Hamlin, FedEx Racing Soaked at California Speedway
Early Exit Caps Long Weekend for #11 Team
With rain scrapping almost all practice opportunities and forcing the cancellation of qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at California Speedway, Denny Hamlin and the #11 FedEx Racing team were more than ready to turn the #11 FedEx Freight Toyota Camry loose when the race finally went green on Sunday afternoon. Unfortunately, the relief of finally racing was spoiled almost immediately as Hamlin, only 15 laps into the event, crossed a wet spot while running through turn three which caused the car to slide up the track and hit hard against the outside wall.
The significant damage to the right side forced Hamlin directly to the garage where he was met by the crew who went to work assessing the damage. As he climbed from the car Hamlin vented his frustration at the conditions leading to the wreck, and predicted that the #11 would be the first of many cars returning to the garage area early if the track wasn't dried completely.
Shortly after the words left his mouth and the race went green, a second wreck occurred on account of the conditions. The multi-car incident sent Casey Mears, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Reed Sorenson and Sam Hornish to the garage with heavy damage and would ultimately force Mears and Hornish from taking any further part in the race weekend. The drivers involved in the lap 22 incident echoed Hamlin's concerns about the track conditions but the decision was made to restart the race in hopes it could be finished on Sunday.
The rain that had plagued the area since Thursday didn't hold off long and, once the track was completely soaked, NASCAR officials waved the red flag and set about the long process of drying the track. The delay was ultimately extended overnight and it wasn't until Monday morning, nearly sixteen hours later, that the race was continued.
The #11 team repaired the FedEx Freight Camry and Hamlin was able to restart with the field on Monday morning but the time spent in the garage for repairs had him down a total of 55 laps to the leaders. Restarting 41st, there was no real opportunity for Hamlin to gain any positions on the day unless other cars left the race. The team did take advantage of the track time to try a variety of changes that could prove helpful in future races, but that was little consolation.
Hamlin completed the 500-mile race in 41st place and dropped from 15th to 31st place in the points heading to Las Vegas and the third race of the Sprint Cup season.
"We could all see the water on the track and I had been doing my best to avoid it from the start of the race," said Hamlin. "I came into to turn three just a few feet higher than where I had been running and as soon as I hit the water, the car jumped up the track and there was nothing I could do before I was in the wall. It's unfortunate because we had so little time on the track all weekend and I know everyone was anxious to get things started but it was a case where we just went too early and it cost four teams a shot at winning a race. Giving up those chances so early in a race, and so early in the season is frustrating but we'll go on to Vegas and hopefully we can put together a good weekend there."
Carl Edwards led five times for 65 laps to take the checkered flag on Monday morning. Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Kyle Busch and Matt Kenseth rounded out the top five. Hamlin and Busch's Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Tony Stewart finished seventh.
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series continues next weekend when the teams visit Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the UAW-Dodge 400. It will be the first race of the season on a 1.5-mile track for the teams. The race will be televised live on FOX beginning at 3:30 p.m. EST on Sunday, March 2, 2008.
