Toyota NSCS Chicagoland Post-Race Notes & Quotes

TOYOTA NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS)
Post-Race Notes & Quotes
Chicagoland Speedway – September 15, 2013

Toyota driver Matt Kenseth won Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) race at Chicagoland Speedway — his first victory at the track.It’s Kenseth’s sixth victory of the year — a single-season career high for Kenseth.  In addition, it was his 30th  career NSCS victory.

Camry drivers — and Chase for the championship participants — Kyle Busch (second) and Clint Bowyer (ninth) also earned top-10 finishes at the 1.5-mile race track located outside of Chicago.

Kenseth led the field four times for a race-high 89 laps (of 267).

Busch led the field three times for a total of 67 laps (of 267).

Other Toyota drivers in the field were Martin Truex Jr. (18th), AJ Allmendinger (21st), Travis Kvapil (24th), Joe Nemechek (31st), Denny Hamlin (33rd), David Reutimann (36th), Brian Vickers (38th) and Cole Whitt (39th).

After the first of the 10 races in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship playoff, Kenseth leads the series standings by eight points over second-place Busch.  Bowyer sits in ninth-place.

MATT KENSETH, No. 20 Dollar General Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position:  1st
Is this a big win?
“It sure is.  I’ve always wanted to win here in Chicago.  It’s only a couple hours from where I grew up — up in Wisconsin. So, it feels great to finally get the win here.  We’ve been close a lot.  Man, it’s been a long week for everybody.  So, it feels great to finally race and be here in victory lane.”

How much did you have to work on the race car?
“Man, we had a really great car two or three runs ago — that four tire run.  We had a really fast car.  We came out like 11th or so — a lot of the guys did two (tires) — and worked our way all the way to the front.  And then struggled a little bit when we did fuel only and Jason (Ratcliff, crew chief) had the balance where it needed to be there at the end.  These guys did a great job.  Once it was in front it was pretty fast.”

Does it mean anything to lead the points after the first race?
“Well, I mean it’s the first race.  It feels great to win.  It always feels good to win.  We’re going to enjoy this a lot tonight and go to work on New Hampshire in the morning.”

How did the restarts work tonight?
“No.  I think it’s better.  You let the leader go and once he goes — you go.  And, man, I really got to thank Kyle (Busch) and Denny (Hamlin) — we had a really good test here a couple weeks ago and thank Kevin (Harvick), as well.  Man, he gave me a big push on that restart where he could have tried to squeeze it in an apron and gave me a big push and got me out front.  I owe him one for that, for sure.”

Did the racing conditions change following the rain delay?
“I thought (with) the conditions at night, we were going to be off a little bit and Jason (Ratcliff, crew chief) did it again — these guys are awesome.  Have to thank Kyle (Busch) and Denny (Hamlin) as well.  We had a really good test here last week and it really showed up today, and Kevin (Harvick) gave me a great push on that last restart.  They did  a great job with this old car — did everything it needed to.  We were a little too tight there at the end and I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to get Kyle — and glad we got out front.”

KYLE BUSCH, No. 18 Doublemint Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position:  2nd
Was it a race-winning move on the final restart by Matt Kenseth?
“The 29 (Kevin Harvick) pushed him — 1600 horsepower versus 800.  I just hate it.  We had a great car tonight.  We were really off yesterday, but Dave Rogers (crew chief) and these guys really pulled through for me and gave me a great piece. This Doublemint Camry was awesome.  These guys, they worked hard to give me a good piece.  I just, Kurt (Busch) didn’t get a good enough restart to get with me to push me forward — to keep us side-by-side getting into (turn) one.  They beat us and it’s a great night for Joe Gibbs Racing to start the Chase like this.”

KYLE BUSCH, No. 18 Doublemint Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing (continued)
What happened on the final restart?
“Everything was fine.  Just got going fine and then actually beat (Matt) Kenseth to the start-finish line, but then he got help from behind and got pushed past me basically.  So, 1600 horsepower is a lot better than 800 — and it will out do you every time.  I hate it that I didn’t have enough to stay side-by-side with Kenseth through (turns) one and two because I felt like I could have side-drafted him and kept the lead, but just wasn’t our night, I guess.  We’ll take second, which is fine.  This Doublemint Camry was awesome compared to yesterday, so made a lot of improvements.”

How does it feel to start the Chase with second-place finish?
“There’s no doubt — it’s great.  Certainly you’d rather win one.  I felt like we had a great chance of that tonight.  There is still nine more weeks — nine long weeks to go.”

How was your race?
“We had a really fast car today.  This Doublemint Camry was awesome.  I can’t say enough about the guys, Dave Rogers (crew chief) and these guys did a great job from yesterday where we were to today.  I didn’t think we had a shot, but the speed really came alive here at night for us and we were really fast.  I just hate it for that last yellow, man.  There with that last caution and then the last restart, I got going just fine and actually was ahead of Matt (Kenseth) for a while there and then (Kevin) Harvick got to his back bumper and pushed him right past me.  1600 horsepower is a lot better than 800 when you’re battling like that and I just couldn’t keep alongside of Kenseth enough getting down into (turn) one to side-draft him and hold him back and then be on his outside on the exit of two.  Once he got in front of me, it was over.”

CLINT BOWYER, No. 15 Peak Antifreeze Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing
Finishing Position:  9th
How does it feel to start the Chase with a top-10 finish?
“It was a good night.”

MARTIN TRUEX JR., No. 56 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing
Finishing Position:  18th
What happened at the end of the race?
“I really don’t know what happened to our car at the end.  We went from a top-five Toyota to a really tough car to drive.  It was a handful, especially in traffic.  I guess we need to go back and figure out these heat cycles.  It’s really strange.”

AJ ALLMENDINGER, No. 47 Kingsford Charcoal Toyota Camry, JTG-Daugherty Racing
Finishing Position:  21st

TRAVIS KVAPIL, No. 93 Burger King/Dr. Pepper Toyota Camry, BK Racing
Finishing Position:  24th

JOE NEMECHEK, No. 87 Toyota Camry, NEMCO Motorsports
Finishing Position:  31st

DENNY HAMLIN, No. 11 FedEx Office Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position:  33rd
What happened to your race car?
“Blew up again.  Just can’t finish a race, can’t — ran like (crap) for — motor ran terrible all day and then blew up at the end. Hard two months, I mean it’s just unbelievable, even when we have a decent run going, just can’t finish.”

DAVID REUTIMANN, No. 83 Burger King/Dr. Pepper Toyota Camry, BK Racing
Finishing Position:  36th

BRIAN VICKERS, No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing
Finishing Position:  38th
What happened to have you fall from second-place into the garage?
“We don’t know yet.  It just started to tighten up on the backstretch.  We were running second and it was pulling strong until then.  I hate it for these guys.  Our Aarons Dream Machine Toyota was doing great all night.  They just do a fantastic job.  We had a car that was capable of winning.  We lost a motor, but you know what, there’s a lot of people out at TRD (Toyota Racing Development) that are busting their butts to give us great engines. It’s not like I haven’t stuck a few cars in the fence before.  We’ll get this fixed and we’ll get back out there and go after it.”

What happened on the race track?
“I don’t know yet.  The motor just started to tighten up on the backstretch and we lost it.  I hate it for everyone on this Aaron’s Dream Machine.  This Toyota was running great all night.  These guys just did an awesome job.  I was so proud of the effort.  We had a car capable of winning tonight and unfortunately we lost an engine.  I’ve struck a few cars in the fence, so I can’t beat up on those guys.  They work really hard and I’m sure they’ll get to the bottom of the problem and we’ll get it fixed.”

What were the conditions like on the race track?
“It was 100 percent.  Everybody was driving hard.  It was a great race.  I’ll tell you what, and the fans deserve it.  We’ve got a lot of great fans in this sport.  There’s a lot of fun out there racing.  It’s been a wild night, from day to night, the track changed a lot.  A lot of guys had to adjust.  We got really tight in the end, but everybody was racing hard and putting on a great show.”

COLE WHITT, No. 30 Lean1 Toyota Camry, Swan Racing
Finishing Position:  39th