FedEx Racing team has made a habit of unloading in California, putting the trials of Daytona out of their minds, and getting down to the business of racing.   With last year’s rain-soaked 41st-place finish the lone exception, the #11 team takes advantage of visits to California to show they are to be considered among the best in Cup racing.  This year was no different as Hamlin’s late surge into the top-ten and subsequent sixth-place finish has the team moving up the points list into 15th-place heading to Las Vegas.  Hamlin fought an ill-handling car for much of the race but persevered as the FedEx crew worked through myriad changes on pit road.  Great pit stops on laps 169 and 209 earned Hamlin places on pit road that set him up in fourth for the final restart on lap 215.  As the laps counted down Hamlin could do little to hold the fourth spot and ultimately slipped back to sixth at the checkered flag. 

Hamlin at Las Vegas

This weekend will mark Hamlin's fourth career Cup start at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and a return to a track where he has yet to finish outside of the top-ten in his Cup career.  In 2008 Hamlin and the #11 team fought back from going a lap down, racing through four cautions to climb back on to the lead lap and post an impressive ninth-place finish.  In 2007, a decision to stay out when the final caution flew on lap 252 allowed Hamlin to restart in fourth place but on old tires.  Not only did he hold his position, he made a late pass on Mark Martin to claim a spot in the top-three.  In 2006, Hamlin’s debut at the 1.5-mile track, the combination of a smart drive from he rookie driver and quick work on pit road earned the team a tenth-place finish.  Despite finishing in the top-ten in each of this three starts, Hamlin has yet to lead a lap at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

FedEx Office Store Group #1515 “Along for the Ride” in Vegas

In recognition of their commitment to superior customer service, FedEx Office store group #1515, located in Huntsville, Ala., will be featured on the wing cap of the #11 FedEx Office Toyota this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.   Congratulations to group #1515 for their outstanding results.

Las Vegas Chassis – JGR 225 & 222

The FedEx team will unload Chassis JGR 225 for the weekend in Las Vegas.  This is the first run of the season for this car but it is no stranger to fast intermediate tracks, having made starts at both Charlotte and Texas last fall and recording finishes of 16th and 17th, respectively.  JGR 222 will serve in backup at Las Vegas.  This car posted third-place finishes at both Auto Club and Indy during the 2008 season.   

Hamlin Conversation – Las Vegas

How much does a good result in California help the team’s confidence heading to Vegas this weekend?

“It was important to get to California and run well after Daytona and I think we had high expectations.  We struggled at times during the race but worked hard to bring the handling back around and ended up with a top-ten, almost a top-five, day.  That helps us in the points a bit and it really does give the team a boost as we look ahead.  Without testing this season we went to California not knowing exactly what we had but we were happy with what we unloaded and I think that’s really important.  We know we can use all that we’ve learned at these tracks in the past to make them pretty competitive off the truck, without the benefit of testing, and we hope that continues this weekend at Las Vegas.  Vegas is a track where we’ve spent two days testing in recent years.  You can’t really make up for not having two days of testing but it really puts the emphasis on the crew to set up a car that is as close as possible off the truck.  The less time you can spend making major changes in practice, the more time you can spend fine tuning your cars for the race.  That’s where you want to be and I know the guys on the #11 team and at JGR are on top of their game.”

How does Las Vegas Motor Speedway stack up against the rest of the 1.5-mile tracks?

“Vegas is a fast track, much more like Charlotte since they made the changes to the track a few years ago.  It’s unique in that the transitions are different than other intermediates but you get really close racing.  The track changes over the course of the race so the driver can usually find a place where the car works. “

You will be in a Nationwide Series car for the first time this season - does that give you any advantage?

“The track time helps a little in terms of gaining some understanding of how the track changes throughout the race and you can gather some information as to how the tires hold up but the two cars – the Nationwide and Cup – are so different.  Little pieces translate but for the most part its two different races and you need to approach it that way.  I will certainly share anything I learn on the Nationwide side with Mike (Ford) if I think it will help us on Sunday.”