- Kyle Busch (fourth) was the first Toyota driver to the finish line in Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) race at Texas Motor Speedway.
- Jimmie Johnson was the race winner.
- Camry driver Denny Hamlin (10th) also earned a top-10 result at the 1.5-mile speedway.
- Hamlin is one of two Camry drivers participating in the Chase championship playoffs.
- The other Camry driver in the Chase championship playoffs, Matt Kenseth, finished 25th at Texas.
- After the second of the three races in the ‘Eliminator’ round of the Chase championship playoffs, Camry drivers are second (Hamlin) and fifth (Kenseth) in the point standings.
- Hamlin and leader Joey Logano have the same number of points in the standings (4,072), but Logano is first in the standings because of better results this season (more wins).
- Kenseth has 4,059 points — and is one point behind fourth-place Jeff Gordon (4,060 points) and 11 points behind third-place Ryan Newman (4,070 points) in the Chase championship playoffs.
- Four drivers will advance to the final round of the Chase championship playoffs at Homestead-Miami Speedway (Nov. 16) following next week’s race at Phoenix International Raceway.
KYLE BUSCH, No. 18 M&M’s Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 4th
Wasn’t it fun to watch these post-race activities?
“Yeah — but what’s more impressive is our run to the front tonight there at the end. We were a bag of everything today. Man we were so bad. I don’t know what happened to us from yesterday. We fought all day long. The guys prepared this thing. They’ve gotten plenty of practice in this Chase. They did a good job. They got me a good car there at the end in order to battle back and come back for a fourth. I appreciate all the effort — all my guys. They did a good job. It’s good to continue to fight like that and bring home a top-five.”
DENNY HAMLIN, No. 11 FedEx Office Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 10th
How was your race?
“We had a bad car. We made the best of it. Other guys made mistakes. We weren’t really that good. Luckily other guys had problems. That’s what happened.”
BRIAN VICKERS, No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing
Finishing Position: 16th
How was your race?
“The Aaron’s Dream Machine was pretty good at the start of the race. We went the wrong direction on adjustments during the middle part of the race. Billy Scott (crew chief) was able to get the car pretty good for the end of the race but with all those cautions we just got too tight.”
MATT KENSETH, No. 20 Dollar General Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 25th
How was your race?
“We were okay when we were up front and had track position, but we had a problem in the pits and lost our track position. The way my car drove — I was kind of afraid of how it would be in traffic. We got most of our track position back, stayed out on tires and just couldn’t get by Kurt (Busch) there — and got to the back again having to get tires. Then we got caught up in a restart deal that was three-four wide which did some damage, and we could just never overcome it.”
What’s your mindset heading to Phoenix?
“It’s the same. Obviously, today was a disaster as far as where we finished and how at the end of the race I couldn’t pass cars that got lapped earlier in the race — by the end of the race. So, it was a poor performance on the scoreboard. Just the same approach going to Phoenix. Just go there and try to do the best job we can.”
COLE WHITT, No. 26 Speed Stick Gear Toyota Camry, BK Racing
Finishing Position: 26th
CLINT BOWYER, No. 15 5-hour ENERGY Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing
Finishing Position: 28th
JJ YELEY, No. 83 Zak Products Toyota Camry, BK Racing
Finishing Position: 31st
BRETT MOFFITT, No. 66 Vydox Toyota Camry, Jay Robinson Racing
Finishing Position: 40th
ALEX BOWMAN, No. 23 Dr. Pepper Toyota Camry, BK Racing
Finishing Position: 42nd
