TOYOTA NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS)
Post-Race Notes & Quotes
Daytona International Speedway – July 6, 2014
· Brian Vickers (second) was the first Toyota driver to the finish line in Sunday’s rain-shortened NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) race at Daytona International Speedway.
· Aric Almirola was the race-winner in the 112 lap race that was red flagged twice due to rain. The race was originally scheduled for 160 laps on Saturday evening before it was postponed until Sunday due to weather.
· Camry drivers Denny Hamlin (sixth) and Clint Bowyer (ninth) also earned top-10 results at the 2.5-mile superspeedway.
· Matt Kenseth led 12 laps (of 113) early in the race before being involved in an accident and finishing 20th.
· Rookie driver Alex Bowman (13th) recorded a career best NSCS finish. His previous career best finish was a 22nd-place result at Auto Club Speedway in March.
· In the unofficial NSCS championship point standings, Kenseth sits fifth — 71 points behind first-place Jeff Gordon. Kyle Busch (ninth), Bowyer (12th) and Hamlin (14th) also rank in the top-15 in the standings.
BRIAN VICKERS, No. 55 Aaron’s FSU National Championship Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing
Finishing Position: 2nd
How tough was it today on the race track?
“There was a lot of strategy going on and it kept changing. When we started the race — and knowing there was a competition caution coming at lap 20 — we thought about kind of taking it easy and going to the back and then low and behold the lane we were in just kept going forward so we went to the front. And then it got a little bit too dicey for my comfort that early and guys were moving around a lot so we went to the back. Just had a bad feeling about kind of the energy in the pack and where it was headed, so we dropped back and about two laps later there was a big crash and we were fortunate to be out of that. And, then we kept going there and got to a point where we were ready to go but just didn’t quite have the speed we needed in the car to get from where we were at to the front and we ended up actually getting into the pack at about the wrong moment and were fortunate enough to get through the last big wreck. I saw it kind of starting out of the corner of my eye. A car from the outside to the inside just went way too quick and I just jumped on the brakes, and then as soon as I saw an opening downshifted and just went to the gas and just was able to get through it. I’m very lucky to get through that wreck and keep the FSU (Florida State University) car out of trouble. The guys did a great job. They called a great race and put me in a position to win there at the end. It was just we were just a lap away from an opportunity to make a pass. I had one shot at the 43 (Aric Almirola) with a run and the 13 (Casey Mears) got to my right rear corner and I just couldn’t move up and do anything with it. We were just kind of stuck there and then the rain just came at the wrong time for us and the right time for them. It’s unfortunate. I’m just really proud of everyone on this Aaron’s Dream Machine team. They’ve done a great job getting the momentum going back in the right direction and that’s what we need right now. We would’ve really have loved to put this Florida State University national champions car in victory lane and that’s frustrating. I was hoping they would wait it out. We’ve got lights — it’s Daytona. It’s only two o’clock, but I guess they felt they needed to call it so it is what it is.”
Does the intensity pick up now that another driver has claimed a Chase spot?
“Yeah. Obviously, the fewer spots there are — the intensity picks up for the guys in that position. I think every week you go to every race trying to win and knowing what’s at stake if you do and what’s at stake if you don’t. The closer to the Chase you get that intensity is going to pick up. Our job is to go out there and try to win next weekend. We came close this weekend but the weather didn’t work out in our favor and that’s that. We’ve just got to get on with it and go to next week.”
How challenging was it on the race track with all of the weather delays?
“It’s definitely challenging, especially this type of racing because being in the lead has its advantages and disadvantages so you don’t necessarily — I think probably more advantages than disadvantages. I’d rather be in the lead than second going into this situation but you just never know when the checkered it going to come. I think to a certain extent, as many fans that stuck around today to watch this race and to see 160 laps knowing it was only 1:30 or 2:00 in the afternoon — I was shocked that it was going to be called this early in the day knowing that we have lights and when it was supposed to be a night race anyway. So, I don’t know. I just kind of felt like it was going to be another storm that would come and go and we’d go back green and finish the race, but it ended up not being that way.”
How much does this say about your team?
“I’ve been really proud of these guys. Billy’s (Scott, crew chief) made some good calls. We’ve had a little luck on our side as well. Those FSU (Florida State University) national champions have been with us tonight — it’s so great to have them on board and thank Aaron’s for making that possible.”
How were you able to save your race car during that big accident?
“When we went back green I told the guys, I was like, ‘Man, there’s a lot of guys that seem really dehydrated. See a lot of hands out the left side window.’ That’s when guys started making mental mistakes. I was nervous going back green. And I saw that flash come across and I just started getting on the brakes as hard as I could and trying to find a hole and as soon as I saw a hole I just downshifted and floored it and hoped for the best and we got really lucky. I saw some cars go by us in both directions and over the top of our hood. It was a mess. Fortunately, we were able to get through.”
DENNY HAMLIN, No. 11 FedEx Ground Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 6th
What was the racing like today?
“I think most everyone has been pushing the button really from lap one, but the tires and the cars are not handling as well being that the temperatures are hotter and you can see a lot of cars moving around. Just some people have been a little overzealous and caused some big wrecks simply because you can’t control your car when it gets this hot, so you’ve got to allow for that. As a driver you’ve got to feel that edge and know where you need to be and make it to the finish.”
CLINT BOWYER, No. 15 RK Motors Charlotte Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing
Finishing Position: 9th
Did your race car almost get tipped over during the accident on lap 98?
“Yeah, she kind of did the hospital hop there and had me concerned when it went like that and you’re completely sideways running 200 miles an hour, but it went back down. Man, it’s just too bad. Look how many cars are tore up. These guys spend so much time working on these things. I mean, they work so hard when they come down here and now they’re just scrap.”
Were you worried about your splitter when you went through the grass?
“Yeah, once it came back down I was trying to keep it sideways because we’ve seen on the first wreck everybody that kind of missed it went through the grass and just rips the whole front end off of it. So, I was actually trying to keep it sideways and swung back around and dug in twice pretty hard and I was like, ‘Well, there went the splitter.’ And, we came back around and (it) was pretty good and we seemed fine.”
ALEX BOWMAN, No. 23 Dr. Pepper Toyota Camry, BK Racing
Finishing Position: 13th
MICHAEL WALTRIP, No. 66 RoyalTeakCollection.com Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing
Finishing Position: 19th
MATT KENSETH, No. 20 Home Depot Husky Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 20th
KYLE BUSCH, No. 18 Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing
Starting Position: 28th
How was that wild ride you took during that accident?
“It was okay. Just felt like a slow carnival ride. I guess that’s fitting for the Fourth of July weekend — but not here in Daytona. It’s just unfortunate. I don’t have any clue what happened. Somebody got squirrelly. I saw the 5 (Kasey Kahne) turn sideways across the field there and then all chaos ensued thereafter. And the grass is so wet my stuff just augured in started turning right and going back up the race track. I just wish it would have stayed straight. If it would have stayed straight, I might have had an opportunity to get through there and not be too banged up. But, then I just got T-boned there at the end and it just kind of toppled me over.”
What happened to cause the big accident?
“Just looked like the 16 (Greg Biffle) got into the 5 (Kasey Kahne) and got the 5 squirrely and turned him across the entire field essentially. I shot for the grass and thought I was okay and was going through there but it’s so rough and bumpy and finally my splitter augured in and just turned me right right back across the race track where everybody was wrecking. So, I wish it would’ve went straight, if it would’ve went straight I might have been through there okay but the way these cars are these days with our noses down all over the race track and everything there’s really no saving it once you hit grass. I think we saw that with a bunch of guys earlier. It’s unfortunate. The Interstate Batteries Camry was in a good position much of the day and thought we had a shot to end up decent and we were just kind of playing it out seeing what the weather was going to do.”
Can you describe being upside down in your race car and waiting for officials to tip your Camry back over?
“It’s not bad. I mean, you’re in a seven-point harness so things are all good. I was getting banged up. Actually a few of the other hits were worse but then I got hit by the 26 (Cole Whitt) which just toppled me over and when I toppled over you know you just sit there upside down basically in your restraints. Your chest is held, your abdomen is held and everything is held and you just wait for them to come in there and get you and turn you over, because it’s way safer to get turned over in that seat because you already got turned over once then it is to try to undo the belts and bang your head off the ceiling and try to get out.”
RYAN TRUEX, No. 83 VooDoo BBQ/Armed Forces Motorsports Toyota Camry, BK Racing
Finishing Position: 32nd
COLE WHITT, No. 26 Al’s Liner/Scorpion Window Film Toyota Camry, BK Racing
Finishing Position: 34th
