TOYOTA NASCAR XFINITY Series (NXS)
Post-Qualifying Notes & Quotes
Watkins Glen International
200.9 miles, 82 laps
August 5, 2016
TOYOTA STARTING POSITIONS
1st, Joey Logano
5th, KYLE BUSCH
6th, DANIEL SUAREZ
13th, ERIK JONES
20th, JJ YELEY
28th, DAKODA ARMSTRONG
29th, TOMY DRISSI
30th, JEFF GREEN
TOYOTA QUOTES
KYLE BUSCH, No. 18 NOS Energy Drink Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing
Starting Position:
How was your qualifying lap?
“The lap was really good everywhere. I felt like I didn’t miss anything, that’s just all we had. We were a little bit off and I’m disappointed in that and hopefully we can make it up in the race.”
DANIEL SUAREZ, No. 19 ARRIS Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing
Starting Position: 6th
How was your qualifying lap?
“Our lap was good. I’m very proud of all of these guys. Our first time here together and I feel like we were learning a lot of new things. All of those Cup guys are at a big advantage because they came here to test for two long days so it’s hard to compete with them right out of the box. But, Kyle (Busch), he really all year long has been a very good teammate. He’s been helping me a lot. I feel like I’ve been getting better and the car has been getting better and hopefully tomorrow we can have something.”
What did you talk with Kyle Busch about between the two sessions and did it help you?
“It really helped. I just feel like I’ve been a little bit off all weekend long. I’m not sure if I’ve been off or the Cup guys have been ahead by far because they had two days of testing in the Cup side and I feel like they found some good stuff on the race track. Overall, Kyle has been very helpful to me on the race track and out of the race track as well setup-wise with some advice. I was struggling a little bit on the exits and he gave me some advice there as well as in the corner of six. But, overall I feel like we have a really good piece. The car has been getting better. My team has been doing a really good job and I feel like I’ve been getting better too.”
How does shifting constantly at a track like this affect your wrist injury?
“It was a little tough yesterday. Yesterday was difficult for me to do five laps straight so today I went to the care center and they did this wrap for me and my wrist is more stiff I guess and now is much better. And, we had something on the ball of my shifter that was very helpful as well. It seemed like after that incident in Daytona my wrist hasn’t been 100 percent but we’re going to get there and fix it at one point when we have time but for now it’s racing time.”
ERIK JONES, No. 20 GameStop/NASCAR Heat Evolution Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing
Starting Position: 13th
What was the process you went through to decide if you should take another lap?
“We made two laps there on our first run and unfortunately that just got the tires really too hot to make a second run. Even if we did, I don’t think we would’ve been good enough. So, it’s unfortunate, this is by far the most I’ve struggled at a race track in my career. By far the slowest of our teammates which is frustrating as well and I feel like it’s all me so that’s a pretty big burden to carry on your shoulders but I hope I can figure it out in the race and figure out how to go a little bit faster.”
Where will you go for assistance and how can you work this out overnight?
“I don’t know. I thought I had a good grip on it this morning, we ended up there fifth in the first practice – our only practice this morning – and thought we were going to be okay for the rest of the day and weekend but that wasn’t the case. I don’t know. Hopefully I can talk a little bit to Kyle (Busch) and Daniel (Suarez) and get this place figured out.”
Can you talk about your qualifying run?
“I felt good about it at the start of the day and felt good about it there, it just wasn’t good enough. I don’t know. I feel like it’s a lot on me and I just feel like I haven’t got the hand of this place and by far the most I’ve ever struggled at a race track in my career. Hopefully I can get a grip on it before tomorrow and figure out how to get up towards the front. Just really disappointing and not the effort we wanted obviously and obviously our teammates are fast so hopefully I can get it figured out and do better for tomorrow.”
What do you do as a driver to calm down and get ready for tomorrow’s race?
“It’s tough right now. Like I said, I thought this morning I had a good grip on the car and we ended up fifth in the first practice and then from there just didn’t have it for qualifying so that’s frustrating and I don’t know what to do as a driver to go faster out here and that’s frustrating as well. Just have to look back at it tonight and use the resources I have available to me to get better and try to fix things for tomorrow.”
JJ YELEY, No. 44 Zachry Toyota Camry, TriStar Motorsports
Starting Position: 20th
DAKODA ARMSTRONG, No. 28 WinField Toyota Camry, JGL Racing
Starting Position: 28th
TOMY DRISSI, No. 10 Toyota Camry, TriStar Motorsports
Starting Position: 29th
JEFF GREEN, No. 10 Toyota Camry, TriStar Motorsports
Starting Position: 30th
