NASCAR Phoenix 2014 schedule: Denny Hamlin hopes to avoid repeat of 2010

Denny Hamilin has been in this position before.

The 11-year NASCAR veteran led the Sprint Cup Series standings entering the second-to-last race of the 2010 season and led almost the entire race at Phoenix International Speedway before pitting with 14 laps remaining. He finished 12th in that race, and eventually lost the NSCS title to Jimmie Johnson.

“I feel like this year the pressure on our race team is a lot less than what it was in 2010,” Hamlin told reporters Tuesday. “So with that, you just race a little bit looser, and I’ve been in this position before and nerves aren’t going to be an issue.”

Hamlin enters the 2014 Quicken Loans Race Heroes 500 tied at the top of the NSCS standings with Joey Logano, who has never won in Phoenix. By comparison, Hamlin has one victory and eight top-five finishes in the desert.

”I’ve done this tons of times, be part of a championship picture when it gets down to it, Hamlin said. “But everyone’s gotta do their part, including myself.”

Here’s a schedule of events for the weekend. All times are local to the track, unless otherwise noted.

10-11:20 a.m. -- NNS practice
1:10-2:20 p.m. -- Final NNS practice

10:45 a.m. (12:45 p.m. ET) -- NNS qualifying
2 p.m. (4 p.m. ET) -- 2014 DAV 200 - Honoring America’s Veterans

11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. -- NSCS practice
4:45 p.m. (6:45 p.m. ET) -- NSCS qualifying

9:30-10:20 a.m. -- NSCS practice
12:30-1:20 p.m. -- NSCS final practice

1 p.m. (3 p.m. ET) -- 2014 Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500