Charlotte Race Preview

Hamlin Trades Driving Tips with Davis Love III in Atlanta

After posting a 21st -place finish at Talladega, Hamlin made his way to Atlanta for the unveiling of the special FedExCup #11 car that will run at AMS in late October.  Along with PGA TOUR pro Davis Love III, Hamlin took to the track in the new Chevrolet, even letting the 19-time TOUR winner take the wheel for several laps.  After unbuckling the belts, the pair hit the infield grass at AMS for an impromptu golf lesson on the 11th hole.

"I don't think I will be leaving the Nextel Cup for the FedExCup and the PGA TOUR anytime soon but it was a cool experience to unveil the FedExCup car together, get out there on the track with Davis, and then have him help me with my swing.  Watching him up close you would think he has a steering wheel for the ball, he can put it wherever he wants.  The FedExCup car looks really cool and the TOUR players are looking forward to the FedExCup playoffs next season because they have seen how the NASCAR fans and drivers have responded to the Chase."

Talladega Wrecks Can't Stop FedEx Team

Denny Hamlin and the #11 FedEx Team persevered through two Talladega wrecks to stay alive in the Chase for the Nextel Cup.  Hamlin made multiple stops for repairs following two multi-car incidents, but quick work and good repairs kept Hamlin on the lead lap and allowed him to finish just outside the top 20.

Hamlin at Charlotte

This will be Hamlin's third start at Charlotte in a Nextel Cup car.  The rookie turned heads in the Cup Series by piloting the #11 to an impressive ninth-place finish last fall in only his second Cup start.  Hamlin returned to LMS this summer and posted an eighth place finish.  Hamlin has led laps in both of his Cup starts at Charlotte.  In three Busch Series starts Hamlin has recorded finishes of 20th, 30th, and 29th.

Hamlin on the 1.5-Mile LMS

"Really excited to get back to Charlotte, back on a 1.5-mile track and back into a car that had been good for us this season.   This is one of the most exciting races of the season and running under the lights makes it a good show for the fans and the drivers.  It's nice to be close to home for a couple of days and with some of the success this team has had in here in my two starts, I think we can have a good weekend."

Hamlin Still Chasing

"Just getting through Talladega was tough on this team but we made it through running and if you can do that you are ahead of the game.   With it behind us we can concentrate on the tracks that make up the rest of the Chase and work to close the gap on the leader."

Charlotte Chassis JGR 121/137

The #11 FedEx Team will unload car JGR 121 at Charlotte this weekend.  This car built its reputation by twice dominating the field at Pocono Raceway, leading 234 of a possible 400 laps, to give Hamlin his two career Cup wins.  Most recently, Hamlin drove this car to an 18th-place finish at Kansas.  Prior to that, Hamlin has driven this car to top-ten finishes at Indy and California.  Car 137 has made three starts this season, posting finishes of fourth (Texas), 12th (Michigan), and 14th (Chicago).

2006 Points

Hamlin's 21st -place finish at Talladega dropped him to fifth in the points standings but tightened the gap between the rookie and leader Jeff Burton to 51 points.  Hamlin trails only Burton, Matt Kenseth, Mark Martin and Kevin Harvick in the Chase for the Nextel Cup standings heading to Charlotte.   With six races to go, Hamlin holds a 45 point lead (265-220) over Clint Bowyer in the Raybestos Rookie of the Year standings.  Hamlin has been the Rookie of the Race award winner on 14 occasions this season.

For more information about the FedEx Racing team be sure to check out Team News.