NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
CAMPINGWORLD.COM 500
TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY QUALIFYING NOTES AND QUOTES
OCTOBER 24, 2015
JEFF GORDON, NO. 24 3M CHEVROLET SS – POLE WINNER
HOW DEEP DOES THIS EFFORT GO?
“It’s very deep. These guys work extremely hard. I know everybody does for these restrictor plate tracks. To be able to get the results like that and they have been doing it all year long on these tracks. That is just a complete credit to all the details that come from the top down. Alan (Gustafson, crew chief) he really does a phenomenal job at every track, but especially these tracks with these cars. Hendrick engines, Hendrick chassis, everybody at Hendrick Motorsports, 1, 2, 3 and 5 that is an awesome day for Hendrick Motorsports.”
DID YOU KNOW IN PRACTICE YOU HAD A FAST CAR?
“I did know we had a fast car, but I wasn’t sure. This is a different car than what we had here earlier this year. I mean everybody felt confident in the car and it was really fast in the drafting sessions, but we weren’t exactly sure when we made a mock qualifying run if we had what it took for the pole, but after that first run I knew the boys did what they do. They just are so good at all the details and it goes all the way back to the engine shop, everybody at Hendrick Motorsports and everybody at the 24/5 shop and even our teammates 48 and 88 everybody is contributing to make this happen that is why we are 1-2-3 and 5. It’s a great day for Hendrick Motorsports.”
YOU HAD WHAT IT TAKES TO GET THE POLE DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO GET THE CHECKERED FLAG?
“Well, we really feel like we were dominant here in May. I made a mistake getting too aggressive to pit road. Hopefully we will learn from our mistakes and we can take advantage of that No. 1 pit stall or selection anyway, as well as, a very fast racecar and try to keep it up front.”
KASEY KAHNE, NO. 5 TIME WARNER CABLE CHEVROLET SS – QUALIFIED 2ND
CAN HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS TEAMMATES SET UP A DRAFT AND STAY UP THERE MOST OF THE DAY DURING THE RACE TOMORROW?
“I think it’s possible. There are times when if you do make one little mistake and you’re in the wrong spot, you can get pushed back a long ways pretty quickly, and then you have to figure out how to work your way back up. That’s the hard part these days at Talladega. If you don’t get up there early enough, it’s hard to get up there. Just being prepared for that and just keeping your car in the right places on the race track and have a fast enough car at the same time; and I think all the Hendrick cars are. I think Dale (Earnhardt Jr.) is going to be really good. He was the guy to beat the first race here and Jeff (Gordon) is obviously really fast and so it Jimmie (Johnson). So, it should be a good day for Hendrick Motorsports.”
WHAT’S IT LIKE TO BE A NEW DAD?
“It’s been great. I’ve just really enjoyed it. He changes a little bit every day. You start to think you kind of figure him out a little and then he switches it up on you. It’s something completely new and different to me, but I’ve enjoyed it. I’m getting less sleep than I’m used to, but that’s fine also. He’s a cute little guy. I love it. It’s been really cool so far.”
DALE EARNHARDT, JR., NO. 88 DIET MOUNTAIN DEW CHEVROLET SS – QUALIFIED 5TH
HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS ALL TOWARDS THE TOP OF THE PODIUM HOW WERE YOUR TWO LAPS AS YOU PREPARE FOR 500 MILES TOMORROW?
“Yeah, it is good enough. Some of the guys had a little more speed, but we feel like our car is going to race really well and just ready to go.”
KURT BUSCH, NO. 41 HAAS AUTOMATION CHEVROLET SS – QUALIFIED 14TH
DID YOU SAVE ANYTHING IF YOU MAKE IT TO THE SECOND ROUND?
“We gave it all we had with the Haas Automation Chevrolet. The way that impound qualifying works you are more focused on the race and whatever it gives you in qualifying is what you get. Real proud of this team and the way that everybody has come together here in the Chase. We are as far as we are through this Chase because of great team work.”
DOES YOUR 13-POINT CUSHION GIVE YOU ANY COMFORT?
“We could ride around 12th and make sure that we get in, but there is no reason to do that. We have to race hard and smart and do what we can in the draft to get the best finish possible. This Chase deal is so tight there is no room for error.”
RYAN NEWMAN, NO. 31 CATERPILLAR CHEVROLET SS – QUALIFIED 18TH
HOW WILL THIS AFFECT YOUR RACE TOMORROW?
“I don’t know. If I would have known (Martin) Truex (Jr.) was going to do that we could have gone fishing earlier (laughs). We will take our Caterpillar Chevrolet and have fun with it tomorrow. Obviously, nobody knows what the outcome is going to be. We have one big race to keep in mind. Winning the race would be pretty cool too.”
THERE IS SO MUCH PRESSURE THIS WEEK ON GETTING TO THAT RACE. THIS WAS SUCH A LAIDBACK DAY. HAVE YOU BEEN FEELING WHAT IS COMING TOMORROW?
“No, I’m going to go fishing here right now. I will worry about tomorrow, tomorrow.”
MARTIN TRUEX, JR., NO. 78 FURNITURE ROW/VISSER PRECISION CHEVROLET SS – Time disallowed for dipping below the double yellow line on qualifying lap – WILL START 43RD
WHAT IS YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT JUST HAPPENED HERE?
“Well the last couple of times we have been here we have run on the apron through the tri-oval. Apparently there was a memo sent out and I never got it. I don’t really know what to say.”
HOW WILL THIS CHANGE HOW YOU HAVE TO RACE ON SUNDAY?
“It won’t change at all. We started in the back last time too. We will be fine.”
YOUR QUALIFYING RUN WILL GET THROWN OUT BECAUSE YOU DIPPED BELOW THAT DOUBLE YELLOW LINE WAS THERE A MISUNDERSTANDING? WHAT HAPPENED OUT THERE?
“Yeah, I didn’t know you couldn’t do that here in qualifying. We have done it the last few times. I didn’t get the memo that you couldn’t do that this time around. Just done what we have done here the last few times and didn’t realize there was a rule change.”
WHAT WILL YOU BE BATTLING TOMORROW COME FROM THE BACK OF THE FIELD?
“Same as everybody else, trying to get to the end.”
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