Hamlin, FedEx Racing Clinch Fourth-Consecutive Chase Berth at Atlanta
Denny Hamlin and the #11 FedEx Racing locked into the 2010 Chase for the Sprint Cup on Sunday night, putting together a solid sixth-place finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway.  Hamlin led on three occasions for 23 laps before taking the checkered flag in sixth to confirm his spot in the 12-driver Chase field. The accomplishment makes Hamlin the only driver to qualify for the Chase in his first four seasons at the Cup level.  Heading home to Richmond this weekend, Hamlin holds the fourth spot in the standings and is no doubt looking to put past memories of Richmond behind him as he seeks a win, and the accompanying bonus before the Chase starts in New Hampshire.


Hamlin, FedEx Racing to Prepare in Richmond
Before taking to the track at RIR, Hamlin and FedEx will join the American Red Cross of Greater Richmond for a different type of race.  Hamlin will welcome Richmond-area students on Thursday for the Race to Prepare, an event that stresses disaster preparedness through the building of a disaster kit and preparedness education.  As part of the company’s commitment to supporting disaster preparedness and relief efforts around the world, and in celebration of the long-term relationship with the organization, FedEx will be making a donation to the American Red Cross of Greater Richmond.


Hamlin at Richmond International Raceway
This weekend will mark Hamlin's eighth-career Cup start at his hometown track and 141st career Cup start.  Earlier this season, Hamlin led a race-high 148 laps but a slow late-race pit stop dropped him to from first to eighth place for the restart on lap 278.  As the race wound down, the lack of track position hurt Hamlin, then fading brakes and tires saw him slide back to 14th by the end.  A year ago, Hamlin and the #11 team led four laps but fell out of the top-five through the middle section of the race before charging back to claim  a hard-fought third place.  In the Spring of 2008, the Chesterfield (Va.) native Hamlin and the #11 team thoroughly dominated the 400-lap event at Richmond, leading 381 laps in the Crown Royal 400 before a cut tire forced him to relinquish the lead and settle for a gut-wrenching 24th-place finish.  Hamlin had a memorable debut at RIR, going wheel to wheel with Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the spring of 2006 before ultimately finishing second on the day.  Hamlin has captured two poles in front of his hometown fans and has led at least four laps in each of one of his previous starts at Richmond International.


Richmond International Chassis – JGR 246 and 253
The team will unload JGR 246 for the third time this season this weekend at Richmond.  This car posted a third-place finish at Michigan in June, then fell victim to a broken driveshaft at Indianapolis in July before finishing 34th on the day.  JGR 253 has one start this season, a tenth place finish at Michigan in August.


EWR “Along For the Ride” in Richmond
In honor of consistent excellent performance and customer service scores, EWR, including the EWR RSO, Big Apple District and New Jersey Metro Districts, will be featured on the Wing Caps of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota Camry this weekend at Richmond International Raceway. In addition, the EWR market team has motivated the largest group of employee volunteers in the region to support Fedex United Way Cares week.


Hamlin Conversation – Richmond Homecoming


Being locked into the Chase heading to Richmond is a much different scenario than you faced last season.  How does that change your approach?
“It is really nice to come back to Richmond for this race knowing that we are in and that we don’t have to keep an eye on the points Saturday night.  Last season we were just slightly to the good and we knew that we had to maintain our position and keep track of the guys looking to catch us. For this race we know that we can focus only on winning and that is a good feeling considering just how badly we want to win this race – and how close we’ve come in the past.  Going out there and running this as a one-off race isn’t something we get to do too often so you’ll see us throwing out everything we have on Saturday night, and you’ll see other guys who are locked in doing the same thing. Grabbing win bonus points to help us in the Chase wouldn’t hurt either.”


It’s no secret that winning this race is at the top of your list.  Can you focus on this weekend completely or is your mind already looking ahead to New Hampshire and the start of the Chase?
“I am 100% focused on this weekend.  I had the chance to sit with Mike (Ford) and the team and really lay out how we were going to approach the Chase from this weekend on and we all agreed that there is no reason to not put everything we have against winning at Richmond.  Our equipment is getting stronger and stronger and we have new cars close to finished for the Chase so putting everything out there at Richmond is what we are going to do.  For me, personally, winning this race means a great deal.  I have the Nationwide (Series) win here and I have sat on the pole here, but nothing could compare with winning here.  We’ve been so close here before but haven’t won.  My focus, and the team’s focus, is on changing that this weekend.”


It’s been a really strong past ten races for you.  Can you pinpoint a reason for the turnaround in fortunes?
“Honestly, it’s come down to communication more than anything else.  I am learning to give better feedback, talking to Mike and the team, both at the track and at the shop, and we are having meetings where we are saying ‘this is what we need to compete’ and the team is responding.  The cars are better, things that have been problems in the past have been replaced and we are so focused on improving.  We are all feeding off each other and we are driven by the idea that making the Chase is great accomplishment but we want to be running for a championship.  If the last ten races are an indication of how fast and how consistent we’ve become, I would think that there is no reason we can’t be a factor when the Chase starts.”