CLINT BOWYER, No. 15 5-hour ENERGY Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing
Duel 1 Finishing Position: 5th
How do you feel about the Daytona 500 following the Duels?
“I feel a whole lot better. Finally, something a little bit gratifying for the week. It sucks to have a little bit of adversity, but sometimes it’s a good thing and makes you appreciate a good effort and a good run. That’s a backup car – that’s the third car in line actually and it was fast enough to get up there and get amongst the cars I think you’re going to have to be with to win that race. I like that.”
Is there a feeling of relief after locking into the Daytona 500?
“It’s definitely a breath of fresh air. If it wasn’t for adversity, how do you have any fun in life? It feels good to finally get a good run. The good thing is – all kidding aside – our 5-hour ENERGY Toyota was pretty strong. When it came time and I was needing to go, I got up there and I felt like I was amongst the cars that you’re going to have to beat to win the Daytona 500 and the third car in line was still stacking up pretty good against him. Need a few more adjustments and tweaks here and there, but certainly those cars – that Daytona car we were supposed to run the 500 was better, but I think we can tweak on this thing and get it ready to go.”
JJ YELEY, No. 23 MAXIM Fantasy App/Dr. Pepper Toyota Camry, BK Racing
Duel 1 Finishing Position: 13th
MATT KENSETH, No. 20 Dollar General Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing
Duel 1 Finishing Position: 17th
Was your car as strong as you anticipated?
“My car was about what I expected it to be – he (Dale Earnhardt Jr.) with the 24 (Jeff Gordon) was a little stronger than I expected. Junior did a great job getting runs with the 24 and he had a couple real powerful runs there and he was smart enough and patient enough to bide his time until he got me in the spot he wanted me in and then got by me. I thought we were going to be okay, but then somebody split me three-wide to the outside – I must have lost too much momentum and then when I did that I went straight to the back and then it’s just hard to pass. The cars get two or three-wide in the middle of the pack and you just can’t go anywhere. You’re just kind of at the mercy of which line is going to move.”
Do you expect the Daytona 500 to be a battle between Hendrick Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing?
“I don’t know. I have to watch the next Duel. I felt like we had one of the stronger cars. The 88 (Dale Earnhardt Jr.) when he was hooked up with the 24 (Jeff Gordon) was definitely stronger than us. If I could have had a car right with me the whole time then I think we had one of the stronger cars, but when they ganged up on me when I was leading I couldn’t keep it. I think they’re pretty tough.”
Do you prefer the car to be setup good for the bottom groove or the top for the race?
“If you have it to where it’s driving good, then it should be able to drive good everywhere and vice versa. Everybody seems to want to be on the top, but we led a lot of laps on the bottom and when Junior got back to the front he led a lot of laps on the bottom, so I think it just depends where the most cars are and where the strongest cars are.”
JUSTIN MARKS, No. 29 American Born Moonshine Toyota Camry, RAB Racing
Duel 1 Finishing Position: 18th
JOHNNY SAUTER, No. 83 Dustless Blasting Toyota Camry, BK Racing
Duel 1 Finishing Position: 24th
