DENNY HAMLIN x MAVIS NASCAR CAR OVERVIEW: NUMBER11 TOYOTA CAMRY

“You're a competitor; you want to win. Especially when you have a great opportunity to win.” - Denny Hamlin.

The goal has always been to be the best for Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin, driver of the Number 11 Toyota Camry XSE. 

As a 53-time winner and consistent Cup Series contender, Denny understands that hard work, dedication, and nerves of steel are required to rise to the top of one of the most competitive motorsports series in the world. For the team at Mavis, sponsoring Denny is an easy decision. As one of the best choices for car care in America and a fixture in communities across the nation, Denny mirrors Mavis’ values of hard work, dedication, and excellence. 

Toyota, long known for their involvement in motorsports, provides the machine that powers Denny to victory. Despite looking like a stock 2024 Camry XSE, what’s under that sleek sheet metal is anything but stock. From the drivetrain to the bodywork, Denny’s Camry is no ordinary grocery-getter. 

Joe Gibbs Racing x Mavis Partnership

Joe Gibbs Racing just dropped the news that Mavis Tires & Brakes is teaming up again with Denny Hamlin for a thrilling ride in the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series for eight big races next year. 

Mavis is a fixture in communities nationwide, with more than 2,000 spots where race fans can pop in for a new set of tires or a quick service. Mavis co-CEO Stephen Sobaro is excited to back Hamlin and the team for another season, promising it will be epic with the Mavis crew and fans all in for the ride.

Last year was exciting, with Hamlin snagging his 50th win in the Mavis colors at Pocono. Starting at Phoenix Raceway on March 10, the Mavis Toyota Camry XSE will be hitting the track at some favorite spots, including Bristol, Richmond, and Charlotte, to name a few. Hamlin's pumped about what's ahead, saying last year was just a taste of what they can do together. It’s all about bringing fresh energy into the sport and showing everyone what a great partnership looks like on and off the track.

No. 11 Toyota Camry XSE vs. Consumer Toyota Camry

The only thing “stock” about Denny Hamlin’s Number 11 Toyota Camry XSE is the outside bodywork and the hood badge. While the consumer version of the 2024 Toyota Camry XSE is a front-wheel drive/all-wheel drive family sedan powered by either a four-cylinder or six-cylinder engine, Denny’s Number 11 is a whole different beast. Designed by the TRD (Toyota Racing Development) in California, the Number 11 is a ground-up, next-gen design that debuted in 2022. 

Powered by a 358 CID, fuel-injected, pushrod V8 pumping out up to 670 horsepower, depending on the track, this Camry puts its power down through the rear wheels. Toyota's latest race car is sticking with the classic tubular steel frame for its chassis, but there's a twist when it comes to the body panels which are now crafted from carbon composite. In another huge departure from the olden days, modern NASCAR vehicles run an XTrac P1334 five-speed sequential transaxle instead of an old-school four-speed manual. 

Underneath, the car sports a sealed underfloor, stepping away from the traditional solid rear axle in favor of a fresh, independent rear setup. Up front, the car boasts a significantly more pronounced front splitter, while at the rear, a huge diffuser makes its debut. Inside is a bare-bones cockpit, complete with a racing seat, harness, HANS device, and a screen that shows gear selection and engine mapping information.

Put it all together and you have a race car capable of winning not only races, but also taking home the Cup Series championship.  

Customization for Performance

Denny Hamlin's NASCAR ride is a masterclass in customization, tailored to fit his razor-sharp driving style like a glove. 

Every tweak, from aerodynamics for the high-speed thrills of oval tracks to the nimble setups needed for twisty road courses, amplifies Hamlin’s strengths. It’s all about giving him the edge, whether through the perfect seat position, the car’s responsiveness, or strategic tire choices to slice through the competition.

Behind Hamlin’s bespoke racing machine is the powerhouse collaboration among Toyota teams—Joe Gibbs Racing, 23XI Racing, and Legacy Motor Club. This alliance is a think tank of racing excellence, pooling data, insights, and tech innovations to push the Camry to its limits. It’s a fusion of minds and machinery, fine-tuning every performance aspect to compete and dominate. 

This partnership isn’t just about sharing resources; it’s about forging a winning edge, making Hamlin’s car a testament to Toyota’s relentless pursuit of perfection in NASCAR.

Behind the Scenes: Development and Testing

What we see on the track is the direct result of a staggering number of hours of blood, sweat, and tears. 

The journey to perfect the No. 11 Toyota Camry for NASCAR racing is a 12-month saga of relentless research and development (R&D). This period is characterized by an intense focus on enhancing every aspect of the car's performance, from aerodynamics and engine efficiency to the nuances of tire interaction with different track surfaces. Engineers and designers collaborate closely, employing advanced computational models, wind tunnel tests, and materials science innovations to push the boundaries of what the car can achieve on the track.

Given NASCAR's stringent limits on testing, teams like Joe Gibbs Racing must maximize simulation tools and the precious few open NASCAR or Goodyear-sponsored tire tests. This virtual testing environment is crucial for understanding how car design changes affect performance, enabling rapid iteration and optimization without the high costs and logistical challenges of physical tests.

The limited open and tire testing sessions NASCAR and Goodyear provide are invaluable, offering rare opportunities to validate the computer-generated predictions on actual tracks. During these sessions, the team collects data on tire behavior, wear patterns, and performance under various conditions, directly informing adjustments to the car's setup. 

This blend of high-tech simulation and hands-on testing ensures that when the No. 11 Toyota Camry rolls out onto the track, it's a finely tuned racing machine, ready to take on the intense competition of NASCAR with Denny Hamlin at the helm.

The Winningest Number in NASCAR

Drivers who have piloted a car bearing the number 11 have often found themselves in victory lane, contributing to its status as a number synonymous with success. 

It's a number that has been associated with some of the sport's most celebrated drivers, including legends like Cale Yarborough, Darrell Waltrip, and Ned Jarrett, each of whom has contributed to its legendary status through championship wins and dramatic finishes. Their triumphs and the strategic mastery displayed on the track have cemented number 11's place in the annals of NASCAR lore.

The number 11's journey is not just about individual races or seasons; it's about consistently being at the heart of NASCAR's development, reflecting changes in technology, strategy, and competition. Its continued relevance and success in the modern era, with drivers like Denny Hamlin adding to its legacy, underscore the enduring significance of the number in the sport. 

The Race Schedule

A Winning Partnership

“We are thrilled to team up with Joe Gibbs Racing and Denny Hamlin again this year for what promises to be an exciting 2024 racing season,” said David Sorbaro, Mavis co-CEO. “This union with NASCAR continues to be a perfect fit.”

The partnership between Mavis Tires & Brakes and Denny Hamlin, piloting the No. 11 Toyota Camry XSE, has been a remarkable journey marked by significant achievements and mutual growth. Among the standout moments of this collaboration was Hamlin's 50th career NASCAR Cup Series victory, a milestone that not only underscored Hamlin's prowess on the track, but also highlighted the strength of the support system behind him, including sponsors like Mavis.

Hamlin has often praised the synergy between his racing philosophy and Mavis's commitment to excellence, noting that such support fuels his competitiveness and drive for success. The Sorbaro brothers echo this sentiment, highlighting how aligning with Hamlin and the prestigious Joe Gibbs Racing team mirrors their dedication to quality and performance in the automotive service industry. They consider this collaboration a catalyst for further achievements and innovations, both on the racetrack and in the service centers.

The significance of this partnership extends beyond the race wins and the car's branding. It represents a synergistic relationship between high-performance sports and high-quality automotive care. It sets a precedent in the NASCAR community for how collaboration can elevate both parties' standards and achievements. For Mavis, it's an opportunity to showcase their commitment to excellence in a high-visibility arena, reinforcing the brand's association with top-tier performance and reliability.

For Joe Gibbs Racing and the NASCAR community, the partnership underscores the vital role of sponsors in the ecosystem, providing the resources and support necessary for teams and drivers to compete at the highest levels. It also highlights the potential for collaborations to transcend traditional sponsorship roles, fostering genuine relationships that contribute to the sport's growth and appeal.

If you demand exceptional service and the best products on the market, Mavis Discount Tire is ready to serve you. From high-performance tires offered by NASCAR suppliers like Goodyear to quick and easy maintenance services like oil changes or tire alignments; Mavis is the place for all of your car care needs. 

Meet the Mavis Toyota Camry XSE

• Enhanced specifications bring the car current with passenger vehicle technologies, including an independent rear suspension, rack and pinion steering, and upgraded brake systems.

• The introduction of a new transaxle that merges the transmission and rear gears into a unified unit paves the way for potential future electrification.

• Aerodynamic enhancements with a sealed underbody featuring an underwing and rear diffuser improve handling in traffic and minimize the effects of turbulent air.

• The inclusion of hood louvers provides flexibility to optimize engine output without aerodynamic compromise.

• A reimagined chassis design incorporates more robust front and rear bumpers, enhancing safety. The modular design with bolt-on front and rear clips to the center section simplifies repairs and maintenance.

Advanced vehicle connectivity upgrades, including a standard in-car camera for every car, provide fans an enriched viewing experience with access to more live data in the future.

Technical Specifications

• Length: 193.4"

• Width: 78.6"

• Height: 50.4"

• Wheelbase: 110"

• Weight: ~ 3,300 lbs.

• Spoiler: TBD*

• Body: Composite symmetric body featuring integral flap systems, camera mounts, and OEM-specific design elements

• Underwing: Full carbon undertray w/center stepped splitter and rear diffuser

• Chassis: Steel tubing w/bolt-on front and rear clips and front/rear bumpers

• Transaxle: five-speed manual sequential with ramp and plate differential

• Suspension (front and rear): Double wishbone billet aluminum control arms w/adjustable coil-over shock absorbers

• Steering: Rack and pinion

• Wheels: 18" x 12" forged aluminum

• Tires: Goodyear Eagle

• Brakes: Six-piston monobloc front calipers / four-piston monobloc rear calipers—heavy duty and light duty disc packages

• Front Brake Rotors: 15"

• Rear Brake Rotors: 14"

• Engine displacement: 358 cu. in.

• Induction system: Naturally aspirated

• Fuel system: Fuel injection

• Oil system: Dry sump

• Horsepower: 550 to 670 

• Engine cooling: Air exits the radiator through hood louvers

• Exhaust: Split-side exit exhaust

• Fuel cell: ~20 gallons (Sunoco Green E15)