Hamlin Earns Toyota’s 100th NXS Victory

Takes Seventh Richmond Series Win For Camry

RICHMOND, Va. (April 24, 2015) — Camry driver Denny Hamlin visited victory lane in the Toyota Care 250 at Richmond International Raceway on Friday night to give Toyota its 100th victory in the NASCAR XFINITY Series.

The Virginia-native led 248 laps (of 250) to capture the milestone victory for Toyota. The Richmond race is the 281st event since Toyota entered NXS competition in 2007 and this year marks the manufacturer’s ninth season in the series. The victory also marks the seventh win for the Camry in NXS competition at Richmond.

“Toyota has been such a big part of Joe Gibbs Racing and NASCAR and they’ve propelled this team to what it is and I’m proud to get 100 for them,” said Hamlin, following the race.

The first Toyota NXS victory came with Jason Leffler behind the wheel of a Camry at Indiana’s Lucas Oil Raceway in July 2007 in the manufacturer’s inaugural year in the series.

In nine seasons, 12 Camry drivers have contributed to the 100 wins with Kyle Busch visiting victory lane the most after collecting 59 first-place trophies. Other drivers to register NXS wins in a Camry include Joey Logano (18), Denny Hamlin (7), Tony Stewart (5), Matt Kenseth (3), Marcos Ambrose (2), Kurt Busch (1), Sam Hornish Jr. (1), Erik Jones (1), Leffler (1), David Reutimann (1) and Elliott Sadler (1).

Busch has also attained several series records while driving a Camry, including most victories (70), most laps led (14,744), single season lap record (2,698 in 2009), most wins from the pole (22), consecutive first or second place finishes (10 in 2009) and most single season first or second place finishes (20 in 2009). He earned the 2009 driver’s championship while driving a Toyota.

The most successful season by Camry drivers occurred in 2008 with 20 wins, contributing to the first of three NXS manufacturer’s titles by Toyota (also earned in 2009 and 2010).

Camry drivers have earned at least 10 wins each year since 2008 after winning two races during the inaugural 2007 season. So far in 2015, Toyota drivers have two wins with Hamlin’s Richmond triumph and Jones earned his first-career NXS victory in Texas (April 10).

Toyota Drivers in NASCAR XFINITY Series

*total number of drivers to compete in the NXS in a Toyota Camry

DRIVER’S CHAMPIONSHIP:                     Kyle Busch (2009)
MANUFACTURER CHAMPIONSHIPS:     2008, 2009, 2010