Denny Hamlin
#11 FedEx Express Toyota
Joe Gibbs Racing
Race Info:
Race: Daytona 500
Date/Time: Feb. 18/2:30 p.m. ET
Distance: 200 laps/500 miles
Track Length: 2.5 miles
Track Shape: Tri-Oval
Banking: 31 degrees
2017 Winner: Kurt Busch
Express Notes:
Press Kit: Download the 2018 FedEx Racing press materials at www.fedexracing.com/presskit, including bios for Denny Hamlin, Mike Wheeler and Joe Gibbs Racing leadership, program highlights and statistics.
Daytona Success: The Series kicks off its regular season this Sunday with the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Hamlin will start the event from the front row alongside Alex Bowman after posting the second fastest lap time (46.132) during single-car qualifying Sunday, and it will be his sixth top-five start in 25 races at the 2.5-mile tri-oval. In addition to claiming the title of “2016 Daytona 500 Champion,” Hamlin has also led a total of 385 laps on the high banks of Daytona, and notched six top-five and seven top-10 finishes in 24 career starts.
Delivering Laps for FedEx Cares Returns: FedEx is bringing back Delivering Laps for FedEx Cares for the 2018 NASCAR season, a program that ties the on-track performance of the #11 FedEx Toyota to FedEx’s efforts to improve road safety by donating $111 for each lap Hamlin leads and $11,000 for each race victory to Safe Kids Worldwide, a nonprofit working to protect kids on the road, at home and at play. If the #11 team wins the 2018 NASCAR championship, FedEx will also contribute $111,000 to Safe Kids. In the program’s inaugural year, FedEx donated more $100,810 as a result of Denny’s 710 laps led and two race wins.
NEW for 2018 — Delivering Laps for FedEx Cares: New for the upcoming season – starting with Sunday’s Daytona 500 – The Denny Hamlin Foundation will match the total FedEx donation to Safe Kids Worldwide as a part of this year’s Delivering Laps for FedEx Cares initiative.
Hamlin Statistics:
Track: Daytona International Speedway
Races: 24
Wins: 1 (2016 Daytona 500)
Top-5: 6
Top-10: 7
Laps Led: 385
Avg. Start: 17.7
Avg. Finish 17.4
Hamlin Conversation:
How do you feel heading into Daytona 500 race weekend, especially now that you’ve qualified on the front row?
“I’m ready to race. This car is ready to race. It’s handling well and we’re looking forward to Thursday (Duel), especially now that we’ve locked in our spot on the front row to start the (Daytona) 500. I’m so proud of FedEx and TRD (Toyota Racing Development), and all of the hard work that the fab shop at JGR (Joe Gibbs Racing) has done. I couldn’t be prouder to represent them and hopefully we’ll get us another Daytona 500 next Sunday.”
Tell us more about Delivering Laps for FedEx Cares and your match this season.
“I’ve shared so many successes on and off the track with FedEx, and I’m glad that I can continue to be directly involved with their FedEx Cares programs. Delivering Laps for FedEx Cares is one program that allows me to do that, and this year, I’m really excited to share that The Denny Hamlin Foundation is going to match FedEx’s donation to Safe Kids Worldwide as a part of it. Being able to connect their cause with my (Denny Hamlin) Foundation is a natural fit, and I’m looking forward to leading laps and winning a lot of races this season.”
Safe Kids Worldwide Along for the Ride at Daytona: FedEx is a recognizing Safe Kids Worldwide, a nonprofit working to protect kids on the road, at home and at play, during Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway by featuring the letters “SKW” on the b-post of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota.
For more than 18 years, FedEx has been working with nonprofits such as Safe Kids Worldwide to help advance road safety in the U.S., and just last year in 2017, FedEx introduced the Delivering Laps for FedEx Cares program which ties the on-track success of the #11 FedEx Racing team to charitable donations for Safe Kids.
