- Toyota driver Matt Kenseth (second) recorded the top-finish by a Camry in the NASCAR XFINITY Series (NXS) race at Phoenix International Raceway behind race-winner Joey Logano.
- Kenseth led 14 laps (of 200) and took the checkered flag only .293 seconds behind Logano.
- Camry driver Erik Jones (fifth) earned his first career NXS top-five finish at the one-mile oval where the 18-year old recorded his first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series victory in Nov. 2013.
- Daniel Suarez (11th) and Mike Bliss (20th) also finished in the top-20 in the 200-lap race.
MATT KENSETH, No. 20 Reser’s Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 2nd
How was the car on the final run?
“For whatever reason after our last pit stop we just didn’t fire off as fast and I had way less grip than every other pit stop and I was even in the lead there just for a minute. I knew that was probably not going to be good for me. He (Joey Logano) got away pretty good and then when I was just kind of trying to save my tires and then when it was time to go I just got tight running him down with all the lapped cars. Just couldn’t quite get there, but Wheels (Mike Wheeler, crew chief) did a great job on this Reser’s Camry. I thought we had a car that could have won, I just couldn’t get there and couldn’t get it done.”
Did you have anything for Joey Logano in the closing laps?
“We didn’t fire off real fast, but in the long run we seemed to be a little bit better than the 22 (Joey Logano) was most of the day, but it was just a little bit. With about 30 (laps) to go, we decided it was time to try to get rolling and get a run at him and just with all the lapped cars and the way these cars are, just got in dirty air and started getting my car tight and I couldn’t get any closer to him.”
How does the car feel for tomorrow’s race and is it strong enough to challenge Kevin Harvick?
“One lap isn’t 312 obviously, but I felt like we did a lot of good things in practice and felt like we learned a lot. Jason (Ratcliff, crew chief) really worked hard at trying some stuff outside of our box at least. Felt like we made some gains and some things were better, some things were worse. I’m sure Kevin (Harvick) is going to be the guy to beat, he has been the last few years here and there were some other guys that were real fast in practice too. Hopefully we will get a good balance tomorrow and we’ll have a good day.”
Are the XFINITY cars similar enough to the Sprint Cup cars to learn from today’s race?
“They are more similar than what they were, but there is still a fair amount of difference. Maybe learned a little bit about the track and the tires and things like that. Still the setups and the cars are enough different to where I don’t think there was really a lot of setup information that translates, but you always learn something when you’re out there racing. Learn about the track and running the same tires so hopefully you can pick up little bits and pieces.”
ERIK JONES, No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 5th
How was the car today?
“We had a good Monster Energy Camry, just not quite where we wanted it to be. Just a trying day all day. We made some good adjustments and I felt like at the beginning and then kind of got behind, got too free and kind of went back on some of the stuff and lost some track position. Definitely a good day of learning. I think we all learned a lot and we’re going to get better and be better the next time we go to the race track.”
What does it mean to get this top-five finish?
“It’s nice to finally get the finishes that I thought we deserved. We struggled with getting caught up in other people’s messes early on and just nice to run up front and get that finish that I thought we deserved.”
How was the car from practice to the race?
“We were pretty good all weekend I felt like and just kind of lost a little bit from practice to the race. We just weren’t quite where I thought we were kind of all day in practice – top two or three car instead of a top-five car. Good to bring home a top-five. The Monster Energy Camry was fast – just got behind on adjustments all day. We were tight early and freed it up and just got too free. On the last stop we wanted to go back and make sure it was going to be snug enough because on those restarts you have to try to get so much and when you’re free you just can’t make anything happen. Happy with the outcome – it’s nice to finally get a finish after having a couple rough weeks and then come back and hopefully give us some momentum going into Fontana next weekend.”
Has there been any issue with consistency in between the cars each weekend?
“Not right now, we’ve been fortunate enough to run every race. So far, it’s been easy going and the only road block would be switching between the 54 and the 20, which really hasn’t been too big of a deal. Two great race teams so when you go back and forth it definitely makes it easy when your cars are fast. Phoenix, it was a place that I felt confident coming into and just felt like we had a good weekend. I think we did and it was a good building weekend and I think me and Chris (Gayle, crew chief), it was our second race together and we learned a lot about working with each other more and more. Just kind of being in the heat of battle more so than we were at Atlanta. Excited to be running with him again at Richmond this year, but also looking forward to next weekend at Fontana to do a little better.”
DANIEL SUAREZ, No. 18 ARRIS Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 11th
How was the race?
“We improved a lot. I think I made a lot of mistakes last weekend in Las Vegas and I was really focused on those mistakes and listened to people. We did a way, way better job with this track. I think we were a top-10 car the whole race long. In the long run with two tires it was pretty good the first however long and then in the second run I wasn’t that fast, but again it was a full day of learning. We have to keep learning and keep working and I think we are going to be there.”
Did you have more confidence coming to Phoenix having raced previously in the NASCAR Mexico Series?
“A few days ago I really felt like the race here in Phoenix is like a home track for me seeing as we are not racing in Mexico. This is a pretty good track for me in a personal way. This was the first track that we have come to in 2015 so far where I have a little bit of experience in different race cars. My confidence was a little bit higher. We keep learning and we have a long way to go. We have to keep working and hopefully we can keep building on those top-10s for the next few weeks.”
MIKE BLISS, No. 19 Holiday Inn Club Vacations Toyota Camry, TriStar Motorsports
Finishing Position: 20th
DAVID STARR, No. 44 Zachary Toyota Camry, TriStar Motorsports
Finishing Position: 21st
CALE CONLEY, No. 14 IAVA Toyota Camry, TriStar Motorsports
Finishing Position: 22nd
JJ YELEY, No. 28 Texas 28 Spirits Stage Toyota Camry, JGL Racing
Finishing Position: 24th
BLAKE KOCH, No. 8 Toyota Camry, TriStar Motorsports
Finishing Position: 25th
ERIC MCCLURE, No. 24 Hefty Ultimate/Reynolds Wrap Toyota Camry, JBL Racing
Finishing Position: 29th
JEFF GREEN, No. 10 Toyota Camry, TriStar Motorsports
Finishing Position: 40th
