Post-Qualifying Notes & Quotes
Martinsville Speedway – April 5, 2013
3rd, TIMOTHY PETERS 19th, ERIK JONES
4th, JOHNNY SAUTER 22nd, DAVID STARR
5th, GERMAN QUIROGA 23rd, TODD BODINE
7th, MATT CRAFTON 31st, GRANT GALLOWAY
15th, JOEY COULTER 32nd, KENNY HABULDARRELL WALLACE JR., No. 54 ToyotaCare Toyota Tundra, Kyle Busch Motorsports
Starting Position: 2nd
How do you expect the tires to wear during the race?
“Unfortunately I haven’t run here and this is my first race here so it will be difficult to tell, but I have been talking with the crew chiefs and some of the Cup drivers — they’re saying that these tires are going to fall off a little bit and the track is going to change and the trucks are going to change. We just have to do our best on pit road and get the adjustments right and what the truck needs to be able to put us up front. Every track you go to pretty much is about saving tires. Hopefully, we can do that or I can do that just well enough to keep us up front. Track position is key, but you have to have your tires stay on there to have good track position. We’ll work hard to get that and we’ll see how it goes.”
Do you have hobbies other than racing?
“Photography — I have fun with that. You will usually see a camera in my hand or with my phone no matter what time of day it is. I don’t know — whatever a 19-year-old likes to do in his free time. I’ve had like five or six weeks off so I’ve been spending a lot of time at the go-kart track up in Mooresville with Ryan Blaney and Drew Herring. Whatever keeps me un- bored I would say — Xbox, you name it, I’m doing it.”
Do you know how your truck will be in the race?
“Yeah, Jerry (Baxter, crew chief) — this whole morning during practice we had the speed there and we did a long run and got the truck pretty comfortable. We were a little on the free side, but I think we’ll be alright. I talked with Kyle (Busch, team owner) when he was practicing during Cup and he says when he starts the race he is free and ends up tight. I think we’re in the same boat. I talked with Rick Ren (general manager, KBM) and he’s saying that we’re in good shape. We did do a long run to see where we kind of panned out and I think we were top-four and top-10 average so I think we’ll be okay.”
Would you like to have more races in between Daytona and this race weekend?
“I’d say throw a race in there — maybe one or two, I don’t know. I know I was pretty bored. You have guys like (Kyle) Larson that are running Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday when he’s off. That’s kind of hard to compete with. Like I said, I find something I can do — racing or shopping carts around Wal-Mart — you find something to keep you entertained. I’d say one or two in there — it would be cool to go back to California after seeing that Cup race.”
Do you have an advantage over other rookies knowing how this track changes from Late Model races?
“I think the biggest rookie that we’re worried about right now is Jeb Burton and he’s on the pole and he’s run three or four Late Model races here. He knows pretty much the same stuff I do — even more. It’s going to be key. Just being there at the end, staying out of harm’s way and keeping us up front, make no mistakes on pit road — it’s going to be the biggest thing so we can outsmart the other guys. If we can do that then I think we’ll be okay.”
What has been the biggest challenge coming from the NASCAR K&N Pro Series to the Truck Series?
“The biggest challenge for me so far is just getting used to the tires. In the East car you could kind of hang them out there and you could in Late Model too and have fun with it. In these, you’re more on the edge — not so much as a Nationwide car. You get this feeling and all of the sudden it jumps out sideways and you’re like, ‘Where did that come from?’ These things are so fidgety that you have to figure out where that fine line is and get your truck right for it. That’s been the biggest thing. We’re out here and that’s what a lot of testing is for and practicing. I think we’ll be okay for the race tomorrow.”
TIMOTHY PETERS, No. 17 Parts Plus Toyota Tundra, Red Horse Racing
Starting Position: 3rd
How was your qualifying lap?
“I’m really happy with our lap. A little concerned about our Tundra when we made our mock run, but I knew the guys would make their best adjustments possible. It just feels good to unload with a whole different new setup. Butch Hylton (crew chief) and everyone at Red Horse Racing works really hard on this Parts Plus Tundra.”
TIMOTHY PETERS, No. 17 Parts Plus Toyota Tundra, Red Horse Racing (continued)
How difficult was it for you to have five weeks off after the race at Daytona?
“It seemed like it went just like that to go by with Brantley (son). Just been loving on him and hopefully the weather will be good tomorrow where we can bring him out.”
Does your performance at Daytona give you motivation to run better at Martinsville?
“You kind of take Daytona — it is Daytona. I’ve seen a car come off leading and not make it to the start-finish line and I’ve seen last place come off turn four and not make it to the start-finish line. Definitely wasn’t kind to Red Horse Racing in general so it gives you more motivation with the month that we had off coming into here and my motivation is that it’s home. Just like Jeb (Burton) — I know his motivation — he had a great run at Daytona, but when you come home you want to do well. You try to put it behind you and you learn from it and that’s what we did. We learned from it and at midnight after that Daytona race — that was history so we were looking forward to what the outcome is going to be tomorrow. I’m really proud of the guys and what they’ve given me with this Parts Plus Tundra.”
Are you pleased with your qualifying run?
“From the way practice started — absolutely. When my crew chief called out the lap time I was pretty blown away, but I knew there was still a bunch more good trucks to come. Being that qualifying is on Friday evening I was surprised with the lap times and what they were. In the past we’ve qualified in very cool temperatures on Saturday morning where you would think there was more grip. Goodyear brought a great tire and it’s definitely a little different so we had to go to work a little harder with my travels and get the balance like we wanted it. We are happy, but it’s always something to be said about that number one pit stall for tomorrow.”
Is Johnny Sauter able to carry his momentum from Daytona to this race?
“Oh yeah. It’s a lot of motivation in my opinion. We won Daytona and it was 22 days in between Daytona and Atlanta then. You’re riding high from the win so I’m jealous because he got three extra weeks. Coming into here, he’s (Johnny Sauter) won here before — he’s really good across the board period, but he’s got a good truck and he’s definitely going to be one to be reckoned with tomorrow. I don’t think the break has bothered him. I think I read a couple times where he drove his straight-rail car some. Obviously, the time has passed by quickly, but from a racing standpoint you want to be in the vehicle every time that you can be. If you’re not, he’s got more motivation than anybody coming off the biggest race win of the year.”
JOHNNY SAUTER, No. 98 Carolina Nut Company/Curb Records, ThorSport Racing
Starting Position: 4th
What is the key to being successful at Martinsville?
“The key is there is there are a lot of elements that make up having a good day at Martinsville. Pit stops are crucial, keeping the drivers head about him, just a lot of give and take especially in the Truck race. You don’t come down pit road every time and put tires on. You’ve got to have tire management, I guess, and see how the strategy plays out. Just a lot of give and take with the competitors you’re racing with, and just staying out of trouble. That’s the key. If you just race the race track all day and give everybody room you should have a decent finish.”
What does it mean to win the first race of the year at Daytona and have the points lead going into the second race?
“Well, I mean, it feels good obviously, especially the way Daytona has been kind of an Achilles heel for us as a team over the last few years. I was just happy to finish and low and behold it was a win, so that’s always good especially at Daytona. It makes everybody feel good and makes the guys work hard. Not that they don’t, but it gives everybody a little bit of bounce in their step. Having said that, we’ve just got to keep it rolling now.”
GERMAN QUIROGA, No. 77 Net 10 Wireless Toyota Tundra, Red Horse Racing
Starting Position: 5th
How is your Tundra handling?
“My Toyota Tundra is great. In the first practice, I talked to my crew chief (Dan Stillman) and told him that the Net 10 truck is awesome. I really like it. He told me, ‘What changes we have to make?’ And I said, ‘I don’t know what to say. I don’t think any.’ He’s tried moving some things and we came back with all of the changes and this is how we arrived. I think we’re in pretty good shape for the race and I hope to bring my best result for Toyota, for Net 10 and for the whole Red Horse Racing. They have given me a great opportunity and I’m very thankful for that.”
GERMAN QUIROGA, No. 77 Net 10 Wireless Toyota Tundra, Red Horse Racing (continued)
How do you approach this race track?
“It’s a very narrow track. I’ve been winning in Mexico on this type of tracks a lot, so I know you have to be patient but of course you want to be in a top position to have a better chance by the end. I think we accomplished the best that we can do for today and we’re looking to tomorrow.”
MATT CRAFTON, No. 88 Rip It Energy Fuel/Menards Toyota Tundra, ThorSport Racing
Starting Position: 7th
How is your Tundra?
“I think we’re really good in race trim and in qualifying trim I didn’t think we would have a whole lot in it and if we get a top-10 I am going to be happy with that. Like I said, we didn’t have a whole lot of speed in it and I don’t know exactly why, but our race trim we were very happy with it. So, qualifying doesn’t mean that much, but the race does.”
JOEY COULTER, No. 18 Darrell Gwynn Foundation Toyota Tundra, Kyle Busch Motorsports
Starting Position: 15th
How strong is your Tundra for tomorrow’s race?
“I’m real excited. This morning Harold (Holly, crew chief) and I really had our work cut out for us. We weren’t sure what we were missing, but we didn’t quite hit it. Then, real late in the run we started throwing some stuff at it and got way better and I’m real happy with how qualifying went. I think this is probably going to be the best I’ve ever started at Martinsville. I’m really excited. Everybody on this 18 team has done a great job over the five weeks. Nobody killed anybody so it’s been a good little break and we’re excited to be back.”
JOHN WES TOWNLEY, No. 7 Zaxby’s Toyota Tundra, Red Horse Racing
Starting Position: 17th
ERIK JONES, No. 51 Toyota Tundra, Kyle Busch Motorsports
Starting Position: 19th
Are you happy with your truck?
“The truck is really good. The driver could use a little work. I’ve been struggling a little bit with getting my entry points down all week and kind of overdriving the corner and losing a lot of speed in the center of the corner. I’ve been working really hard on that and trying to get a real braking point down. But, the truck is really good and I think in race trim we’re really good too. We’ll see what we’ve got in the race. I think we should be just outside the top-10 here. We’ll take that and go into the race here and see if we can make something happen to stay upfront.”
How are your nerves with it being your first start?
“Not bad. I mean, once I get out on the track it’s not as bad. The whole getting ready to go is the worst part, but once you
get out there it’s not too bad.”
DAVID STARR, No. 81 Steely Lumber Toyota Tundra
Starting Position: 22nd
TODD BODINE, No. 13 Sealmaster Toyota Tundra, ThorSport Racing
Starting Position: 23rd
GRANT GALLOWAY, No. 07 Digger Specialties Toyota Tundra
Starting Position: 31st
KENNY HABUL, No. 93 Sun Energy Toyota Tundra
Starting Position: 32nd
