Denny Hamlin - New England 200 pre-race notes and quotes

Event: New England 200
Date: July 15, 2006
Track: New Hampshire Int. Speedway
Laps/Miles: 200 / 211.6
TV: TNT 3:00 PM ET
Radio: MRN 3:00 PM ET

QUOTES

Driver Denny Hamlin on racing at New Hampshire…

“We have had some rough runs the last couple weeks and I don’t know a better way to stop the bleeding than finding a good flat track. I have always seemed to run well at New Hampshire. My third truck start came at NHIS. I spent most of the day in the top-five but was forced to pit at the end because of bad fuel mileage. Last year, I scored my best finish in a Busch Car here.

New Hampshire is a great track that really caters to my style. It reminds of several of the tracks that I cut my teeth on years ago. We are bringing are car from Milwaukee and that is the same car I was able to drive from the back of the field to the front with no practice time. I think with the chance to qualify it then we can save some car for the end.”

Crew Chief Dave Rogers on NHIS….

“I am really proud of the advancements we have had in our short track program this year. At the beginning of the season we focused on the bigger tracks since Denny was such a good short track racer. After Phoenix, we knew we needed to make some changes. Jason (Ratcliff) and I put our heads together, made some changes to our short track cars and then finish 2 & 3 at Milwaukee. We are bringing the same Chevrolet Monte Carlo back this week, so we expect to a factor in this race. This is as close to a home track as I have (raised in Marshfield, VT), so I am hoping to run well in front of family and friends.”

NOTES

Did you know... Denny Hamlin is frightened of Lobsters (Alive and Cooked).

Car History… This week the #20 team is bringing car #2043. This is Denny Hamlin’s favorite car. Most recently run at the Milwaukee Mile, Aric Arimola drove this car to the pole position and then turned the seat over to Hamlin where Hamlin led 61 laps before finishing 2nd. This car also ran at Richmond where Hamlin finished 10th. Last year, he drove it to his best finish at New Hampshire (3rd), his best starting position at Phoenix (2nd) and four top-ten finishes (Phoenix, Memphis, Indy and Milwaukee).