NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
5-HOUR ENERGY 301
NEW HAMPSHIRE MOTOR SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY POST RACE NOTES AND QUOTES
JULY 19, 2015
KEVIN HARVICK, NO. 4 JIMMY JOHN’S/BUDWEISER CHEVROLET SS – FINISHED 3RD
WAS IT STRATEGY AT THE END THAT REALLY GOT YOU?
“I think we had the right strategy, just a little miscue on the last pit stop. Those guys have done great all year. They did great today. It just took me a little longer to get around a couple of those cars and lost the track position. I just have to thank everybody at our Jimmy John’s/Budweiser Chevrolet for everything they do. We were off on Friday and we were able to really rebound and have a good Saturdayand good racecar today. It’s encouraging for two months.”
DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH SPEED FOR SEPTEMBER?
“Yeah, I think so. I think we have to work on our long run speed just a little bit, but still that was probably our biggest benefit today, but I think we can be better.”
THOUGHT FOUR TIRES WAS GOING TO BE THE RIGHT CALL WAS IT THE SPEED OR THE PIT STOP THAT HURT YOU?
“Well, I definitely think that track position didn’t help us, but I think four tires was the right call. Just really proud of my guys for the whole weekend, we didn’t start off well on Friday and were able to really get our car going. Had a really good car during the race, just have to thank everybody at our Jimmy John’s/Budweiser/Chevrolet, everybody from Outback, Mobil 1, Hunt Brothers, Ditech for everything they do for us.”
DALE EARNHARDT, JR., NO. 88 NATIONWIDE CHEVROLET SS – FINISHED 5TH
ON HIS DAY:
“We had drama with the set-up. The car didn’t drive very good all day and we’ve worked hard trying to fix it and just couldn’t get any better really. We worked hard all weekend just frustrated with the balance on the car. Had a little engine issue the whole race that was hurting us down the straightaway real bad.”
YOU HAD TO WORK YOUR WAY THROUGH THE FIELD NOT ONCE, BUT TWICE:
“Yeah, we had a little power issue on the car. Saw some things on the gauges and just was real down on power, but worked real hard to try to make our car better in the corner. I had to drive real hard all day long. We had a pretty decent car, just need to be a little bit better if we want to come back here and do well in the Chase. We have to get a little more speed, the whole company needs to just keep working and we will get it.”
AS YOU SAID THIS IS A TRACK YOU WILL COME BACK TO IN THE CHASE. WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST TAKE AWAY FROM TODAY?
“We were tight in the center and never really fixed it. We were shearing on throttle. A lot of guys getting a lot more drive off than us. Even with the power issue it was still shearing on throttle. We will work on it. Awesome company we’ve got a lot of resources we will figure it out.”
AUSTIN DILLON, NO. 3 DOW CHEVROLET SS – FINISHED 8TH
ON THE RACE
“It was a good day. The Dow Chevy was pretty solid. I can’t thank (crew chief) Slugger enough for sticking with me. We were not very good in practice. I learned a lot in the XFINITY car, I think, it laid over today; and it was probably one of our best races in the last two years.”
HOW GRUELING WAS THAT RACE?
“That was a tough one for sure. It was hot out there. We worked hard. I’m proud of Slugger (Labbe, crew chief) and the guys. The Dow Chevy was really fast. Just worked hard throughout the race got our track position and just proud of these guys.”
HOW MUCH DID YOU HAVE TO WORK ON THIS CAR THROUGHOUT THE RACE?
“We worked on it from the time we got here. We really struggled with the front-end turning, but I’m just so proud of the guys for making it work. It was good after the XFINITY race to come back and have a run like this.”
JEFF GORDON, NO. 24 AARP MEMBER ADVANTAGES CHEVROLET SS – FINISHED 9TH
YOU GOT A STRONG 9TH PLACE TODAY:
“Honestly, that’s the kind of effort that this team has been putting in a lot lately. We haven’t been coming to the track in the position that we really feel like we could be, like we were last year. We’ve got some catch-up to do there; but my gosh, one thing we’re not lacking is determination and just the ability to overcome adversity. I’m really proud of that.
“The car was actually pretty good. When they dropped the green, we were good for about the first half of the race. But the second half of the race, we just couldn’t keep up with the track conditions. I’m not sure exactly what went on, but we were just kind of holding on there at the end. But it was still a nice top 10.”
AJ ALLMENDINGER, NO. 47 BETTER THAN BOUILLON CHEVROLET SS – FINISHED 13TH
ON HIS RACE:
“Compared to the last three months today was a really good day. The long run car was awesome, probably the best I’ve been in a long time here on a long run. The short run I was just too loose. Those restarts and those first initial 10 laps made it really hard. I would get so loose. The long run was so good. It’s a happy medium we tightened the car up a little bit for the shorter run at the end there and it helped a little bit on the restart. But then I got too tight at the end. Today gives us something to build off of. I think long run wise is definitely a top 10 car.
“I wasn’t as my best today either. I’ve been battling strep throat. It was very hot today and I got frustrated at times because I wasn’t feeling good. Brian (Burns, crew chief) and the guys did a good job. The pit crew was solid again. I will get a little bit better, but hopefully something we can build off of. We will go have a fun week at Kroger and hopefully have a good week at Indy.”
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