FedEx Racing Express Notes - Michigan
RACE INFO:
Event: 3M Performance 400
Date/Time: Aug. 17, 2008/2 p.m. EST
Length: 2.0 miles
Shape: Oval
Banking: 18 Degrees
Distance: 200 laps/400 miles
2007 winner: Kurt Busch
2007 pole winner: Jeff Gordon
EXPRESS NOTES:
Watkins Glen in the Rearview: After finishing second last season, Hamlin and the #11 FedEx Racing team had their focus trained on racing for a win at Watkins Glen - but knew, in lieu of lifting a trophy, a solid run would help them move ever closer to securing a place in the 2008 Chase for the Sprint Cup. Despite handling issues that ultimately kept the team from challenging for the victory, the team accomplished the second goal as they enacted an effective fuel strategy, and Hamlin stayed calm behind the wheel to deliver an eighth-place finish in last Sunday's Centurion Boats at the Glen. The result sees Hamlin climb from tenth to ninth in the points standing heading to Michigan next weekend and he now sits 83 points ahead of Clint Bowyer in 13th.
Hamlin at Michigan International Speedway: This weekend will mark Hamlin's sixth Cup start at MIS and 102nd career start. Michigan has been a mixed bag for Hamlin over the course of his five career starts. In June of this year, a pit stop on lap 155 looked to have Hamlin well-positioned for a top-five finish but a late caution sent the race into extra laps and the #11 team was forced to pit for fuel and settle for a 14th-place finish. Last season the #11 FedEx team had a car capable of running in the top-five and challenging for the win at MIS but costly pit road mishaps on laps 37 and 114 left Hamlin off the lead lap and having to fight for a 14th-place finish. In the fall of 2007, Hamlin started and finished in the top-ten and left the #11 team satisfied with their ever-improving performances on the 2.0-mile track. In the rain shortened 3M Performance 400 in June 2006, Hamlin had worked his way up from the 21st spot on the grid to 12th before the race was called due to rain. Hamlin has qualified in the top-ten for the last four races and is averaging just over a tenth-place finish over his career at MIS.
Michigan Chassis JGR 220 and 208: The #11 team will unload Chassis 220 this weekend in Michigan. This car ran well at Indy, recording a third place finish in its sole start. Chassis 208 has two starts on the season, finishing 24th and 14th and Charlotte and Michigan, respectively.
HAMLIN CONVERSATION - MICHIGAN
Despite a relatively good record at Michigan this track might be considered an Achilles heel for this team. What, if anything, is it about MIS that eludes this team?: Honestly, I think we've been better at Michigan than our results have shown. If not for some mileage issues and some pit road issues over the course of our races here, we'd probably have come close to a win but certainly would have posted some top-five or top-ten finishes. Instead, we've had to settle for some top-20 finishes and that's frustrating. We've had some really competitive cars so it's just a matter of it all coming together for us at the right time."
After the race at Watkins Glen you said; "We did what we had to do today." Was that a reference to scoring valuable points in terms of the Chase?: "It definitely was. All along we have been saying that we need to get back to consistency and be sure not to miss any opportunities if we want to be a part of the Chase this season. Pocono was probably a missed opportunity and I think we all left feeling like we didn't show as well as we would have liked - then to be right on the edge as far as point and the Chase, it wasn't a good feeling. At Watkins Glen we just didn't have the car to race with the leaders but we had a top-ten car and that's where we finished. As hard as it is to have to hold back sometimes, I knew that if I really pushed I would have wrecked and that would have been the worst that could have happened for this team. So, we did what we had to do. We scored a top-ten that gives us just a little breathing room and we'll look forward to Michigan."
Talk about your donation to Motor Racing Outreach: "MRO has been a friend to the drivers, teams and everyone affiliated with the sport for a long time so I was really happy to be able to help them out. It seems like everyone in the garage supports MRO in one way or another and they deserve the recognition. By donating my motor home to them I hope it will save them some money in lodging and I think it will really give them the opportunity to do more and more within in the sport. I know we'll all benefit from that - and I am proud to support their efforts."
