Denny Hamlin - Aaron's 312 Pre-Race Notes and Quotes

EVENT: AARON’S 312
DATE: APRIL 29, 2006
TRACK: TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY
LAPS/MILES: 117 / 311.22
TV: FOX 2:10 PM ET
RADIO: MRN 2:00 PM ET

QUOTES

Driver Denny Hamlin on Talladega Superspeedway…

“You often hear about drivers who dread restrictor plate racing; but I absolutely love it. I am excited to go to Talladega and try to get some redemption from earlier this year. I thought we had a really good car at Daytona and just never got to show it. Getting the penalty near the end of the race and then involved in the last lap wreck, I just left feeling empty.

Last year at Talladega, we had one of the best cars in the race and were involved in someone else’s mess. Although we won the Budweiser Shootout in February, I am still looking for that first top ten finish in a Busch Race on a restrictor plate race. This is a long race and anything can happen. This weekend, I plan to try to qualify well, stay up front and stay out of trouble. Who knows, I might even make some friends that will want to run with me on Sunday. ”

Crew Chief Dave Rogers on Talladega….

“Talladega is one of those tracks that really frustrate a crew chief. There are only so many things you can do to the car to help it. It really depends on the work of the fabrication shop & the engine shop. Often, people think of Daytona and Talladega as the same track. Daytona is much more of a handling track & Talladega is made for flat out speed.

I am excited about the Chevrolet Monte Carlo that we are bringing this weekend. It is different than the one we raced at Daytona in February and a lot more similar to J.J.’s car that won the pole (at Daytona). We have had the benefit of having that (pole winning) car sitting in our shop so we have been over it with a fine tooth comb and made some changes to our car.”

NOTES

Lap Leader …Hamlin has made it a habit of taking his car to the front this season. In nine races, Hamlin has led in five different races. Of those five races, Hamlin has led the most laps in two of those races (Mexico City & Nashville). Of the races that Hamlin has led one lap, he has gone on to finish on the lead lap & score a top ten finish in each race (avg. finish – 4.8). Of the races that Hamlin has led the most laps of the race, he has gone on to score a top five finish in both races (1 st & 3rd).

Car History … This week the #20 team is bringing car #2026. This has been one of the favorite superspeedway cars of the #20 team. Last year, this chassis ran all three restrictor plate races. It’s best run was at Talladega, where Hamlin qualified third and spent most of the day in the top five until contact from Joe Nemechek sent Hamlin into the wall on lap 82.