Dover Post Race Report
Hamlin Battles Handling as FedEx Team Finishes 18th at Dover
Denny Hamlin battled an ill-handling race car throughout Sunday's race and finished 18th at Dover (Del.) International Speedway in Round 3 of the 2011 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship.
Hamlin and crew chief Mike Ford were never able to bring the #11 FedEx Office Toyota Camry to life, as a tight condition kept the 30-year-old driver from competing with the frontrunners in the 400-lap event at the 'Monster Mile' won by Kurt Busch.
"We tried everything to get the car to turn better, but nothing seemed to work," said Hamlin. "We adjusted air pressures, made track bar changes, wedge adjustments, took out packer and spring rubbers, but we were just way too tight on corner exit when I tried to get back to the throttle. It's frustrating because we had a good car in practice on Friday, so I don't know if the weather changes affected our handling, but we could never get the speed we needed."
Hamlin started 11th and quickly worked into the top-five by the competition caution due to overnight rain on Lap 40. Varying pit strategies moved the #11 machine outside the top-10 as some teams elected for just two tires, and Hamlin was never able to regain the track position or handling to make a charge.
The finish keeps Hamlin 12th in the Chase standings after three of 10 playoff races, now 68 points behind new leader Kevin Harvick.
NASCAR returns to action at Kansas Speedway on Oct. 9.
