Denny Hamlin - Goody's 250 Pre-Race Notes and Quotes

Event: Goody’s 250
Date: July 22, 2006
Track: Martinsville Speedway
Laps/Miles: 250 / 131.5
TV: NBC 3:30 PM ET
Radio: MRN 3:00 PM ET

QUOTES

Driver Denny Hamlin on racing at Martinsville…

“I always look forward to racing in Virginia. Richmond is the track closest to my home, but some of my best memories came from Martinsville. I started racing in Late Model cars and the biggest Late Model race of the year was the end of the year event at Martinsville. You could always expect all the talented drivers to show up there. My first year (2000), I was just hoping to make the field, so when I came home 15th, it just left me looking forward to next year’s event even more. My best year was in 2004, when we sat on the pole and then went on to finish 3rd.

I love racing at this track. First, I have a ton of laps at this place. Plus, this is one of those tracks that really caters to my driving style. Coming from the back at this place is going to be tough. Laps tick off in a hurry and your are going to fight traffic from the drop of the green. Pit stops and strategy will be critical as well as patience. It just seems with this track, the harder you push your car, the more it bites you. You really have to take it easy and roll your car around this place. ”

Crew Chief Dave Rogers on “the Paperclip”….

“This will definitely be an interesting weekend. Most of my experience has been in the Nextel Cup Series, so where I depended on the team at tracks like Kentucky and Milwaukee, I am hoping to pull from past experience at this track to make us a force this weekend. We are still are still licking our short track wounds from Phoenix and Richmond earlier this year. I think we rebounded with good setups at Milwaukee and New Hampshire, but I am convinced we can be even better. We are going to use the test session on Thursday to really try a couple new setups to see how much we can improve our short track program. Unloading two cars for the test, I expect to keep Denny and the crew really busy. But it seems with us, the harder we work, the better the result. In addition to Martinsville, we have some important short track races coming up so it will be important to be at the top of our game.”

NOTES

Did you know…Curtis Markham, Denny Hamlin’s Spotter, at one time held the record for the most Martinsville Late Model wins with four.

The Cuban Missle Returns…Denny Hamlin will be testing the cars Thursday afternoon until 4:00 p.m. then Craftsman Truck Series Driver Aric Almirola will fill in for the remainder of the test, practice day on Friday and qualifying on Saturday. The last time Aric Almirola qualified the #20 car, he won the pole position at The Milwaukee Mile.

Car History… This week the #20 team will unload two Chevrolet Monte Carlos for the testing session on Thursday. Car #2045 is the car that ran the night race at Phoenix International Raceway. Car #2051 is brand new car that has spent several weeks as a backup. Depending on the success of the test will determine which car races this weekend.