Joe Gibbs Racing's Denny Hamlin ends string of setbacks with third-place Michigan run

Coming off two weeks of frustration, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin finally got the finish he felt he deserved in Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup LifeLock 400.

Hamlin, who had seen strong runs the last two races derailed by a cut tire at Dover and a fuel-pump issue at Pocono last weekend, suffered no setbacks Sunday as he finished third at Michigan International Speedway.

“We got a new race car here,” Hamlin said after netting his third top-five and fifth top-10 of the season. “We were strong all day. We had a top-five car all day. So, it's good to finally finish where we belong. I'm proud of this whole team. We were definitely a car that could contend for a top-two or top-three spot all day.”

Hamlin trailed only Roush Fenway Racing’s Greg Biffle off pit road following the day’s final pit stops with 46 laps to go. But after failing to close in on Biffle and getting passed by eventual race winner Mark Martin and the race’s dominant driver, Jimmie Johnson, it appeared Hamlin might have to settle for a fifth-place finish.

Biffle and Johnson both ran out gas in the last two laps, however, and that allowed Hamlin to move up to third in the final running order.

While certainly satisfied with his finish, Hamlin didn’t enjoy having to be mindful of an uncertain fuel-mileage situation with almost all the frontrunners in the closing laps.

“I kicked myself for not running harder because I was rolling the [throttle] pretty big at the end," he said. "But, I think it was just a bait thing. I think [Biffle] baited [Johnson] to come get him, and they ended up both running out of fuel. We were all in the same boat there; it's just who wanted to risk winning the race versus finishing. I think that's what happened."

With his solid performance, Hamlin not only broke out of his recent mini-slump but also moved above the cutoff spot to make NASCAR’s Chase For The Sprint Cup.

After entering the day 12th in points, Hamlin is now 10th and has a little more breathing room with 11 races before the field is set.

"I hate running like that, but that's what you have to do to get to the end,” Hamlin said of the fuel-economy run. “I'm just proud of our whole team. We worked on fuel mileage a little bit during testing at other race tracks and it paid off here at Michigan.

“For the most part, it was a solid day. We had a top-four or top-five car all day, and it paid off at the end."

Press Releases Following Lifelock 400 ~ Michigan

Better luck for Hamlin

Denny Hamlin's third-place finish was his first in the top10 since April.
"We definitely need to get back on track," Hamlin said. "We need to start building. We've got to get back to solid finishes and make sure we solidify our place in the Chase and we don't have to race our way in going into Richmond."

Hamlin climbed two spots to 10th in the points with his performance.

DENNY HAMLIN
No. 11 FedEx Toyota Camry ~ Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 3rd

How was your run today? "I hate running like that, but that's what you have to do to get to the end. I'm just proud of our whole FedEx Express team. We worked on fuel mileage a little bit during testing at other race tracks and it paid off here at Michigan. For the most part, it was a solid day. We had a top-four or top-five car all day, and it paid off at the end."

How did you feel about it ending up a fuel-mileage race? "I don't know. I think we were pretty good. I kicked myself for not running harder because I was rolling the 'five-in' (throttle) pretty big at the end. But, I think it was just a bait thing. I think the 16 (Greg Biffle) baited the 48 (Jimmie Johnson) to come get him, and they ended up both running out of fuel. We were all in the same boat there, it's just who wanted to risk winning the race versus finishing. I think that's what happened."

What were you thinking at the end of the race? "I was just thinking how much I though I saved during the course of the run. I definitely feel like I probably could've pushed harder. I'm really curious to see how much we have left in the tank to see next time in that situation I could have ran a little bit harder."

Is it a good feeling to rebound strong after last week? "It is. We got a new race car here. We were strong all day. We had a top-five car all day. So, it's good to finally finish where we belong. I'm proud of this whole FedEx Express team. We were definitely a car that could contend for a top-two or top-three spot all day. It feels good to finally come out of here with a finish we deserve."

What did you think about the race finish? "It's tough as a driver to go out there and not run as hard as what you want to. When these races just seem to come down to fuel mileage a lot. We worked on it a little bit with our race team and I think I worked on it as a driver and got better. But, I was willing to 'five-in' (throttle) there at the end. I felt like I was running a little bit too hard. So, I let the 24 (Jeff Gordon) go and it turns out the front two (Greg Biffle and Jimmie Johnson) baited each other into running out of gas."

Michigan: 3rd finisher press conference
Racing series -- NASCAR-CUP
Date -- 2009-06-14
LifeLock 400 Post-Race Transcript

An interview with: DENNY HAMLIN - 3rd finisher

KERRY THARP: We'll roll right into our post race press conference at Michigan International Speedway. Our third place finisher in today's race is Denny Hamlin. He drives the No. 11 FedEx Express Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing. Denny is now 10th in championship points standings.

Denny, talk about how you ran out there today and how things unfolded there towards the end.

DENNY HAMLIN: Well, we had a good car all day. We fought a little track position for the most part. But we were a top five car all day. We felt like a third to fourth place car for the most part. We knew the last run, I think we were about two laps shy. I worked on some things, some road course testing, what not, to try to save fuel. I felt pretty confident that we could save those two laps.

I felt like as a driver I was really conservative. I'd be interested to see what we have left in the tank because I know I was really rolling down that 5 there about 10 to go. I just thought, man, it's kind of not worth it. If the 48 and the 16 don't run out, what's the point of trying to catch this 5? Little do you know it's for the race win.

But I think it's just the 16 and 48 kind of baited each other into running hard, and that's what happened.

KERRY THARP: Questions for Denny Hamlin.

Q: Denny, is it kind of disappointing to go back to back fuel mileage races as a driver? Is that tough when you get out there and they come on and say you have to start saving?

DENNY HAMLIN: Yeah, it is. But, I mean, it does put the driver in it, for sure. I mean, when we're all short, and I'm pretty sure that everyone was short, without having to save gas on the racetrack, it puts it in the drivers' hands in the sense of how hard do you want to push it versus how much do you want to save.

You know, it is still a driver's race, even though it is a fuel mileage race.

Q: Can you talk about this finish as far as your season. It's been not remarkable. This is a big boost for you guys.

DENNY HAMLIN: It is. You know, we definitely had a hard couple of weeks, for sure. But we definitely need to get back on track. We need to start building. If we're not 13th, I don't know with Mark winning, but we got to get back to solid finishes and make sure we solidify our place in the Chase and we don't have to race our way in going into Richmond.

You know, we had to finish pretty well at Richmond last year to make sure we got in the Chase. And that's just a gut wrenching feeling you don't want to have to go through.

We feel like our performance is pretty good. We feel like we're a little bit behind the Hendrick cars. Obviously, I mean, if Kyle is not up front, then our stuff is not the best. And it's definitely not the best right now. We're a little bit behind. But, you know, we feel like in due time we got some things that we're working on to try to be better than those guys. Right now it's just catch up mode.

KERRY THARP: Denny, thank you very much.
-credit: nascar

Michigan Hard Hit To Hamlin's Confidence

I am a huge fan of the Olympics. I anticipate the start of the games every time they roll around and I am glued to the TV the entire time they are going on. I have such a passion for the action there and I am mesmerized by the talents the athletes display. To train for so many years for one shining moment, to have everything on the line for one chance at a gold medal is something I admire greatly. It’s all or nothing. Flat out or fall out. Do or die.

That’s what these last 4 races leading up to the Chase have been for Denny Hamlin, do or die. He has struggled a bit as of late and all the years of preparation he has put into his shining moment have lead to one thing. Go or go home. This is no time to start doubting yourself. Your coach, or in this case Crew Chief, has given you everything he can possibly give you to do what you’ve come so far to do. Don’t start getting stars in your eyes, don’t choke and don’t lose faith now. It’s time to show what you’ve got and the whole world is watching.

Going in to Michigan, Denny Hamlin started to show signs of doubt. He began second guessing himself and wondering if it was possible to compete with teammate Kyle Busch and the other boys in the Top 12. He rolled out 4th for qualifying and fell to a disappointing 37th place starting spot. Not easy to overcome. In fact, over half of the previous race winners have started inside the top 5. The odds were stacked against Hamlin and he began to look down, let his mind overtake his heart and question if he really knew what he was doing.

Following the drop of the green flag for the start of the 3M Performance 400 at Michigan on Sunday, Hamlin had pushed those doubts aside and started knocking off cars one at a time. He made tremendous strides towards the front and had a solid run going when it all came crashing down around Hamlin and the Fed Ex Office Crew.

With 6 laps to go, white smoke shot out the back of the car, the engine had blown up and the quest to solidify his place in the standings and capture a Top 10 finish went up in the same ball of fire. When interviewed, Hamlin was visibly disgusted, stressing that the team had made stupid choices. He noted that they had brought a new engine package and then he said it. “The way we’ve been running, we don’t even deserve to be in the Chase”

It took a minute for Hamlin’s words to register. I was stuck to my seat, my jaw on the floor in disbelief. He had thrown in the towel before the bell rang and I was crushed. It was too soon to give up hope. The team has worked too hard to give up now. Never lose faith and never let the competition see you sweat. Too late…the gaping wounds were visible for the world to see and the salt was on it’s way.

It’s time to go back to basics. Stick with what you know and what has been proven to work. No more new engine packages, risky set ups and pit strategies that may or may not work…do what wins and stick with it. Don’t look back, look forward. Learn from your mistakes and do not repeat them. I repeat, don’t make the same mistake twice.

You’re down to the wire. It’s the final 15 meters, you can see the finish line. It’s within your grasp. Just one more time, draw deep from that inner strength I know you have and bring it home. I will never give up on you. I will never doubt you. So give me the same in return. Pick your head up, take a knee, wipe the sweat off your brow and make me proud.

There are just 3 races left in the race to the chase and included in those final tracks is his hometown track, none other than Richmond. He just missed a Sprint Cup win there in the spring and it effected him deeply. It was his deepest desire to win in front of his friends and family so close to his hometown. In a few short weeks he’ll get his chance for redemption. It’s best he get his doubts over with now before he returns to the tough short track.

No one has a better shot at turning his season around than Denny Hamlin. He can use his frustration and disappointment as incentive and momentum to turn his season around and kick his effort into over drive. In the next three races he can establish himself as a contender for a top spot in the Chase finale. Once locked in, he can quietly work his way back towards Kyle Busch and possibly pull of a Joe Gibbs Racing sweep of the top honors.

No Need To Panic...Hamlin Fast In Practice

For those of you who were prepared to hit the panic button, don't jump the gun. While Hamlin struggled to hold on to a decent starting spot after rolling out fourth and falling quickly, he showed a hint of what he had for the top-qualifiers for tomorrow's 3M Performance 400.

While Hamlin will start deep in the field at 37th, he was the fastest in Saturday's first practice and logged the third fastest time in final Happy Hour practice shortly before the Nationwide Series race later in the afternoon.

If practice is any indication of what the FedEx Office crew has under the hood, the 36 cars in front of Hamlin come Sunday afternoon had best be keeping a close eye on their rear view mirror, because Hamlin will make quick work of the field and find his way to the front as expected.

Mike Ford has had harsh criticism as of late for his late race decisions that cost Hamlin good finishes over the past few weeks. Regardless of how on-lookers feel about Ford, Hamlin has placed his entire future in Ford's more than capable hands and trusts him without waivering to carry him through to the Chase for the Sprint Cup that begins in just 4 short weeks.

Keep a close eye on the #11 Toyota of Denny Hamlin. If anyone is capable of coming from behind and soundly establishing himself as a force to be reckoned with in the fierce points battle. Teammate Kyle Busch may have the top spot clinched, but the rest of the 12 man field is anyone's to win or lose. Hamlin is determined to be on the winning end of that challenge and I for one believe he can do it.

Michigan Qualifying Not What Hamlin Expected

Several hours before every qualifying session, a representative for each driver goes to the qualifying draw. There, each driver's representative is given a chance at drawing a numbered ball that decides what position that driver will go out to qualify. The trick is to draw a high number. The higher the number, the better chance you have at starting at the front.

For those drivers outside the Top 35 in Owner's Points, it's a bit of a mute point. It's a well known fact that the drivers that are in the "go or go home" portion of qualifying have a slight advantage over the rest of the field. While they must qualify on time or they miss the race, the fact that they go after the rest of the cars have laid down rubber on the track and have optimal track conditions does work in their favor.

Denny Hamlin needs to fire whoever drew his qualifying spot this week. He went out 4th and quickly fell back in the field. His qualifying time of 183.491 was -1.050 seconds behind Brian Vickers time of 188. 536. Hamlin made it around the 2 mile oval in 39.239 seconds while Vickers clocked a time of 38. 189. With that vast a difference between Hamlin and the pole sitter, he will have to start the 3M Performance 400 from 37th position. He will be flanked by the #15 of Paul Menard and fellow Chaser Kevin Harvick in his #29 Chevrolet. Clint Bowyer, also fighting for a spot in the top 12 will roll off the grid in 41st.

Brian Vickers grabbed his 5th Pole position, his first at Michigan. He will be joined by Jimmie Johnson, Elliott Sadler, Dale Earnhardt Jr and Jeff Gordon.

While the idea of making his way to the front of the field isn't totally out of the question, the Fed Ex Office crew will certainly have their work cut out for them. Over half of the winners of past races at the 2-mile Oval at Michigan have come from the Top 5, not good statistics for the struggling 11 team.

If anyone can pull off the near impossible, it is Denny Hamlin. Crew Chief Mike Ford has the knowledge to make wise choices and to use pit strategy to his driver's advantage. So don't hit the panic button just yet. Hamlin has come from behind to cement a solid finish before and he is more than capable of doing it again.

Hamlin's goal for Sunday's race, get to the front and stay there. His job in the meantime, find someone else to draw the qualifying spot for next week. Maybe Denny forgot to walk around his chair 3 times before he sat down to breakfast this morning. Sounds like he better monitor that a little closer next week.

Fed Ex Racing Express Facts - Michigan

RACE INFO:

Event: LifeLock 400

Date/Time: June 15, 2008/ 2 p.m. EST

Length: 2 Miles

Shape: D-Shaped Oval

Banking: 18 Degrees

Distance: 200 Laps; 400 Miles

2007 Winner: Carl Edwards

2007 Pole Sitter: JJ Yeley

EXPRESS NOTES:

Hamlin, FedEx Third at Pocono: Denny Hamlin and the #11 FedEx Racing team fought through early damage to the #11 Camry and nearly four-hours of exhausting heat to score an impressive third-place victory at Pocono last weekend. Damage to the right front suffered during a lap 40 pit stop, while not having a profound impact on the car's handling, was rubbing against the right-front tire and threatened to cut the tire if not properly repaired. With track position at a premium, the decision to pull in for the repair meant Hamlin would be forced to race from the back of the field but through a combination of excellent fuel and tire strategy, flawless driving and some well-timed cautions, he worked his way to the front and raced the leaders at the end. The result moves Hamlin back into the top-five in points, and puts an end to a frustrating two-race stretch that included a 24th-place finish in Charlotte and a rare DNF at Dover.

Hamlin at Michigan International Speedway: This weekend will mark Hamlin's fifth Cup start at MIS and his 94th career Cup start. Michigan has been a mixed bag for Hamlin over the course of his still-young career. The #11 FedEx team had a car capable of running in the top-five and challenging for the win at MIS one year ago, 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. Last fall, Hamlin started and finished in the top-ten with 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 three races and is averaging a tenth-place finish over his career at MIS.

FedEx Express Fact: Pocono marked the third time Hamlin has finished third in the 2008 season and brought his season total of top-five finishes to five though the first 14 races.

Michigan Chassis JGR 208 and 204: Chassis 208 will make its second start of the 2008 season this weekend at Michigan. Hamlin qualified this car sixteenth and finished 24th in the Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend. Chassis 204 will be on back up duty this weekend. It has made one start this season (tenth at Las Vegas) and has served as the back up on five occasions.

HAMLIN CONVERSATION - MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY:

Pocono took a big physical toll on you - Can you remember a more grueling race?: "It was a tough race in terms of the heat so from that aspect, I would put it right up there. I think we were in the car for more than four hours and even though the race was 500 miles, our average speed at Pocono is a lot slower than at places like Atlanta or even Charlotte where the race is as long, or longer in terms of miles, but it goes much faster. It was just a long time in really hot car so by the time I was able to crawl out of the car I was worn out. The heat was a lot to take and it just seems like this car is hotter inside than the old one, which was still hot to begin with. It's something that comes with this sport so we're all pretty much used to it and ready for it but it appeared from seeing some of the other drivers and talking to them after the race that it took a toll on a lot of the guys."

On to Michigan - What to you expect from the #11 team this weekend?: "I expect that we'll be really competitive. This track hasn't been one of our best but it's a track that we've made gains at. I think we can honestly say that we've not finished as well as we have raced at Michigan so hopefully that will change. It's been a matter of bad luck or weather, or little problems here and there that have kept us from scoring good finishes so maybe we have all of that our of our system now. This is a horsepower track and we've been really happy with the power from our engines this season. Mark (Cronquist) and everyone at JGR and TRD have put a lot of time and effort into getting our engine program together on a pretty tight schedule and they have been awesome so far. We had a great test at California earlier this year and would have been fine in the race but we had that incident with the water and went out early so we know we have a good power and aero package for the two mile track."

A top three at Pocono gets you back into the top-five in points - Are you satisfied with the season so far?: "It was really good to have a solid finish at Pocono. We needed it after awful luck at Lowe's with the flat tire at the end and then a short race for us at Dover. We're satisfied with our performance but we know were capable of more and that keeps us all motivated."