Denny Hamlin said if his knee feels as it felt in practice Friday, there’s no way he could complete Saturday’s Subway Fresh Fit 600 at Phoenix International Raceway.
Hamlin, who had reconstructive knee surgery March 31, had hoped to run the full 375 laps of the Sprint Cup race 10 days later.
He will have the stitches removed by his doctor and have his left knee drained Saturday morning. Hamlin hopes that will help with the pain and range of motion following the surgery to reconstruct the anterior cruciate ligament – a surgery where there are two holes drilled in his bones and a new ligament attached to his knee. FOXNews
“I don’t know how far I can go,” Hamlin said. “It aches quite a bit and the range of motion is a problem. If I had to do it today there is no way I could do it.
“Your mind wants to do it, but your body won’t do it. There’s a delay on everything I do out there. I don’t feel like I’m doing my best. I’ve done everything I’m supposed to do and then some to make it better. If it’s not enough time, it’s just not enough time,” he said.
Casey Mears will replace Hamlin if Hamlin has to get out of the No. 11 Toyota during the Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway. A driver must start the race to earn the points for that event.
“There’s a lot of fluid build-up on the knee right now,” Hamlin said. “The doctors are going to insert a needle in the morning and drain all the fluid. They also are going to take the stitches out, so I might have a little more mobility.” ESPN
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