Toyota NSCS Bristol Post-Race Notes & Quotes

Toyota NSCS Bristol Post-Race Notes & Quotes

• Matt Kenseth claimed the victory for Toyota in Sunday night’s rain-delayed NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) race at Tennessee’s Bristol Motor Speedway.
• The victory was the seventh for Toyota and fourth for Kenseth at the half-mile bullring, now the most for him at any NSCS race track.
• With this win, Kenseth and the No. 20 Dollar General Camry team are locked into the 2015 Chase for the Sprint Cup championship battle.
• Kenseth started from the pole and led 47 laps (of 511) in the race which endured a 90-minute rain delay to start and then three red flags.
• The victory was Kenseth’s 32nd of his NSCS career and 67th for Toyota since joining the series in 2007.
• Camry Xfinity Series driver Erik Jones made his career-first NSCS start in tonight’s race subbing for Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) teammate Denny Hamlin after Hamlin suffered neck pain during the first 22 laps of the race.
• Fellow Camry driver and Kenseth’s JGR teammate Carl Edwards (24th) led 86 laps of the race and was in position for a top-three finish, but an accident in the closing laps resulted in him finishing outside the top-20.
• Five Camry drivers are currently in the top-20 in the unofficial NSCS point standings — Kenseth (eighth), Hamlin (11th), Edwards (15th), Clint Bowyer (17th) and David Ragan (18th).

MATT KENSETH, No. 20 Dollar General Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position:  1st

What does this win mean?

“It means a lot. I have a great race team. Last year was tough and not winning again this year so far has been tough. We’ve been putting ourselves in position. Really need to thank Jason (Ratcliff, crew chief) and all these guys – our pit stops have been great. I haven’t been doing as great and the cars haven’t been as good, but these guys have been really doing it. I want to thank everyone at JGR (Joe Gibbs Racing) and Dollar General, I think they stuck it out all day in the rain to watch this thing like the fans and all our sponsors – Dollar General, DeWalt, Toyota, TRD (Toyota Racing Development), Gatorade, Citizen Watch, Wiley X, Reser’s and Cessna, they’re great partners and I’m proud to be standing here representing them. And, Steve (Byrnes), because I am his favorite driver. He doesn’t tell many people that, but I am his favorite driver.”

How happy are you to end the streak since your last race win?

“Now it’s zero starting next week – I’m proud of that. I was getting tired of that stat of not winning. I want to thank Dollar General and all these guys behind me and all the fans for sticking it out today. We had a pretty good car today and had a lot of speed on Friday. We had really good short run speed today, which the way the race played out – we lucked out that we had a good short run car and not such a good long run car. Everything kind of fell into place today and it feels good.”

How worried were you in the closing laps?

“Honestly, starting on the outside, with 22 to go I was getting a little nervous – Carl (Edwards) was better than me on the long run all day and I thought in 22 laps he was going to wear me down and pass me because we were real tight at that time and then we got the quick caution and I felt better about it. As long as we didn’t have to run more than six or seven laps then I thought maybe we could hold on.”

JASON RATCLIFF, crew chief, No. 20 Dollar General Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing

How difficult was it to stay focused through the delays and length of the race?

“Well, it was pretty easy to keep it together from where I was sitting.  Matt (Kenseth), when you ask him that same question, he did a phenomenal job, as always, especially here at Bristol.  This place is unbelievable.  I get out of breath just watching him go around here.  Great night, obviously.  A few hours ago I was thinking we were going to do this deal tomorrow, to get it all tonight, all 500 laps and end up in victory lane, of course you mentioned how does it feel to get back to victory lane, it’s always great.  Even if we were there last week, it never gets old.  But with the new format, to get a win under our belt and we can look at the season a little differently now, knowing that we’re in the Chase, so I’m really excited.  These guys have been working hard.  Everybody at Joe Gibbs Racing has been working hard and I think that shows.  I think we’ve turned the corner, and we’ve got a great season ahead of us.”

CLINT BOWYER, No. 15 5-hour ENERGY Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing
Finishing Position:  12th

BRETT MOFFITT, No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing
Finishing Position:  17th

MATT DIBENEDETTO, No. 83 Burger King Toyota Camry, BK Racing
Finishing Position:  21st

CARL EDWARDS, No. 19 Comcast Business Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 24th

How do you feel about the race overall and what happened in the accident?

“The whole night went really well and we had a very fast car – the Comcast Business Toyota was really good. Congrats to Matt (Kenseth), that’s huge for him to get the win. I was racing really aggressively there at the end and the car was sticking and everything was going great and then I drove into turn one and that was the first time I lifted off throttle and I just pitched sideways. I was in deep trouble – I drove it way too deep to be this far sideways. It’s 100 percent my fault. My guys did a great job and we just have to keep digging. The cars are getting faster and faster. The outcome was not what we wanted and I made a big mistake, but it was just a fun race. There were times in the middle of that race where I was just laughing – this was so much fun racing through traffic. I had a good time.”

Were you surprised we were able to race the entire distance with the weather in the area?

“I applaud NASCAR for getting this in. The whole idea with the Air Titans – that speeds everything up and they did a great job. They were patient and did a great job getting this race in today for the fans.”

ERIK JONES, No. 11 FedEx Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position:  26th

What was your first Cup experience like tonight?

“Obviously, it was a huge learning experience overall. The FedEx Camry was pretty good, but it just took me so long – really up until the red flag and kind of sitting and thinking about it and really figuring out what I had and what I had to do different from the Xfinity cars was just huge. I learned a ton. I wish we could start the night over and do it all again. It was an interesting situation for sure. I never turned a lap in one of these cars until the green flag dropped. It was interesting and I learned a ton. I can’t wait to try it again.”

When did you get the call to come to Bristol?

“I was sitting on my couch back in North Carolina thinking about when I was going to get my nap in during the race in the middle and then I got a text from one of the crew members and they let me know that I might need to be on standby. Right then I started packing a bag. I called my dad and said, ‘Hey, I think I might be getting to run a Cup race tonight.’ He was like, ‘Okay, cool keep me updated.’ Took off right from there and flew here and helicoptered in and got in and drove.”

How big was the issue with the steering wheel?

“I didn’t get any time to get fitted in the car properly, but fortunately me and Denny (Hamlin) are pretty much the same size. Overall, we didn’t have to change too much. The steering wheel was a little too close and just a different steering wheel than what I would normally run. That made it just tough to physically turn the wheel. It wasn’t a huge deal, actually 500 laps went by pretty fast. Just a huge learning experience overall and pretty pumped that I got the opportunity.”

Were you nervous to make the start tonight?

“A 35-minute flight up and I guess that was the only time I really had to really reflect on what I was about to do. There were a few moments where I didn’t feel nervous, but my stomach felt nervous. I didn’t have a lot of time really to even think about it.”

Was the team ever able to fix the steering wheel to fit you better?

“We thought at the red flag that I would be able to swap out and hopefully change the positioning of it, but unfortunately I didn’t get to because it was so short and I didn’t even get out of the car. Just kind of dealt with it and moved my hands around and figured it out.”

Were you pleased with your performance in the race?

“I was happy with it – I think we came home 26th. I wish we could have stayed on the lead lap or a lap down or two laps down and picked up a few more spots. We got caught up in the middle of three and four there in the back of the 17 (Ricky Stenhouse Jr.) and that kind of hurt us getting stuck in the pits. Before that, I was learning a ton and I was pretty happy with it up to that point.”

ERIK JONES, No. 11 FedEx Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing (continued)

What were you able to learn from tonight’s race?

“That’s tough – honestly they drive so much different than the Xfinity cars, especially with this rules package that they actually drive better. The extra speed is such an adjustment from lift points to throttle pick up points and everything else. You have to really adjust yourself. It took me a good half to three-quarters of the race to really get a feel for it and I’m still not there. I’m still trying to figure out timing and passing cars and not getting hung up behind the car because I picked up throttle too soon. It was interesting to feel the differences and I hope we get to try it again.”

Did you play with the in-car adjustability?

“I played with it a little bit, but I never made any huge swings. Half a tenth – small adjustments. I played with it a little bit and it was interesting. It was kind of cool.”

Was it difficult to run a longer race than you are used to in the Xfinity Series?

“Actually I feel fine. My arms got a little tired at one point, which had to do with the steering wheel position and stuff. Other than that, I felt fine. Actually we have some better cooling systems in these Camrys than we do on the Xfinity side so it kept me a little cooler.”

Do you expect to get to race the No. 18 Camry this season?

“I don’t know. Obviously this was far from planned, but if I do great and I would love the opportunity to get a full weekend of practice and really dial the car in for myself and be comfortable overall. I’d love to try it and I really think we could run top-15, top-10 and obviously a place like Bristol makes it tougher anyway. If I do, great, but I have a ton of races already in the Xfinity and trucks so we’ll have to see where it goes.”

JJ YELEY, No. 23 Dr. Pepper Toyota Camry, BK Racing
Finishing Position:  32nd

DAVID RAGAN, No. 18 Snickers Xtreme Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 41st

What happened in the accident that took you out of the race?

“Sometimes when you race back there with the squirrels, you find a nut sometimes. That’s just Bristol. You’re racing hard and the 26 (Jeb Burton) was a little slower and I know Jimmie (Johnson) is probably a little impatient trying to get back to the front. I see he just touched him there and as soon as my spotter said they were wrecking, I’m all into the 48 (Johnson). That’s just one of those things you have at short track racing. I really hate that about the Snickers Xtreme Camry. Our guys had worked hard and we had a pit road problem – lost a couple laps, but we were still out there trying to get the best finish we could. It’s unfortunate and hopefully we can tune on it and go out and make some laps, get some points and head to Richmond.”

What did you see from your perspective between the 48 and the 26?

“I saw Jimmie (Johnson) get into the 26 (Jeb Burton) car and it seemed like Jimmie just checked up a little bit more than I anticipated and I kind of saw it unfolding, but as soon as Jimmie and those guys checked up I tried to, but I just didn’t have anywhere to go. That’s unfortunate and that’s one of those things you have here at Bristol. Everybody’s fighting for one spot, one groove, one lane and you have some goers and comers and the 48 (Johnson) was trying to go. Our car was pretty good. We’d had a pit road penalty and got some laps down, but all in all it’s just Bristol – wrong place at the wrong time.”

JEB BURTON, No. 26 Maxim.com Toyota Camry, BK Racing
Finishing Position: 42nd

What happened between yourself and Jimmie Johnson?

“We were just on our own lap and felt like our car was getting better throughout the night. There’s nowhere to go here. You’re holding up lead lap cars and you’re trying to get out of the way – I guess Jimmie (Johnson) just got tight coming off (turn) four and got into me. I thought I had it saved and it ended our night.”

Had you been racing with Jimmie Johnson for several laps?

“He (Jimmie Johnson) was behind me for a couple laps and I knew he needed to go. Once he got to my door I was going to let him go. You just can’t move over because you’ll lose too much time and go a lap down.”