Denny Hamlin - Zippo 200 Pre-Race Notes and Quotes

EVENT: ZIPPO 200 DATE: AUGUST 12, 2006
TRACK: WATKINS GLEN INTERNATIONAL TV: NBC 2:10 PM ET
LAPS/MILES: 82 / 200.9 RADIO: MRN 2:00 PM ET

QUOTES

Driver Denny Hamlin on racing at Watkins Glen…

“I love road course racing. Last year, I really didn’t have any experience on them except go-karts a long time ago. But I seem to adapt to them pretty quickly and they cater to my driving style. You really have to concentrate on each corner and take good care of your equipment. I have always thought of myself as a good flat track driver; this is basically a big flat track with 12 corners.

Winning at Mexico City earlier this year gives us a lot of confidence going into this race. But make no mistake; this is going to be a tough race to win. In addition to the Busch regulars, you are going to have the road course specialists and some additional Cup drivers who are trying to get every advantage as the race to the chase heats up. We basically are not going to be allowed to make any mistakes. We are going to have to a well balanced car, solid pit strategy, good pit stops and I am going to have to drive a smart, patient race. ”

Crew Chief Dave Rogers on the Glen….

“We are bringing the same car from Mexico City this week, so we know we have a good race car. But the Glen is a much different animal than Mexico City. With Watkins Glen you have to worry about elevation changes and much longer straightaways, which allows the driver the chance to be much harder on the transmission. We will run a little faster at the Glen, but also have some more passing zones to work with. As with Mexico City, you will see a lot of different pit strategies so you have to just run your race.”

NOTES

Qualifying Machine …Last week at ORP, Hamlin scored his sixth Busch Pole Award of the Season. Hamlin joins an elite group of drivers that have scored six or more poles in one season this decade. Martin Truex Jr (2005) and Jeff Green (2000) lead with seven poles in their respective seasons. Hamlin (2006) ties Kevin Harvick (2001) with six poles. Truex, Green and Harvick all won the Busch Series Championships during those seasons.

Car History … This week the #20 team is bringing car #2055. This is the same car that Denny used to win the Telcel-Motorola 200 in Mexico City earlier this year. This chassis was also used at both road course races in 2005. Last year at Watkins Glen, Hamlin qualified 14th and was solidly in the top-five with 20 laps to go when a transmission failure dropped him to the 33 rd position.