Ailing Back Sidelines Hamlin

Hamlin out of Friday's race

A sore back has forced Denny Hamlin to step out of Joe Gibbs Racing’s NASCAR Nationwide Series Toyota for Friday Night’s Subway Jalapeno 250 Powered by Coca-Cola at Daytona International Speedway.

Joey Logano will move from team’s No. 20 car to replace Hamlin in the No. 18 Sport Clips Toyota Friday night, with Clint Bowyer taking over Logano’s usual ride, the No. 20 Dollar General Toyota.

“My hope was to run the Nationwide Series race Friday night, but I woke up with a sore back earlier this week and feel it's in the best interest of the team to sit it out,” said Hamlin late yesterday. “Luckily it's nothing serious and the extra rest will help me on Saturday night.”

Logano won last year’s July race at the World Center of Racing and has five Nationwide victories this season, in addition to a Sprint Cup win at Pocono Raceway last month. Bowyer has 13 career Nationwide Series starts at Daytona with one win, eight top-five and 10 top-ten finishes. He has won a total of eight Nationwide Series races over the course of his career.

“We're looking forward to working with Clint and appreciate his willingness to step behind the wheel for us on such short notice,” said JGR President J.D. Gibbs. “Denny will be fine, but we just felt it was in his best interest to rest his back and not have him have to practice or race in Nationwide this weekend.”