Denny Hamlin and the #11 FedEx Racing team couldn’t replicate the performance that has made them a recent favorite at New Hampshire, fighting handling issues all-race long before rain ended Sunday’s Lenox Industrial Tools 301 after 273 laps with the #11 FedEx Ground Toyota running 15th
While a frustrating day for Hamlin, who started seventh and led one lap, the result sees the team leave New Hampshire Motor Speedway and head to Daytona for next week’s Coke Zero 400 sitting in sixth place –a one place improvement - in the Sprint Cup points.


“It was really tough day out there, we really struggled” said Hamlin.  “We had about a 20th-place car today and just couldn’t really get much better than that.  We finished 15th and that is about where we should have been.” 


Hamlin’s Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Joey Logano stretched a tank of fuel to the very limit Sunday and it paid off as the clouds opened to first freeze, then end the race with the rookie in the lead.  Logano records his first Cup win and earns the distinction of being the Cup Series’ youngest-ever winner.


Despite frustration over his own race, Hamlin had congratulation for his rookie teammate:
“It’s a real good day for Joey and the #20 team and I am definitely happy for them,” said Hamlin.  “They rolled the dice.  They were on fumes and I was worried with NASCAR running so many caution laps there that it was going to run them out of fuel.  I am excited for Joey and the team.”
Jeff Gordon finished second while Kurt Busch, David Reutimann and Tony Stewart rounded out the top five.  Joe Gibbs Racing’s Kyle Busch finished seventh.


After a challenging final practice on Saturday and with weather likely to play a factor on race day, the FedEx team was eager to get the race started and get a sense of exactly where they stood.  Unfortunately, the immediate reports from the driver’s seat of the FedEx Ground Camry were less than enthusiastic.  Hamlin, on the radio early and often, confirmed he was too loose and dropped back quickly, holding down the 13th spot by the time the first of eleven cautions on the day flew on lap 15.
With track position at a premium, and with a competition caution scheduled, crew chief Mike Ford kept Hamlin on the track.  The day’s second caution came almost immediately after the restart and the team went ahead with the planned changes, removing a spring rubber from the right rear and making a wedge adjustment before sending Hamlin out to restart 36th.  Though deep in the pack, Hamlin was out of sequence with the leaders and set to get those sacrificed positions back as the leaders stopped for fuel.


The competition caution flew on lap 45 and Hamlin visited pit road for two tires and fuel, before restarting 22nd on lap 49.  The team would replicate that stop on lap 61, with Denny restarting 23rd on lap 63.


With the first long green-flag run of the race, Hamlin drove into 18th place but was still struggling for grip.   After the race passed the 100-lap point, the fuel mileage plan paid off as Hamlin outlasted the field to lead lap 130 and collect the five bonus points.  When the caution flag flew on lap 153, Hamlin stopped for two more tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment and Hamlin was out in 13th for the restart.


An incredible string of cautions on lap 171, 176, 184 and 191 slowed the race to a crawl and Hamlin continued to run just outside of the top-ten as the remaining laps counted down – battling handling issues all the way.


Hamlin made his last visit to pit road on lap 234 for four tires, fuel but there was little be done in terms of making up position.  With handling still handcuffing the team, Hamlin did all he could to bring the car home in 15th place.


The Sprint Cup Series continues next Saturday night when the Cup Series returns to the high-banks of Daytona International Speedway for the Coke Zero 400.