TOYOTA NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS)
JTG-Daugherty Racing Announcement — Notes & Quotes
Atlanta Motor Speedway – August 31, 2013
AJ ALLMENDINGER, No. 47 Scott Products Toyota Camry, JTG-Daugherty Racing
How does it feel to be the full-time driver of the No. 47 Camry for 2014?
“I’m excited. Just in the short amount of time that I’ve had a chance to work with them (JTG-Daugherty Racing), the relationship that I’ve built with them — I feel like Tad and Jodi (Geschickter, co-owners) and Brad (Daugherty, co-owner) especially — everybody’s got such good family values, just a good values outlook on life. It’s been great for me to be a part of the race team so far. It’s a good, little race team — you know, a one-car team. I feel like we can really build this race team and make it stronger and the guys that are on the race team starting with Bobby Hutchens (general manager) and on down the line — Brian Burns, the crew chief, all the guys — they’ve got such good energy, good attitude. It’s a lot of fun to be around them and I’ve just thoroughly enjoyed my time so far and feel like it’s a great opportunity for me and I feel like it’s going to be a lot of hard work, a lot of building, but we can make this race team into something strong and it’s just been a great year for me. And all the opportunities that I’ve had to lead to this to be able to be back in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series full-time next year is something that at this point last year I never thought would happen. Just thoroughly excited and really ready to finish this season off strong and really looking forward to getting to Daytona next year. Just really thankful, happy and I feel very fortunate to have this opportunity, so thank all you guys for the opportunity and just can’t wait to get there.”
Would it help you to be in the No. 47 Camry more this season?
“I think it’s obviously Tad’s (Geschickter, co-owner) decision. We still have this weekend and Kansas and Homestead (- Miami Speedway) for sure, which is what was on the original schedule when we did this. When it comes to Bobby (Labonte), I mean that’s Tad and Bobby’s decision. I’m in no want to try to do anything to get more races to push him out. He’s a ‘Hall of Famer’ and I’m here for whatever Tad wants. If that’s next week or a race here of there, of course I want to be in the race car and drive it. But I’m not doing that at the will of somebody else. I’ll be ready to go. I had those races and that’s what’s left on my schedule anyway, so obviously I’m free if there’s more races that need to be driven. But that’s not my decision and I’m not going to push for that either.
TAD GESCHICKTER, co -owner, No. 47 Scott Products Toyota Camry, JTG-Daugherty Racing
How did the relationship with AJ Allmendinger begin?
“That’s a great question. Originally when we put AJ (Allmendinger) in the car, we were trying to verify some assumptions. The only feedback we’ve had in the EFI (electronic fuel injection) era has been Bobby (Labonte). There are a lot of decisions to make, so originally who’s the fastest guy that’s driven a lot of different stuff and different engine manufacturers, etcetera, that can give us another point of view. Having said that, I didn’t know AJ Allmendinger very well before then. He’s a phenomenal person. I was very impressed with his talent, enthusiasm, the way he interacted with the sponsors and everyone and the relationship I guess kind of evolved over the three races we’ve done. I’d say half way through this two months that we’ve been working together we started talking more and more about, ‘Hey, maybe it’s time.’ I think Bobby Labonte and I have had long talks in the — sometimes in the wee hours of the morning in the motorhomes about what’s next in his career and I think he’s trying to decide that, but he was in favor of us getting out here and announcing what we’re doing next year too so he can see what his options are as well.”
How will Bobby Labonte’s injury impact your plans for the remainder of 2013?
“Bobby (Labonte) is pretty banged up right now. He has another doctor’s appointment on Monday, so I guess as a football head coach says, ‘It may be a game-time decision.’ Bobby still has a burning passion to drive the race car and see his contract through the end, but having said that we obviously don’t want to him to risk further injury or push the issue, so more to come. I wish I could give you a straight answer, but I think that’s Bobby’s decision with his doctors and we’ll just take it a day at a time on that.”
