· Camry driver Kyle Busch was victorious in Friday night’s NASCAR XFINTY Series (NXS) race at Tennessee’s Bristol Motor Speedway.
· Busch started second in the Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) No. 54 Camry and led the field four times for 89 laps (of 302) en route to his 73rd career NXS win — continuing his series record — and his 62nd series victory in a Toyota.
· The win marks the seventh NXS victory for Toyota this season and the 105th triumph since joining series competition in 2007.
· Camry driver Denny Hamlin finished third and led the race five times for 106 laps after starting from the pole.
· Daniel Suarez finished fifth for Toyota and won the third round of the XFINITY ‘Dash 4 Cash’ on Friday night, which was awarded to the highest-finishing series regular competitor.
· Six Camry drivers are currently in the top-20 in the unofficial NXS point standings –Suarez (sixth), JJ Yeley (12th), David Starr (16th), Blake Koch (17th), Cale Conley (18th) and Eric McClure (20th).
KYLE BUSCH, No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 1st
How difficult was the race tonight and the battle with Chris Buescher in the closing laps?
“It was a hard fought battle. Our car wasn’t the best there early on in the race. Chris Gayle (crew chief) and these guys made some really good adjustments and they got it better for me. There when we pitted with 100 (laps) to go, I was like, ‘Man, we have to go 100 laps on tires here, no way.’ I just saved as much as I could. I let the 60 (Chris Buescher) go, he ran out there about a straightaway on us and I was just trying to save and do what I could to keep my tires underneath me and then I knew we were going to get some cautions at the end to bunch us back up. Unfortunately we did, but I wasn’t sure if they were going to make it on fuel and obviously they cut it close, a little too close. I just can’t say enough about everyone from Monster Energy and everyone who works on this program for us. It’s fun to run these cars in the XFINITY Series. This Toyota Camry was awesome today and again I can’t thank the fans enough and everyone here at Bristol. This is home, this is where I’m supposed to be. I wish I was here Wednesday night so we could continue the sweep lookout for tomorrow. That was a second place so oh well.”
What were the restarts like during the race?
“Horrible, we have to work on our gearing really, really bad. First (gear) was way too tall and second was way too low. I was trying to find something that I could make work and I couldn’t make anything work. When I would go to the gas, the engine would stumble and stall out and then I would get hit from behind and then the tires would spin. All in all, it was a really, really bad night for us on restarts. That was horrible. I didn’t pick up on any of that in practice, I wish I would have because we would have made some adjustments to everything to try to make it better. Fortunately it all worked out for us tonight and I got a really good run through one and two and I think the 60 ran out off of two. I felt like I was going to clear him getting into three anyway, I had my foot to the floor.”
How does the upper lane change during the race?
“As the run progresses and the run goes, the rubber starts to build up and starts to clump up and you just start sliding all over. The cars are very unpredictable and out of control so you just have to bide your time and keep the car under you as best you can, but still run fast lap times. There’s guys that are always barreling down on your back bumper. We’ll learn from that and continue on hopefully to be able to put that car in victory lane tomorrow night with the Skittles Camry.”
What was your plan on the final restart?
“I was just hoping the 60 (Chris Buescher) would run out of gas and fortunately I guess that happened. I came off of turn two with a really strong run and I thought I would clear him anyway or at least have a good shot to be able to clear him getting into turn three, but Chris Buescher drove a great race – he was fast. Fast on all those old tires and everything, I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to clear him or not, but it was fun. I was trying and giving it everything I had, but fortunately it just worked out for us. This Joe Gibbs Racing Camry was awesome. Chris Gayle (crew chief) and all these guys made some really good calls tonight to help us out throughout the race runs. There on that last pit stop I was like, ‘Man, we have to go 100 laps on these tires.’ When we got off pit road and got single filed out I just tried to take care of my stuff and just try to ride as best as I could to make sure I had enough of something for the end of the race. It just worked out for this Monster Energy Camry tonight.”
Do you prefer wins where you dominate or battle in the closing laps like tonight’s race?
“The domination ones definitely feel better. This one here, I stole this one. We didn’t necessarily deserve it, but we got it. That’s a part of racing. I’m sure I’ve lost plenty of them, maybe not that way, but just any way on late restarts. Fortunately it worked in our favor tonight for this 54 Camry and I can’t thank everyone on this team enough – all the guys at Joe Gibbs Racing and the fans, appreciate their support and being out here. Of course looking forward to everyone being here tomorrow night as well too.”
Were you saving your equipment early in the last run banking on Chris Buescher using up his fuel and tires?
“Early in the run when we came and got tires and those guys stayed out where he stretched a straightaway on me, I was saving tires. We thought that no matter what they were going to have to come down so that was ultimately going to hand me the lead so we were just staving our stuff. I was just racing the guys behind me at that point, just looking at Denny (Hamlin) and looking at (Kyle) Larson and seeing what I needed to do in order to judge my gap off of those guys. I just let the 60 (Chris Buescher) go. Once we got a couple more of those cautions and it came down to the last restart with about 35 to go or something, that’s when I knew it was go time and I was going to have to pressure him. I was on him the whole run. I felt like there was an opportunity and he got away from me a little bit maybe a car length and a half or two. With about six to go through some lap cars and then I wasn’t sure if we were going to be able to run him back down or not until there was a caution with four to go. He ran a great race, he was fast and did a really good job. I’m still shocked how fast he was on those old tires and I could see sometimes when I could get close enough to him that I could push him through the corner or pressure him through the corner that he could make mistakes, but I was just hoping that one of those would be big enough that I was going to have a run on him and I could get by him. It never transpired until that restart when he ran out.”
DENNY HAMLIN, No. 20 Hisense Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 3rd
What happened on the final restart?
“We got a really good restart and I was just about to go to the inside of the 60 (Chris Buescher) when he ran out of gas and I hit him from behind and damaged the nose. The 54 (Kyle Busch) there blocked us in and not the right place at the right time, but still those guys fought for track position and we lost it there at the mid-point of the race.”
DANIEL SUAREZ, No. 18 Juniper Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 5th
How does it feel to win this round of the XFINITY ‘Dash 4 Cash’ program?
“I didn’t win it, we won it. We are a great team. Everyone at Joe Gibbs Racing – all these guys who help to put this program together, I’m very, very thankful for them. All the hard work looks like it’s paying off. I’m very happy.”
How will you approach Darlington knowing you can compete for another round of the ‘Dash 4 Cash?’
“That was great. I’ve never been to Darlington before, but it looks like the first time every time for us. Every race track has been new and good. I want to thank everyone – Juniper Networks who came on board for this race, ARRIS for the great support, Telcel, Toyota for the great support and the great organization of Joe Gibbs Racing.”
How was the race tonight?
“That was a difficult race. I felt like our Juniper Networks Toyota Camry was strong, very strong actually in the long runs, but for some reason I was struggling a little bit on the short runs. With cold tires I wasn’t as good as some of the guys at the front. Track position was super important so we gained a lot in the last pit stop when we changed those right side tires and some of the guys changed four tires. I felt like that worked out very good for us and I just want to thank everyone at Joe Gibbs Racing for the hard work and all the effort they’ve been putting together for me.”
Were you keeping track of where you were in the ‘Dash 4 Cash’ during the race?
“We were focused on the race. We were trying to get better and I said, ‘Man, I think we’re in the spot right now.’ It was pretty good. You don’t have time to think about it, you have so many things going on with the race car, about the laps and everything. Sometimes, that crosses your mind to think you’re in the position to win this thing. I think it was great. Our 100 percent focus was to be better and better during the race and its how we finish. Thanks to the team and all the hard work, we ended up with a top-five.”
What makes you so strong at Bristol?
“I’m not sure, I just like this place. I feel like it’s a tough place. I personally like to be in shape for all the races to be in the best shape as possible and I really think this is a tough race track. I’m tired. This is a tough race track for sure. If you don’t take care of yourself, you won’t be as good on the second half like the first half of the race. I really this race track and it’s a tough race track and it’s fast. Everything happens so quick, you don’t have room for mistakes. If you make a mistake, it can be a big one because everyone is around you very close. I think that’s pretty much it. When I was racing the K&N Series, I had some good opportunities and I felt like we were pretty strong most of the time and since then it’s been a pretty good place for me.”
CALE CONLEY, No. 14 IAVA Toyota Camry, TriStar Motorsports
Finishing Position: 18th
JJ YELEY, No. 28 Toyota Camry, JGL Racing
Finishing Position: 19th
DAVID STARR, No. 44 Zachry Toyota Camry, TriStar Motorsports
Finishing Position: 20th
BLAKE KOCH, No. 8 Ingersoll Rand Toyota Camry, TriStar Motorsports
Finishing Position: 21st
BRAD TEAGUE, No. 13 SCAG Lawn Mowers/JD Medals Toyota Camry
Finishing Position: 26th
HERMIE SADLER III, No. 26 Virginia Lottery Toyota Camry, JGL Racing
Finishing Position: 29th
ERIC MCCLURE, No. 24 Reynolds Wrap Toyota Camry, JBL Racing
Finishing Position: 33rd
BENNY GORDON, No. 66 Somerset Regional Water Resources Toyota Camry, VSI Racing
Finishing Position: 37th
JEFF GREEN, No. 19 Toyota Camry, TriStar Motorsports
Finishing Position: 40th
