TOYOTA NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS)
Post-Race Notes & Quotes
Dover International Speedway – June 2, 2013
Kyle Busch (fourth) was the highest finishing Camry driver in Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) race at Dover International Speedway.
Camry drivers Clint Bowyer (sixth) and Mark Martin (ninth) also recorded top-10 finishes in the 400 mile race.
Hamlin started from the pole and led 41 laps (of 400) on the one-mile concrete oval before having mechanical issues and finished 34th.
Toyota drivers Busch (150 laps), Matt Kenseth (29) and Martin Truex Jr. (two) also led circuits in the 400-lap race.
With 222 laps led by Camry drivers at Dover, Toyota has now paced 2,478 laps (of 4,349) during the NSCS season — more than 56 percent of all laps run in 2013.
Other Camry drivers in the field included Bobby Labonte (21st), David Reutimann (26th), David Stremme (28th), Joe Nemechek (31st), Martin Truex Jr. (38th), Travis Kvapil (39th), Matt Kenseth (40th) and Mike Bliss (41st).
Three Camry drivers are currently in the top-10 in the unofficial NSCS point standings – Bowyer (third), Kenseth (fourth) and Busch (ninth).
KYLE BUSCH, No. 18 M&M’s Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 4th
What happened to your car during the race?
“We must have broken a right front bump stop or something. To finish fourth with that shows you what kind of piece we had. I think we had something. As soon as Jimmie (Johnson) got to me there about — just past halfway — that’s when it took a dump on us. I hate it. It’s just everything every week.
How would you describe your afternoon?
“It was really good early and then we had something break. Just another parts failure for us. It’s unfortunate we weren’t able to capitalize on getting a win out here today. I felt like we had something for the 48 (Jimmie Johnson), but it didn’t come down to having to race the 48. Just seems to be our two years continuing today.”
How much did you have to search for grip on the track?
“A lot. It was actually pretty cool that you could do that instead of just being stuck on the bottom and running one lane. I thought we put on a good race today. I think that the fans should be proud of that effort by everybody, and all the drivers I think that were just searching around having fun.”
Can you take any positives from leading laps today?
“It doesn’t matter how many you lead, you got to lead the last one. We had a really, really good race car today. The M&M’s Camry was awesome. Just, as always, something happens to us. We broke a right front bump stop. That was right about halfway that it started going bad. Hindered us from being able to go fast on the front side of the run.”
CLINT BOWYER, No. 15 5-hour ENERGY Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing
Finishing Position: 6th
How was your race?
“Not very good, we got a pretty decent finish but we just didn’t run very good all weekend long. Definitely need to go back and do our homework and figure some things out for our 5-hour ENERGY Toyota.”
MARK MARTIN, No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing
Finishing Position: 9th
How was your race?
“It was a really great effort by our team. Our Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota had more potential at the end then we were able to show. We didn’t quite get it adjusted for the changing track conditions, but it was awesome even as it was. It would have been even better if we could have got it adjusted out. Great, great team effort today and I’m really proud of the guys — we’re making progress.”
BOBBY LABONTE, No. 47 Scott Products Toyota Camry, JTG-Daugherty Racing
Finishing Position: 21st
DAVID REUTIMANN, No. 83 Burger King/Dr. Pepper Toyota Camry, BK Racing
Finishing Position: 26th
DAVID STREMME, No. 30 Widow Wax Toyota Camry, Swan Racing
Finishing Position: 28th
JOE NEMECHEK, No. 87 Royal Teak Toyota Camry, NEMCO Motorsports
Finishing Position: 31st
DENNY HAMLIN, No. 11 FedEx Freight/Autism Speaks Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 34th
MARTIN TRUEX JR., No. 56 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing
Finishing Position: 38th
What happened to put you in the garage?
“Something let go in the motor. Just dropped a cylinder and started smoking all at once. Same thing happened to the 20 (Matt Kenseth) it looked like. Obviously, we both have the same engine manufacturer. Pretty disappointing. We had a great race car today. The NAPA Toyota was really good. We were one or two adjustments away there from having something for them. We were really good on long runs. Little too tight on the short runs. Damn, I wish we could have made it to the end.”
TRAVIS KVAPIL, No. 93 Burger King/Dr. Pepper Toyota Camry, BK Racing
Finishing Position: 39th
MATT KENSETH, No. 20 Dollar General Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 40th
What happened to put you out of the race?
“Something broke in the engine. Man, it’s disappointing. I mean I feel like JGR (Joe Gibbs Racing) has three of the strongest teams in the garage. It seems like we got the best cars out there — or equal to the best cars. But, you know you have to finish these things. Obviously, there’s been some issues in that department. Got a lot of faith in them guys. They’ll get it figured out. I want to thank Dollar General and Toyota and the Home Depot. I had a great car today. Pretty disappointed to be standing here.”
Is it difficult to experience engine issues again this season?
“I had great cars all year, I really feel like JGR (Joe Gibbs Racing) has three of the strongest race teams and the best cars in the garage. You have to be able to finish these races to win and you have to be able to finish races to try to win championships. Hopefully we’ll have it all figured out before September.”
Are you disappointed with this finish and what do you take from this?
“There’s nothing I can do about it. I can’t do anything from a preparation standpoint, from a driving standpoint — I mean, I can’t be any easier on it then I’ve been on it, so something is wrong. It’s not driver induced, it’s not too many miles in practice, it’s nothing like that. Something wrong with a part and it broke.”
MIKE BLISS, No. 19 Plinker Tactical Toyota Camry, TriStar Motorsports
Finishing Position: 41st
