Denny Hamlin – No. 11 Yahoo Toyota Camry XSE Preview – FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway - Speedway Digest

No. 11 Yahoo Toyota Camry XSE News and Notes

HAMLIN AT MICHIGAN: Denny Hamlin is a two-time NASCAR Cup Series winner at Michigan International Speedway after posting wins in 2010 and 2011. In 33 career starts at the two-mile track, Hamlin has earned 12 top-five finishes, 18 top-10s, one pole award, and 263 laps led. The Virginia native has led in eight consecutive Michigan races dating back to August 2018. He has finished sixth or better in the past six Michigan races.
RICHMOND RECAP: Hamlin was credited with a second-place finish following the chaotic ending to last weekend’s race at Richmond Raceway. He earned his third pole award of the season and led a race-high 124 laps on the night, but the overtime finish was the story of the race. Hamlin lined up third and was poised to sneak past Joey Logano and Austin Dillon after they made contact in turn three on the final lap. Unfortunately for Hamlin, Dillon also clipped his right-rear fender and sent the No. 11 Camry hard into the outside wall and left him with a runner-up result.
HISTORY OF THE 11: Throughout NASCAR history, the No. 11 has visited victory lane more than any other car number. Hamlin’s win at Dover Motor Speedway was the 234th time a No. 11 car has won in the Cup Series. For Hamlin, his 54 victories driving the No. 11 are only one behind NASCAR Hall of Famer Cale Yarborough for most on the illustrious list of drivers who have wheeled a No. 11 car to victory lane. That list includes Bobby Allison (3 wins), Mario Andretti (1 win), Buddy Baker (2 wins), Geoffrey Bodine (4 wins), Bill Elliott (6 wins), A.J. Foyt (1 win), Denny Hamlin (54 wins), Ned Jarrett (49 wins), Junior Johnson (11 wins), Parnelli Jones (1 win), Terry Labonte (4 wins), Darrell Waltrip (43 wins), and Cale Yarborough (55 wins).
FRONT RUNNER: Hamlin leads the Cup Series in multiple statistical categories according to Loop Data provided by NASCAR. In addition to leading the series in laps led, he is currently the best in the series in green flag speed, fastest on restarts, quality passes, fastest drivers late in a run, and laps in the top 15. Through 23 races, Hamlin has spent 387 more laps in the top 15 than the next closest competitor.
JGR AT MICHIGAN: Joe Gibbs Racing owns eight NASCAR Cup Series victories at Michigan International Speedway. In 158 combined starts at the track, the organization has recorded 47 top-five finishes, 76 top-10s, eight pole awards, and 1,249 laps led. Kyle Busch, Matt Kenseth, Bobby Labonte, and Tony Stewart join Hamlin on the list of drivers who have taken JGR to victory lane at Michigan.
TUNE IN: Coverage of this weekend’s race at Michigan International Speedway begins Sunday, August 18, at 2:30 p.m. ET on USA Network, MRN Radio, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

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