FedEx Racing Express Facts - Phoenix
RACE INFO:
Event: Subway Fresh Fit 500
Date/Time: April 12, 2008/9 p.m. EST
Length: 1.0 miles
Shape: Tri-Oval
Banking: 11 & 9 degrees
Distance: 312 laps/312 miles
2007 winner: Jeff Gordon
2007 polesitter: Jeff Gordon
EXPRESS NOTES:
Hamlin, FedEx Racing Continue Martinsville Momentum with Top-Five in Texas: Coming on the heels of the first win of 2008 only one week earlier, Texas looked to be a great opportunity to continue the momentum that moved Denny Hamlin into the top-ten in points. It proved to be just that as Hamlin ran in the top-five for much of the race, reaching third at one point, before bringing the #11 FedEx Ground Camry home in fifth place. The effort wasn't lost on Hamlin as the exhausted driver made a brief post-race trip to infield care following the race. However, after hydrating this week, he'll head to Phoenix with back-to-back top-five finishes that have catapulted him to seventh place in the NASCAR Sprint Cup standings.
Hamlin to Pilot Special FedEx Kinko's/March of Dimes Toyota in Campaign to Promote Healthy Babies: Denny Hamlin, FedEx Kinko's and the March of Dimes will race a very special FedEx Kinko's/March of Dimes #11 Camry in the Subway Fresh Fit 500 this weekend at Phoenix International Raceway. The car focuses attention on the March of Dimes and the annual March for Babies walk - an organization and event FedEx has long supported at both the local and national level. As part of the car unveiling event, Hamlin was presented with a specially designed helmet by five year-old Dallas native Tiffany Bell-Nunez. Bell-Nunez was born eleven weeks premature and weighed only 2 lbs 13 oz. and much of the care that led to a successful recovery for Tiffany was aided by research funded by March of Dimes. Tiffany is now a very healthy five year-old and her mother Vicki, a FedEx Kinko's employee, remains an active advocate for March for Dimes. In an additional show of support, FedEx has set up a special portal on fedexracing.com for those interested in supporting the charity and FedEx Racing in the upcoming March for Babies.
Hamlin at Phoenix International Raceway: This weekend will mark Hamlin's sixth start at Phoenix, a track where a win has eluded the #11 team but a track both team and driver list as among their favorites. A year ago Hamlin led 70 laps and was well on his way to challenging for a win before a pit road speeding penalty sent him to the tail end of the field. Despite working his way through the field, he had to settle for a frustrating third. In five starts Hamlin has recorded one pole and two top-three finishes.
Phoenix International Raceway Chassis – 154 & 162: JGR 154 is one of the original COT chassis and the same car that finished third at PIR last spring. It has one start in 2008, finishing sixth at Bristol. 162 made three starts in 2007, capturing a win at Loudon and pole at Martinsville.
HAMLIN CONVERSATION - PHOENIX:
Coming off two good runs at Martinsville and Texas, is this an opportunity to get this March of Dimes/FedEx Kinko's Camry in Victory Lane?: "In this sport you can never say that you should win but I would like to think we have a good chance of being really competitive here. It's a track I love to race. It's a track that the #11 team always builds really competitive cars for so that gives me a lot of confidence coming back here. This was one of our very first COT races and it's amazing to think how much this car has been improved and the gains that have been made. It should be really good racing this weekend."
You have a special Camry for the #11 team this weekend. How did you get involved with the March of Dimes?: "FedEx has supported March of Dimes for a number of years so when the opportunity for the #11 team to be involved in promoting the cause and the upcoming March for Babies, we were happy to help however we could. Healthy babies are a great cause, and one that everyone can relate to whether you have your own kids, or in my case, nieces and nephews. We are trying to raise awareness for the upcoming marches and hope to help raise more money for the March of Dimes."
You were worn out after 500 miles at Texas. How are you feeling now?: "Much better. It was a combination of our first real warm weather of the season and the really long, uninterrupted runs we experienced last week. I didn't feel great in the car but it wasn't until I hopped out that it hit me. I just needed to catch my breath and get hydrated. I did make a trip to the infield care center but was fine after just a couple of minutes."
