Toyota NNS Dover Post-Race Notes & Quotes

[media-credit name=”doverspeedway.com” align=”alignright” width=”281″][/media-credit]TOYOTA NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) Post-Race Notes & Quotes Dover International Speedway – June 2, 2012

Camry driver Joey Logano drove his No. 20 Dollar General Toyota Camry to victory lane in Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) race at Dover International Speedway.

Logano led the field three times for a race-high 154 laps (of 200).

This is Logano’s first career Dover triumph, his fourth NNS win of 2012 and the 13th NNS victory of his career.

It marks the fifth win for Toyota in 2012 and the 69th NNS win since joining the series in 2007.

Camry drivers Ryan Truex (second), Brian Scott (third) and Kurt Busch (fourth) also earned top-five finishes at the one- mile concrete oval.  Truex recorded a career -best NNS result and Scott equaled his best career NNS finish.

Mayetta, N.J.-native Truex earned his first career NNS pole position and led 43 laps (of 200).

Other Toyota drivers in the field included Jason Bowles (15th), Tayler Malsam (16th), Jeff Green (17th), Joe Nemechek (19th), John Wes Townley (20th), Mike Bliss (33rd) and Kevin Lepage (39th).

JOEY LOGANO, No. 18 Dollar General Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing Finishing Position:  1st How was it trying to catch Ryan Truex? “It was a pretty intense moment in there trying to catch Ryan (Truex).  We came in and took four (tires) and I was like, ‘Oh no, we gave another one away here at Dover.’  But, Adam Stevens (crew chief) and the guys gave me one heck of a Dollar General car that could work our way back up there. And was running hard but was somewhat patient with it.  Ryan (Truex) got caught up with the lapped traffic or whatever, and I had a bigger run and got on the outside.  He got really lose there at the end of the run.  Excited about this win here.  It’s been a long time coming.  I feel like I’ve lost a lot of them here that was really close to winning them and never been able to win them.  To finally get it — means a lot.”

What happened with the traffic on the track? “Lapped car just not giving up enough room to the leaders — not enough respect to the leaders out there.  When you’re trying to race for the lead, and the 20 (Ryan Truex) was faster than me at that time — was catching me — I had no time to waste.  Got underneath him (Tim Bainey Jr., No. 24) in the center of the turn and he just kept coming down.”

What happened during the final stretch of the race? “I was frustrated from as soon as the caution came out there and we came in and we lost all our track position and went to like back to eighth, I think.  We were able to slowly but surely move our way up towards the front.  Once we got to second, I was like, ‘Man, he’s way out there.’  Then I noticed us catching him at a quicker rate.  He had caught up in lapped traffic one time and here I come.  And, I was able to get to the outside of him. My guys gave me one heck of a Dollar General Toyota to be able to lead all those laps, go to the back, pass the cars and go back and take the lead in this thing and win the race.  That was a very impressive car.  One of the cooler wins.  When you lead it and you think you gave it away and then you get it back there at the end – they’re exciting.”

How important were tires late in the race? “They weren’t as important as I wish they were.  As soon as I saw only the three car (Austin Dillon) come down with me, I was like, ‘Oh no.’  Like I said, Adam Stevens (crew chief) and the boys gave me one heck of a Dollar General Toyota that could win this bad boy.  I tell everyone it’s been four or five years we’ve been running here.  We’ve always been fast, always been leading laps and never been able to bring home the trophy.  To finally be able to get a trophy here — is that cool – I think it’s the coolest trophy that you can win here is that monster. It’s awesome to finally get it.”

Can you win any time you’re in the No. 18 Camry? “I think it was like six laps to go when I realized I was catching at a pretty quick rate.  I was like, ‘Man, it’s going to be close, I think I can get there.’  I think that’s about all I could do is get there.  But, I may have been able to pass him.  It’s hard to say.  The lap traffic definitely helped the situation a lot for me. As far as the 18 or 20 car at Joe Gibbs Racing, while working with Adam (Stevens, crew chief) and my team, it’s been great.  They’ve been doing an awesome job and our communication is right where it needs to be.  We do a great job in practice now.  A lot of that is due to last year, we struggled a little bit and we were able to really diagnose some of the things we could do better as a team and make our cars better.  During the off- season they did a great job making our cars better — better aero, better motor — all that stuff, it all adds up.”

What do you think about the job Ryan Truex did this weekend? “Ryan (Truex), he did do a great job.  Adam (Stevens, crew chief) and I, we were mad after qualifying.  The both of us because we didn’t get the pole there.  Ryan did one heck of a job in practice and everything.  The whole 20 bunch did a good job making their car really fast.  One of those late-race restarts and he was second and he was right behind me and I couldn’t pull away.  I was like, ‘Oh boy, I have to work for this one a little bit now.’  That made me a little bit nervous, but I tell you, they did a great job for sure.”

RYAN TRUEX, No. 20 Grime Boss Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing Finishing Position:  2nd How do you feel about your second-place finish? “I’m not happy.  It’s second and I should be happy with it, but we had a winning car and I hate to blame it on somebody else, but when you see a car that’s three seconds faster coming and you race next to each other with five (laps) to go, it’s just stupid.  I don’t know where their spotters were for that, but I probably could have picked a better lane around him.  Joey (Logano) had better car at the end there, we were just too free.  It’s just frustrating.  I have to thank Grime Boss, Toyota and Nationwide Insurance for putting on the series.  I just wish I could have gotten a win.  Too close to finish second.”

Has your family been able to cheer you up about this second-place finish? “Not really.  It’s just frustrating.  It’s a good day for Joe Gibbs Racing — one, two, three — our sponsors, Dollar General, Grime Boss, Toyota and everyone that puts this team together.  There’s a reason why we — Joe Gibbs Racing — won this race today and all three cars in the top-three.  It’s a testament to them. I’m fortunate to be able to be on this team.  I wish it was more than seven times a year.  Hopefully, we can do more.  I’ll get one eventually, it’s just tough.”

What was going through your mind as you approached lapped traffic? “I figured they’d both go outside because they were 20 laps down each — three seconds slower.  I don’t know if they had spotters or not, but to race each other in front of the leader like that, it’s just not smart.  I don’t want to put anyone down or name any names or any of that nonsense.  I could have thought of a better way to get around them.  Joey (Logano) got outside me there and in turns three and four I just got loose.  I almost ran into the pit wall.  During that run there, we were looser than we had been.  We were definitely running out of time.  I think if I wouldn’t have caught that lap traffic, we would have had him.  He had a better car, better tires.”

MARTIN TRUEX JR., Ryan Truex’s older brother (Driver, NSCS No. 55 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing) What do you think about your brother’s race? “Well, it was great.  I couldn’t stand still.  I thought I was going to throw up with 20 to go.  He was in good shape there.  His lap times were good.  He was keeping his lead and just caught those lap cars at the wrong time and I don’t know what they were doing.  They just weren’t paying attention and cost him the lead and eventually the win.  You can’t say enough about him as a driver and what he’s done all weekend.  After watching on the couch for a month and came here and be that fast in practice, sit on the pole and almost win the race.  It’s just a matter of time before we get him in a full-time ride.  It’s a tough one to lose, but he did a heck of a job and he’s going to get more opportunities to win races.”

BRIAN SCOTT, No. 11 Dollar General Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing Finishing Position: 3rd What does this third-place finish mean? “First off, it’s a testament to everybody at Joe Gibbs Racing.  To bring home a one, two, three finish — this proves how hard they’ve been working all off-season, all year and bringing really fast Toyotas to the race track.  It has been a tough year and it feels really great to bring home a top-five finish.  Just really happy to bring home that finish for Dollar General.  You have to thank Nationwide Insurance for putting on this series, sponsoring it and letting us go out there and run a fun race and hopefully put on a fun race for the fans.  I seem to always get these good finishes going into an off week.  Either we need more off weeks or I need to figure out how to do better in the big string of things.”

How was your race? “We had a really good Dollar General Toyota.  We gave up too much right side grip on the long run.  We would get a little snug at center and be chasing the rear up off the corner.  We were just slipping and sliding too much.  Our teammates had really good cars.  They were able to figure out how to keep that right side grip in their cars a little longer.  Overall, just a great day for everybody at Joe Gibbs Racing to bring home the top-three finishing positions.  Good job, congratulations to Joey Logano for bringing home another victory for Dollar General. Congrats to Ryan Truex for his career-best second — he drove a great race.  I’m happy to bring home third for my Dollar General No. 11 guys because they’ve worked so hard all year.  We’ve had a lot of bad luck.  Unfortunately they’ve had to fix some race cars and blown motors and some things of that nature.  Just really happy right now.  To get a third-place finish without a scratch on the car and go home and enjoy an off weekend.”

KURT BUSCH, No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota Camry, Kyle Busch Motorsports Finishing Position:  4th How was your race? “It was a good, hard fought effort for fourth.  We are building a program and we’re getting closer.  Just a little bit tight in certain spots and just a good fight today.”

How much did the track change during the race? “It was a tough battle with left side tires.  It seemed like it would make you tight, make you loose and so you were on this razorblade edge.  We’ve made good steps to gain with our KBM (Kyle Busch Motorsports) team with how we’ve adjusted since the beginning of the year to where we are now.  Fourth-place today behind the Gibbs (Joe Gibbs Racing) guys, we’re getting there.  It was great to have Kyle (Busch, owner) on the pit box checking everything out today.”

JASON BOWLES, No. 81 American Majority Toyota Camry, MacDonald Motorsports Finishing Position:  15th

TAYLER MALSAM, No. 19 G-Oil Toyota Camry, TriStar Motorsports Finishing Position:   16th

JEFF GREEN, No. 14 Hefty/Reynolds Wrap Toyota Camry, TriStar Motorsports Finishing Position:  17th

JOE NEMECHEK, No. 87 AM/FM Energy Wood Toyota Camry, NEMCO Motorsports Finishing Position:  19th

JOHN WES TOWNLEY, No. 99 Barberitos Toyota Camry, RAB Racing w/Brack Maggard Finishing Position: 20th

MIKE BLISS, No. 44 Toyota Camry, TriStar Motorsports Finishing Position:  33rd

TONY RAINES, No. 10 Toyota Camry, TriStar Motorsports Finishing Position:  39th