- Toyota driver Matt Kenseth was victorious in Saturday night’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) race at Richmond International Raceway.
- The victory marked Toyota’s 11th victory this year, 76th win in NSCS competition and was Kenseth’s fourth of the season.
- Kenseth led the field six times for a race-high 352 laps (of 400) en route to the win at the Virginia oval.
- Camry drivers Kyle Busch (second), Denny Hamlin (sixth) and Clint Bowyer (10th) also earned top-10 finishes on the three-quarter-mile track.
- Busch (second), Kenseth (third), Carl Edwards (eighth), Hamlin (11th) and Bowyer (16th) will all compete in this year’s Chase for the Sprint Cup in Camrys as the ‘Challenger’ round begins next Sunday at Chicagoland Speedway.
- Five total Camrys marks the most Toyota has ever had entered in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship since joining the series in 2007.
MATT KENSETH, No. 20 Dollar General Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 1st
How strong was the race car tonight?
“These guys gave me a great car – thanks to Jason (Ratcliff, crew chief) and all these guys standing behind me. They had the pit stops we needed, they kept us out front so we were really superb in the long run and we had to work for it pretty hard in the short run. I was disappointed to see that last caution, but I knew it was going to be tough. We were able to get the jump and get out front. Thanks a lot to Dollar General, Sprint, Dewalt, Toyota, TRD – we have great partners and we couldn’t do it without them. Good way to go into the Chase.”
How does the feeling compare this year to your championship season in 2003?
“That was so long ago, it’s hard to remember. There’s been so many rules changes and so many things are different, but certainly right now as a company we’re on a roll. They’ve given me some fast cars here the last couple of months. Had a good one at Bristol and broke and I was the goat last weekend and drove it into the fence early in the race and ruined our day with probably the best car so it feels good to come here and do everything right and get the win.”
Were there any close calls tonight on such a dominating run?
“Man, we’ve had such good cars here the last couple months. We had an excellent car at Bristol and didn’t make it to the end and then last week we had just a dominant car and I drove like it was my first race and drove it in the fence on like 30. So, feel good for these guys. They’ve been giving us bullets. Everybody at JGR (Joe Gibbs Racing) thanks to that group. All four of our cars have been really stout. This is a nice way to roll into the Chase.”
How much does momentum count going into the Chase?
“Well, the guys that have the momentum will say it means everything and the guys that don’t say it doesn’t matter. So, I’ve usually been on the other end and not had good runs at Richmond. So, this track has been tough for us. Everybody at JGR (Joe Gibbs Racing) has worked really hard on our short track stuff to get this better. I think Coach (Gibbs) yelled at us after the spring race so everybody paid attention to that and we all got to work and had our cars really turning nice tonight.”
How big is it to win tonight and tie with Kyle Busch and Jimmie Johnson going into the Chase?
“Well, you never know what’s going to happen in any of these rounds. Every race is important. Every point is obviously important but just happy to get the win. These are all big events, they’re a lot of fun and this is really fun to try to manage the tires here with this softer tire that they brought. I had a blast driving this tonight. It’s so fun driving around a place where you have a car that does what you want it to do.”
KYLE BUSCH, No. 18 M&M’s Crispy Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 2nd
How does it feel to make it into the Chase after such a rollercoaster season?
“It certainly was a rollercoaster season, probably more for my team and guys and everybody that started the season in Daytona, switching seats out, having other drivers in my car. Can’t say enough about the team and the effort Adam Stevens (crew chief), everyone that continued to focus and work hard, wait for the star quarterback to come back. Once I did come back, they were all ready, ready to perform. Felt like we did a really good job of that. Maybe the first month was a little rough. After that, once we got through Sonoma, it was on. We had a really good stretch and still continue to run strong each week. Real proud of everybody on this Toyota Camry. Makes our job easier week in and week out to have fast race cars. Now it’s to focus and put your head down to the dirt and make sure that you get all you can get when you go through these next 10.”
Are you surprised to make it into the Chase?
“It was an unbelievable beginning and a pretty believable middle part of the season and how we ran. That’s just how we’re supposed to be and how this 18 M&M’s Camry is supposed to be every week. Again tonight Joe Gibbs Racing had a really good showing. Just proud of Adam Stevens (crew chief) and all my guys. They never gave up. They fought hard, they worked really good together and a first year team so I’m really proud of all of that. It’s come together real well and it’s just a matter now of being able to put our heads down and get the job done. We definitely have equipment capable of doing it. It might be a race between all four (Joe) Gibbs (Racing) cars come Homestead but I’m sure Joe (Gibbs) will love that.”
How great is it to have Adam Stevens as your Sprint Cup Series crew chief?
“Again, he’s (Adam Stevens) has done a phenomenal job. I can’t thank him enough. I can’t thank his family and everybody and all of my guys and all of their families and everything and all we go through being on the road as often as we are. Certainly a true testament to everyone’s determination and focus on what this group has been able to do missing their star quarterback for the first 11 races and having to just continue to punch holes for the offense to make some good scores and also we played a lot of defense. We just had to bide our time and wait for me to get healthy and get back so it was really, really fun.”
Where did you come up short against your teammate Matt Kenseth tonight?
“I’m not sure exactly. Setups are so close that man there really wasn’t much difference between them. Matt Kenseth was that much better than I am. I’m just kidding. I had fun running with Matt or trying to run with Matt. I could only do it for about 10 or 20 laps and then he’d just start driving away. His car was really, really good on the long runs so good job to those guys being in victory lane again for Joe Gibbs Racing. We had a fun night tonight. We fought hard, we battled a little bit there with some guys and had to work on our car but M&M’s Crispy is back and I’m back and we’re back in the Chase so ready to rock and roll.”
How would you access your team at this point in the season compared to a year ago?
“Way better. I think the whole team, the whole organization. I think we’ve been proving that the last two, two and a half months just being able to execute and get some wins. All of us have been. It’s been really, really good to see and it’s so much fun to come to the race track knowing that you are that good. We’ve just got to do the right things and not screw it up ourselves here at the race track. Everyone back at the shop should be real proud of everything that we’ve done and where we’ve come from. We were struggling last year and a little bit the year before that. We knew building cars, pieces, everything that once it all kind of came together and once we could all hit on everything that we’d have all of the pieces and it certainly came about May, June – something like that this year. It’s been real fun and we look forward to these last 10 weeks. It’s going to be a grueling out especially with all of my teammates.”
Will this Chase live up to what happened in last year’s Chase?
“I think this year’s Chase is going to be a bit better than what last year’s Chase was. I think anytime anybody sees how it goes, how it progresses and what kinds of things you need to focus on. Was it race wins? Is it consistency? I think it’s going to be for an entertaining Chase. There’s going to be different ways of going about it. For us, everyone on this 18 M&M’s Crispy team, the guys have done a phenomenal job getting me here and also just being prepared for when I got back.”
How do you take this momentum going into Chicago?
“I think when you have good races and good cars and stuff like that it makes your job a heck of a lot easier going to the race track to be able to be competitive and to continue to strive and to push and to get those wins and have good finishes. Last year I’d say that our cars and stuff – our equipment we were just struggling. We were just off and we were just kind of missing something and with the realignment of the crew chiefs and bringing on Carl (Edwards) this year and having that opportunity to have four cars I think just elevated our program and gave us everything that we needed in order to have a strong showing and we’ve proven that the last two, three months.”
What is your mindset going into the Chase?
“I think the mindset is just the same as what we’ve been doing. Keep going, keep hitting it hard and don’t screw up. That’s the biggest thing is just try not to make any mistakes. That’s the biggest thing about this Chase but with the given opportunity that you have now with win and you’re in or win and you transfer through you can make a mistake and come back but you better be good when you do come back.”
DENNY HAMLIN, No. 11 FedEx Express Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 6th
How is your knee and describe your run tonight?
“It was good. It’s been a couple years since we’ve really been competitive here so it was a great run for us. Just had an opportunity on that last stop to really get some track position and get these guys a run but we just didn’t have the car to run with that 20 (Matt Kenseth). Short run, long run, it didn’t matter so we’re just a little bit off and we finished sixth right where we came out of the pits on that last stop. I wish we could’ve kept our streak of top fives going in a row – I think that was three or four in a row. But, either way pretty good run for us.”
How were you limited in the car tonight?
“No, I wasn’t limited in the car at all. Just you really don’t notice anything until you stop and that’s the biggest thing is as soon as I stopped it’s just feeling the throbbing. Feeling your heart beating in your knee. Just tightened up there towards the end, but we just didn’t have a fast enough car to win today. We were close, but had a great run – one of the better runs we’ve had here in the last few years. I wish the car was a little bit faster but other than that I felt like in the car I wasn’t limited and we ran as good as we could.”
What did you think having all four Joe Gibbs Racing cars running in the top-four?
“The only concern I have is not winning. We’re always in the mix with those (Joe) Gibbs (Racing) cars. We’re always running as good as the second place guy. Our consistency has been really good these last few months and that’s something you’ve got to have in the Chase. We definitely would like to win races and we’re going to hopefully get that done next week. I’m proud of this team. We’ve really stepped up these last couple months with our consistency. Had an opportunity with a good pit stop there on the last one to make up ground but we just had our worst stop of the day on our last stop and it cost us some track position and that’s where we finished.”
CLINT BOWYER, No. 15 5-hour Energy Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing
Finishing Position: 10th
How does it feel to qualify for the Chase?
“Just super proud and excited for everybody at MWR (Michael Waltrip Racing). My crew, Billy (Scott, crew chief) came onboard and really catapulted us. Everybody on this 5-hour Energy, all of these crew guys we dug in deep through these summer months and got back somehow into the swing of things of this Chase talk and for that I’m forever grateful of these guys. It could have gave up, all the news and all of the stories. Brian Pattie (No. 55 crew chief), David Ragan and all of the guys – it really has been a lot of fun. It’s a great culture and it ain’t over man. The pressure is off. Hell, let’s go have fun in this Chase and see what happens.”
How are you feeling right now as you qualify for the Chase?
“Relieved. Obviously everybody knows the news, all the stories, all the stuff. But to be able to battle through that, all the people at the organization, just a great deal of thanks, to keep your head down, keep digging, got ourselves in the Chase. A big monumental thing for an organization to go through what we’re going through and to push through and get into the Chase, this is the best of the best, the elite of all of motorsports. MWR (Michael Waltrip Racing) is once again part of it. Really proud of Billy Scott (crew chief), everybody on our Toyota — everybody. David Ragan came onboard and filled that seat and did a great job, was a great teammate. Brian Pattie (No. 55 crew chief) has been my crew chief and got me to where we are.”
Did you ever doubt making it into the Chase?
“I doubted it early summer. That’s when I doubted it. I just didn’t see this. I’m optimistic always, your thought process, but I’m also a realistic person and set realistic goals and understand the realism behind what you’re up against. I just didn’t see it through the summer months. We weren’t clicking. Didn’t really have a person in that other car that was consistent. It was in and out, in and out. All of a sudden made a couple changes within the organization. David (Ragan) came onboard and we really took off. Billy Scott (crew chief), have a lot of confidence in him. He’s a young crew chief. He’s just eager. He’s full of piss and vinegar. He really dug deep and put us in this situation. Proud of his efforts and happy for him as a person. All these crew guys, they’re all looking for jobs in the future. This is a big accomplishment. Feather in their hat looking for work.”
What emotions are you feeling right now?
“The pressure’s off, man. For us, that’s a huge, huge accomplishment for MWR (Michael Waltrip Racing). Not saying that we’re done by any means. Nobody expects you to do anything. I’ve done it before. I’ve been both ways. I’ve went into the Chase and been really, really good back in 2012 and ’13. Then with RCR (Richard Childress Racing) back in the day, I’ve inched into the Chase like I am now and raced him to the last race. It actually is easier coming into it the way we are right now because the pressure’s off. We go in there. We’re pushing ahead and go for broke every single weekend. All of a sudden if you can get yourself down to the last two or three rounds, it starts getting nerve‑wracking again. For right now we’re going to take this in, have fun with it, go to Kansas, and then try to perform at Chicago as we need to.”
CARL EDWARDS, No. 19 ARRIS Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 11th
How do you feel entering the Chase with the recent performance of Joe Gibbs Racing?
“Everybody at JGR has been working really hard – TRD has been doing a great job supporting us. All the drivers have been working well together. It’s a good time to be driving a Toyota for Joe Gibbs. As the Chase starts it’s going to be tough. This is going to be a hard-fought battle I can tell. There’s so many guys that are fast. Everybody knows how the system works and it’s going to be tough.”
Is there a chance that the final battle for the championship in Homestead could come down to the four JGR Camrys?
“The first meeting we had in the winter, Matt Kenseth said that’s his goal. He said he wants all of us to be there battling it out at Homestead and I guess it is possible. Just the chances of it happening are slim, but the way we’re running it’s amazing to be part of something like this. Everybody is working well together and I wouldn’t bet against JGR. I think one of these cars is very likely to be a champion, I just hope it’s ours.”
What is your anticipation of the first races of the Chase?
“Now it will be even harder because the points are reset. This is going to be a really tough battle and who knows. I can tell you that we’ve got four really fast cars and everybody is working well together. Let’s say all four of us are in it at Homestead, we’ll battle it out. If we’re not, we work so well together as a team, whoever is in it is going to get just the benefit of every piece of information they can get from every team. Really have a team effort here. It’s going to be cool.”
What is it like to battle for this championship when it comes down to the final races?
“The most fun thing I’ve ever done in a race car was my battle with Tony (Stewart) in 2011. Those last five races of so, or those last three – they were just spectacular. You’re in tune with every single thing that’s going on, everybody just laid it all out on the line and that’s what this Chase gives you really four times with three cutoffs and then Homestead. I just hope I’m in the hunt the whole time, it’s fun to do stuff like that.”
Can you target who might be the biggest competition heading into the Chase?
“It’s hard, it’s hard to say. You just never know what trouble somebody is going to have, but I guess if you go back and I don’t know how many races we’ve won in the last eight or 10 weeks, but it feels like a lot. This sport rewards consistency, but it also really doesn’t matter what’s happened up to this point. I feel like we’re peaking when we need to and we’re fast. You can look at the previous Richmond race versus this race and it’s a much different story and that’s how far we’ve come. I feel like we’re going to be good.”
Is this what you expected when you joined Joe Gibbs Racing?
“It’s come around and turned into much better than I thought. If you go back to 2005, 2008 – I was part of some really neat years where everybody worked together really well and this is really special. The way just everybody feels like they’re in their prime and communicating so well, it’s pretty cool.”
DAVID RAGAN, No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing
Finishing Position: 17th
JJ YELEY, No. 26 Maxim Toyota Camry, BK Racing
Finishing Position: 34th
MATT DiBENEDETTO, No. 83 James Madison University Toyota Camry, BK Racing
Finishing Position: 36th
JEB BURTON, No. 23 Estes Toyota Camry, BK Racing
Finishing Position: 39th
