Fontana, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Denny Hamlin will not compete in Sunday's 400-mile Sprint Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway due to a sinus infection that is affecting his vision.
Joe Gibbs Racing president J.D. Gibbs said during a press conference shortly before the start of the race that Hamlin, driver of the No. 11 Toyota for JGR, was taken to a local hospital for observation. Doctors advised him not to compete in this event.
Sam Hornish Jr. will replace Hamlin in the No. 11 car. Hornish has been at this 2-mile Southern California racetrack throughout the weekend on standby for Matt Kenseth, the pole sitter, if Kenseth's wife went into labor.
One year ago at this track, Hamlin suffered a compression fracture in his lower back during an accident on the final lap while battling Joey Logano for the lead and the win. Hamlin missed the next four races and later failed to make the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship for the first time in his eight-year Sprint Cup career.
[SportsNetwork.com]
