FedEx Racing Express Facts – Daytona International Speedway - Speedway Digest

Saturday Race Info

Race: Coke Zero Sugar 400

Date/Time: Saturday, August 24 / 7:30 p.m. ET

Distance: 160 laps / 400 miles

Track Length: 2.5 miles

Express Notes

Press Kit: Download the 2024 FedEx Racing press materials at www.fedex.com/en-us/racing/press-kit, including bios for Denny Hamlin, Chris Gabehart and Joe Gibbs Racing leadership, program highlights and statistics.

Daytona Notes: Denny Hamlin leads all active drivers with three wins, 11 top-five finishes, 12 top-10s and 676 laps led at Daytona International Speedway. All his wins have come in the Daytona 500. Earlier this year, Hamlin finished 19th in the Daytona 500 after being collected in a multi-car accident late in the race.

Michigan Recap: The No. 11 team finished ninth in last week’s race at Michigan International Speedway. After starting on the pole, Hamlin ran in the top three before a spin on lap 38. While he did not hit anything, Hamlin’s slide through the frontstretch grass damaged the underbody of the No. 11 Camry. Following repairs and a plethora of chassis adjustments, Hamlin recovered to earn his third top-10 finish in the past four races.

Season So Far: Hamlin currently ranks third in the driver points standings on the strength of three points-paying victories, nine top-five finishes, 11 top-10s, three poles and 896 laps led. Through 24 races, Hamlin has accrued 21 playoff points thanks to his three race victories and six stage 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 24 races, Hamlin has spent 334 more laps in the top 15 than the next closest competitor.

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).

Hamlin Statistics

Track: Daytona International Speedway

Races: 37

Wins: 3

Poles: 0

Top-5: 11

Top-10: 12

Laps Led: 676

Avg. Start: 16.6

Avg. Finish: 17.1

Hamlin Conversation – Daytona

What do you think is the best strategy for this week with where you are in the regular season standings?

“I think all the guys battling for the regular season and for the cut line, I think everyone is going to race to get stage points simply because you just can’t pass in this car on speedways like you used to be able to. I remember hanging back till the last 10 laps, then I’d drive right to the front. It just isn’t like that now. You can get a good finish. You’re not going to win hanging in the back, but you can get a good finish. I’d almost say just try to get 10, 12 stage points, then if you wreck, you wreck, right? At least that pushes you down to finishing 24th with no stage points if you were to finish last. It could be a net even. I’m sure they’re going to look at the numbers and figure out what is the best strategy.”

FedEx Along for the Ride at Daytona: For this weekend’s race at Daytona International Speedway, Hamlin’s No. 11 Camry will feature a special livery highlighting FedEx Cares. This year’s FedEx Cares Camry will highlight Readiness for Resiliency and FedEx’s ongoing collaboration with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. FedEx and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Readiness for Resiliency program checklist is an excellent resource for small businesses to get prepared. To learn more, visit ready4resiliency.com.

JGR PR