TOYOTA NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS)
Post-Qualifying Notes & Quotes
Texas Motor Speedway – April 12, 2013
1st, KYLE BUSCH
5th, MARTIN TRUEX JR.
15th, BRIAN VICKERS
20th, MATT KENSETH
23rd, MARK MARTIN
26th, CLINT BOWYER
30th, BOBBY LABONTE
32nd, TRAVIS KVAPIL
33rd, DAVID STREMME
34th, MIKE BLISS
38th, DAVID REUTIMANN
41st, JOE NEMECHEK
KYLE BUSCH, No. 18 Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing
Starting Position: 1st
How good was your race car?
“It felt that good. Sometimes you feel that good and it’s not very fast. I’ll tell you what, these guys here and this whole JGR team, everybody back at the shop, all the guys and girls that work so hard there to give us really great race cars to come to the race track with. We didn’t unload the best, but Dave (Rogers, crew chief) and the guys — they really used the whole tool box today and worked really hard getting us a good piece for the race and for qualifying. This Interstate Batteries Camry is flying — I’m looking forward to tomorrow night.”
What do you think about setting a new track qualifying record?
“Not too shabby of a day. It certainly didn’t start out as good as we expected to — but we made the most of the day. We used the whole tool box today. I can’t say enough about everybody at Joe Gibbs Racing — everyone at the shop that work so hard to give us great equipment to come to the race track with. I appreciate that Dave (Rogers, crew chief) and the guys dug in and worked hard today to give us a good piece for qualifying and I feel like we have a good piece for the race tomorrow night too. Lot of fun today and looking forward to bringing Norm Miller (Interstate Batteries) to victory lane right here in his home state of Texas.”
What would it mean to get a win at Texas?
“It’s going to be a tough race, certainly. Five hundred miles here are always grueling, but we just have to work hard and continue to do what we know how to do and that’s to try to make the most of it.”
How much will starting out front help you in Saturday night’s race?
“It certainly makes our job a little bit easier, makes our pit selection a little bit easier and we look forward to it — it’s a good day.”
MARTIN TRUEX JR., No. 56 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing
Starting Position: 5th
How good has your car been here at Texas?
“It’s been a really good two days for us and the NAPA Toyota. The car has been really fast. The guys have done a great job. We just missed it just a little bit right there. I wish I could do it over again. Part of it was driver error. The guys have done a great job. We’ve had fast cars all year long. We’ve just have had some tough luck. Hopefully, we’ll turn it around this weekend. Love coming to Texas. A great race track. Think we got a really good car for tomorrow night.”
How was your qualifying run?
“The car is just awesome. The guys have done such a good job with it today. Wish I could do that (qualifying) over again.
The driver wasn’t perfect that lap. We kind of got messed up on our very last mock run in practice. The track was really hot. We got really tight in (turns) three and four. I had a really good lap going and I lost the nose in (turns) three and four. And we weren’t sure how much to adjust for that. I wasn’t sure if it was going to happen again. Really got through (turns) one and two really good. Got into (turn) three and I could have got more. The car stuck. It turned really good and I just didn’t carry quite enough speed through there. That one’s on me. But the guys done good. The car has been awesome all day long. I’m looking forward to tomorrow night.”
BRIAN VICKERS, No. 11 FedEx March of Dimes Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing
Starting Position: 15th
How was your qualifying run?
“I think it was good, but it’s so hard to say. Our goal was a 27.90 (seconds) — we got a 27.91. I left a little bit on the table. I do know that the guys did an awesome job. We were a little off in practice in qualifying trim and the car was incredible. They did their part — that’s for sure. The draw hurt us. We’ll see if I left anything out there. The whole FedEx team — having March of Dimes on the car is really kind of special — I was just really proud of the effort and getting the car from practice to where we are in qualifying trim.”
How has it been working with the Joe Gibbs Racing Sprint Cup program?
“I’ve known Darian (Grubb, crew chief) for a long time. We’ve never worked together, but I’ve known him for a long time. But, it’s still definitely. It’s intriguing. From team to team over the years as I’ve experienced different operations and different teams and different organizations — there are a lot of similarities. They’re all racers. So there is a common ground. But, I would say that each team and each organization does have its own little intricacies and people and culture. You have to adapt and they have to adapt to you. And then each car — these guys are so used to setting up a car for Denny (Hamlin). I think Denny and I drive very similarly, but there are obviously always going to be little bitty differences. I’m really proud of the way they worked with me. The way they’ve tried to adapt and make me feel comfortable within the team and within the car. It makes all the difference in the world. It’s been a great experience and hopefully we can cap it off with a good run.”
MATT KENSETH, No. 20 Dollar General Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing
Starting Position: 20th
How was your qualifying run?
“You know it felt better than what the lap time was. We kind of struggled a little bit all day today. That felt like a decent lap. I got everything I could get in turns one and two and were a little off in (turns) three and four, but I felt like it was a good lap — just a little low on speed.”
MARK MARTIN, No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing
Starting Position: 23rd
How was your Camry in qualifying?
“I thought that was a really good lap for our Aaron’s Dream Machine Camry. We just haven’t had the kind of speed that we’ve been spoiled with a lot of places, here this weekend. We’ve been close a couple times, but most of the time we’ve been a step off of speed, but we’re not really fighting anything. It’s race time now, we’ll take it and race it and see what we can do.”
CLINT BOWYER, No. 15 Gander Mountain Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing
Starting Position: 26th
BOBBY LABONTE, No. 47 Bush’s Beans Toyota Camry, JTG-Daugherty Racing
Starting Position: 30th
TRAVIS KVAPIL, No. 93 Burger King Toyota Camry, BK Racing
Starting Position: 32nd
DAVID STREMME, No. 30 Toyota Camry, Swan Racing
Starting Position: 33rd
MIKE BLISS, No. 19 G-Oil/Plinker Tactical/Doubletree Toyota Camry, TriStar Motorsports
Starting Position: 34th
DAVID REUTIMANN, No. 83 Burger King Toyota Camry, BK Racing
Starting Position: 38th
JOE NEMECHEK, No. 87 MaddiesPlaceRocks.com Toyota Camry, NEMCO Motorsports
Starting Position: 41st
