NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
BANK OF AMERICA 500
CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY QUALIFYING NOTES AND QUOTES
OCTOBER 8, 2015
KURT BUSCH LEADS TEAM CHEVY IN QUALIFYING AT CHARLOTTE
Five Chevy Chasers in Top 12
CONCORD, NC – (October 8, 2015) – Kurt Busch posted the sixth fastest speed in his No. 41 State Water Heater Chevrolet SS in the final of three rounds of knockout style-qualifying for Saturday night’s Bank of America 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Of the six Team Chevy contenders currently in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, four posted qualifying times in the top 12.
Ryan Newman, driver of the No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet SS qualified 10th, defending Sprint Cup champion and winner of last week’s race at Dover, Kevin Harvick, was 11th in his No. 4 Jimmy John’s/Budweiser Chevy SS, and Dale Earnhardt Jr., qualified 12th in his No. 88 Nationwide Chevrolet.
Six-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion, Jimmie Johnson, posted the 7th fastest time in his No. 48 Lowe’s Red Vest Chevy SS.
Other Team Chevy Chasers qualified as follows: Martin Truex, Jr., No. 78 Furniture Row/Visser Precision Chevy SS qualified 15th, and Jeff Gordon, driver of the No. 24 3M Chevy SS will start 22nd.
The 334-lap/501-mile Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m., ET on Saturday October 10. Live coverage will be available on NBC Sports Network (NBCSN), PRN, Sirius NASCAR Radio Channel 90 and NASCAR.com.
KURT BUSCH, NO. 41 STATE WATER HEATER CHEVROLET SS – QUALIFIED 6TH
ON HIS QUALIFYING SESSION:
“That was a unique three rounds. We had some air pressure changes, some wedge changes, more than normal and team communication was at an all-time high. I figured exactly what (Tony) Gibson (crew chief) was doing on the air pressure and I drove the car thinking that we had a shot at the pole, but I didn’t want to end up 12th, so I gave it a nice smooth lap. Here we are we are p. 6. It was a nice smooth lap. I didn’t think a pole was obtainable and that should give us a good pit box selection.”
RYAN NEWMAN, NO. 31 CATERPILLAR CHEVROLET SS – QUALIFIED 10TH
ON HIS QUALIFYING EFFORT:
“We were consistent. I think a 12th, 8th and 10th. A good run for the Caterpillar Chevrolet from being 20th in practice; I’m proud of the guys they made a definite improvement. We will work on it for tomorrow obviously and then Saturday night, but I think the real question is going to be what is the weather going to be like?”
KEVIN HARVICK, NO. 4 JIMMY JOHN’S/BUDWEISER CHEVROLET SS – QUALIFIED 11TH
ON HIS QUALIFYING EFFORT:
“Got tight on the last run.”
DALE EARNHARDT, JR., NO. 88 NATIONWIDE CHEVROLET SS – QUALIFIED 12TH
THIS HAS GOT TO GIVE YOU A LOT OF CONFIDENCE GOING INTO SATURDAY NIGHT
“Yeah, I wish we would have done better in that last round, but we got really loose and I got loose off of (Turn) 1 and ruined the whole lap. But, we were fast today in practice and fast in the first couple of rounds and better than we’ve been in qualifying for a long time. I think the cool temperatures helped us, and gave us some grip. The guys did a good job, really, bringing the car to the trackside and coming off the trailer quick. And, we got through the first couple of rounds pretty good. So, we’re making some gains. We sill ain’t exactly where we want to be, but we’re seeing some reasons and understanding why we’re making gains and why we weren’t in the past. Hopefully this is going to continue for the next several weeks.”
MARTIN TRUEX, JR., NO. 78 FURNITURE ROW/VISSER PRECISION CHEVROLET SS – QUALIFIED 15TH
ON HIS QUALIFYING EFFORT:
“We just guessed wrong on the track. We thought it was going to go one way and it went the opposite. Our first run we were kind of caught out and had to make big adjustments. Of course you have another run on your tires than everybody. We made good gains and our last run was by far our best, just that extra run on tires really hurts you and we still didn’t get it right. Just guessed wrong on the tracktonight. You will have that sometimes.”
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Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, doing business in more than 115 countries and selling around 4.8 million cars and trucks a year. Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.
