Filed under: Denny Hamlin, Chase for the Sprint Cup, Joe Gibbs Racing

Sporting a grimace and a limp, Denny Hamlin soldiered around Phoenix International Raceway Friday in obvious pain a week after having ACL surgery on his left knee.

The pain was mildly tempered, however, by an impressive top-10 run in the No. 11 FedEx Toyota during NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice after running 70 laps. Hamlin left the rest of the driving duties during practice to Casey Mears, who will be standing by ready to relieve him in Saturday night's race should the pain prove too severe.

"There's so much different stuff that we're goiing to do tomorrow morning to help this thing," Hamlin said in an interview session with the media after practice. "I don't know how much better I'll feel, but I know as of today, there's no way I could do it,'' he said of driving the whole 375 laps (600 kilometers, or 375 miles) around the one-mile track.

"It's frustrating because your mind wants your leg to do one thing but your body won't do it," Hamlin said. "It won't do what I want it to do."

Hamlin qualified the car himself Friday, but wasn't as fast as he was in practice, and will start 26th.

"Not the lap we wanted considering how well this No. 11 FedEx Toyota practiced, but we were really loose and that's where we left time," Hamlin said after his effort. "We actually had a good lap going but I snapped loose there and that was enough to hurt us."

Hamlin is scheduled to have stitches removed and his knee drained Saturday morning and is hopeful that will help with his mobility. The awkward climb into and out of the race car appeared as problematic as driving it around the track, and he stood on a raised jack to help him get through the driver's window and into his seat.

Even if Mears drives most of the race in relief, Hamlin only has to start the race to receive the points earned for its finish.

 

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