMLIN CONVERSATION - BRISTOL:
Last year this #11 team was very good in the COT on short tracks. Can you carry that over into 2008? "We had a good start in the COT program and I think we held an advantage early in the 2007season though we didn't necessarily prove it by winning races. We had legitimate chances to win races at Bristol and Darlington last season, we led a lot of laps and we know we have good equipment, but we always had some stroke of bad luck that cost us. As the season went along, the playing field really leveled so we had to step up our program again heading into this new car full time. Going into this season, I think all of the JGR teams, working with Toyota, have improved across the board so that should be true with our short track program as well. It's where we've excelled as a team in the past and still where I am the most comfortable."

Bristol has a new surface - and with it, both critics and fans. What's your verdict?: I really like the new surface and I think it leads to better racing than we had before. I haven't always been in favor of the work a lot of the tracks have done, sometimes changing the character of the race track too much, but what they have done at Bristol really is an improvement. It’s opened up the race and it gives us some opportunity race Bristol in different ways. It used to be there was one way to pass - or you would have to move them out of the way. With the new surface you are able to run some different lines and if you car is working you can pass on the outside. That's why so many drivers gave it good reviews after the race there lat year."

You are back in the JGR #20 Nationwide Series car, your old ride, for the first time this season. "That #20 team means a lot to me so I am happy to be back in that seat. Working with Dave (Rogers, #20 NNS Crew Chief) over the past couple of seasons I know we felt like we built it up to be a really competitive car so there is a lot of pride there. Seeing Tony and Kyle slide into that seat and dominate races already this season made me happy for that team but also really made me want to be back in that car."