Denny Hamlin's Talladega Preview

FedEx Racing Express Facts - Talladega
Hot Streak Continues at Phoenix - Hamlin, FedEx Third: Denny Hamlin and the #11 FedEx team posted a third place finish at Phoenix International Raceway two weeks ago, a result that sees the team continue a streak of top-ten finishes that dates back to Bristol. On a night when fuel mileage ultimately decided the race, the FedEx team enacted a short-pit strategy they thought would put the #11 in victory lane at the end of the night. What they couldn't count on, however, was the cooperation of other teams. Two cars made it the distance without stopping as the laps counted down and those are the only two cars Hamlin didn't beat to the stripe. The third place finish, while slightly bittersweet, was the only call for the FedEx team and earned another good run for the group. Over the past four races, the team has recorded a win and is averaging better than a fourth-place finish while, most important, has jumped from 15th to sixth in the Cup standings.
FedEx Celebrating 35 Years at Talladega: While not as noticeable as the all-white #11 that took the track at Phoenix, the FedEx Toyota Camry will carry a decal marking a very special anniversary for FedEx. FedEx is celebrating thirty-five years of operation this month and the #11 team is proud to show their support for the anniversary.
"I have been fortunate to meet a great number of employees at FedEx, including a handful that have been there from the very beginning," said Hamlin. "It's a proud company with great people and there's no doubt the next 35 years will be as good as the first 35. I can speak for everyone on the #11 team and everyone at JGR when I say congratulations."
Hamlin at Talladega: This weekend will mark Hamlin's fifth start at Talladega and his 88th career NASCAR Sprint Cup start. A year ago Hamlin led 48 laps during the middle portion of the race, but as the action heated up and the cautions started flying, he was forced to pit for fuel and settle for a 21st place finish. After a string of three finishes just outside the top-20, Hamlin led 40 laps on his way to recording a fourth-place finish at Talladega last fall.

Talladega Superspeedway Chassis – 188 & 200: The #11 team is lowering chassis JGR 188 off the truck at Talladega this weekend. This car made its debut at Daytona this year, starting fourth and finishing 17th. Chassis 200 is the backup and is a new car from the JGR chassis shop.

HAMLIN CONVERSATION - TALLADEGA:
This team has clearly hit on something over the past couple weeks. Are you, or the team, consciously doing anything different?: "I think the fact that we aren't panicked or trying to change the way we approach races is what has helped us most. I think everyone wants to win so bad that it's easy to throw away the book and see if you can make some big changes but that is rarely the answer in this sport. I've had some of the guys who have been in the sport a lot longer than I have, guys that I look up to, tell me that luck always changes so don't let it get to you. Keep doing what you're doing and you'll eventually get the finishes you work for. That's started happening for us now, we're getting the finishes that really reflect just how good our cars have been and how good this team is."
Talladega is a different track since being repaved - last year we saw a lot of single-file racing. What is it like from the driver's perspective? "It's really smooth since they repaved and because of it I think you are seeing guys taking it a little easier until the end. There is some movement from front to back and vice versa but it’s mostly to see if you have the car to make those moves when the race is on the line. No one wants to be in the middle of the pack in case things go sideways and I think there is a tendency to want to be out front or in the back. Able to avoid any incidents. There is a point, and I experienced it first hand here last fall last year when I was leading, that everyone decides to go. It was a strange feeling being out front because I knew it was coming, it was just a matter of time. Then someone flipped a switch and it was standard Talladega racing to the finish."