Toyota NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) Post-Race Notes & Quotes
Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway
500 miles, 200 laps
Sunday, February 21, 2016
TOYOTA NSCS DRIVER FINISHING POSITIONS at Daytona International Speedway
1st, DENNY HAMLIN
2nd, MARTIN TRUEX JR.
3rd, KYLE BUSCH
4th, Kevin Harvick
5th, CARL EDWARDS
14th, MATT KENSETH
29th, DAVID RAGAN
30th, MICHAEL WALTRIP
38th, ROBERT RICHARDSON
40th, MATT DiBENEDETTO
*non-Toyota driver
TOYOTA DRIVER NSCS POINT STANDINGS following Daytona International Speedway**
1st, DENNY HAMLIN 45 points
2nd, MARTIN TRUEX JR. 40 points
3rd, KYLE BUSCH 39 points
4th, Kevin Harvick* 37 points
5th, CARL EDWARDS 36 points
14th, MATT KENSETH 28 points
28th, DAVID RAGAN 13 points
29th, MICHAEL WALTRIP 12 points
37th, ROBERT RICHARDSON JR. 3 points
39th, MATT DiBENEDETTO 1 point
*non-Toyota driver
**unofficial point standings
TOYOTA NOTES
· Camry driver Denny Hamlin won his first career Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday and earned the first victory in the Daytona 500 for Toyota.
· Hamlin led the field a race-high 95 laps (of 200) in the Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) No. 11 FedEx Express Camry and won the race by the closest margin of victory in the Daytona 500 (0.010 seconds) over second-place Camry driver Martin Truex Jr.
· The win marks Hamlin’s 27th NSCS career victory and the 80th win for Toyota since joining Sprint Cup Series competition in 2007.
· The 35-year-old Chesterfield, Virginia native was also victorious in last Saturday’s Sprint Unlimited exhibition race at Daytona.
· Along with Hamlin, Camry drivers Truex (second), Kyle Busch (third) and Carl Edwards (fifth) all finished in the top-five.
· Toyota drivers led a total of 158 laps, including Hamlin (95 laps), Matt Kenseth (40), Busch (19), Truex (two), David Ragan (one) and Michael Waltrip (one).
TOYOTA QUOTES
DENNY HAMLIN, No. 11 FedEx Express Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 1st
How did you decide to make your move for the win?
“I don’t remember it honestly. I mean, I just remember pulling up in front of the 4 (Kevin Harvick) and him giving me a push and not letting off when he was pushing and ultimately that was the push to the victory for us. I know we got to the outside of the 18 (Kyle Busch), the 78 (Martin Truex Jr.) and then the 20 (Matt Kenseth) came up to block high and I saw that the middle was going to be the only way I could get around both of them and we cleared the 20 and drag raced with the 78. This is a total team effort from Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota, Martin Truex and those guys – all of our cars up front at the end. I said with two to go that we have to get the team victory no matter what it takes and I essentially was trying to go up there and block the 4 to keep him from getting to those guys, but he gave me such a strong push I just went with it and we ended up with a victory.”
Were you trying to go high for the win?
“The last thing I wanted to do was wreck off turn four with my Toyota teammates and none of us win. We had talked about a plan overnight to just work together, work together and I’ve never seen it executed so flawlessly as what we did today.”
How does this compare to your other career wins?
“This is the best. I mean, it’s just the best. It’s the biggest race of my life. The Daytona 500 is – as a kid what you – this is the pinnacle of our sport and I’m just proud to be here.”
What does this say about Joe Gibbs Racing with the strong Camrys today?
“This is a team victory. My teammates did an amazing job all day working together – all the Toyotas. This is a proud moment for everyone at Toyota, FedEx. I don’t know where that came from. I don’t know what happened. I can’t even figure out what I did, but it all just came together. This wouldn’t’ be possible if this wasn’t Toyotas sticking together all race long. We were able to get up, capture our track position. I’ve got to thank my sponsors because this is the Daytona 500. I’ve got to thank FedEx – 11 strong years, it’s been amazing – Coca-Cola, Toyota. This is amazing for Toyota. The Jordan Brand, Greenbrier, Sun Energy 1 – Kenny Habul and those guys – and Sport Clips. This is – so happy to get this victory for Joe Gibbs Racing.”
MARTIN TRUEX, JR., No. 78 Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Boats, Furniture Row Racing
Finishing Position: 2nd
Could you have done anything different to win?
“I did all I thought I could do. I had the lead ‘til like the start of the Daytona over there on the wall and it could have been 20 feet from the line, so just really proud of that effort, really proud of that for Bass Pro Shops and our first race with Toyota. He (Denny Hamlin) just side drafted and I just should have – I probably should have run him up a little bit more, but I thought we were close enough that I could keep that foot or so, but I couldn’t so I lost it the last second. All in all, it’s been a rough week – we tore up some cars, we made it to the last lap on every race and this one we finally made it to the end. Really proud of everybody. Really proud of the teamwork today with the JGR (Joe Gibbs Racing) and guys and for me that was a big step in getting this relationship kicked off. Cole (Pearn, crew chief) and I – we worked hard all week to make sure we did the right things and we’re going to continue to work hard and makes sure those guys understand that we’re team players and we’re in for the long haul, so really proud of that and congrats to Denny (Hamlin). Just got me by a couple feet.”
What else could have you done?
“I did all I could. I thought I had it. Just that last couple feet before the line, Denny (Hamlin) just creeped out on me. I should have probably tried to rub him a little bit harder because I had maybe a foot on him for a long ways from turn four all the way to here and once he just bogged down enough he pulled off me at the right time. I should have just laid on it and I should have maybe rubbed him up the track a little bit harder, but all in all proud of my guys, proud to have Bass Pro Shops on this Toyota here and our first race with them, our first race back with Toyota, our first race having that partnership with Gibbs (Joe Gibbs Racing) and this may right here he has helped along my career for a long, long time and it’s real special to have him back on our race car – Johnny Morris, thank you. Wish we could have got him the big trophy today, but I’ve got a feeling we’re going to get a lot more of them this year.”
How does it feel to finish well in your first race back with Toyota?
“I did all I thought I could do. Really proud of that effort. Really proud for Bass Pro Shops. It’s our first race for Toyota and I am really proud of our teamwork with JGR (Joe Gibbs Racing). That was a big plus getting this relationship kicked off. Cole (Pearn, crew chief) and I worked hard all week to make sure we did the right things and we’re going to continue to work hard to make sure those guys know we’re team players and we’re in it for the long haul. I’m really proud of that, and congrats to Denny (Hamlin). He got me by a couple of feet.”
Does it hurt to finish second?
“He (Denny Hamlin) got me at the end there and it hurts a little, but it’s the start of something great. I think I’m going to get a lot more opportunities to win races this year.”
How close did it feel in the car?
“I know it was real close, but you never know exactly how far. When it’s that close, you always think you’re the one who won it. But you want to think you were, but just come up a little bit short. All in all a great day and I’m proud of my guys, proud of our team. Back-up car and the thing was just phenomenal. It wasn’t fun to wreck two cars this week, but at the end of the day I think this was our best piece, so I’m glad we got to race it.”
KYLE BUSCH, No. 18 M&M’s 75 Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 3rd
Did you think Matt Kenseth was going to win?
“I thought (Matt) Kenseth was in the catbird seat. Leading, being up there like that, but then the top lane got going and he tried to go up there and throw a block, but Denny (Hamlin) just had too much momentum and then rolled back through the middle, so I’m sure it was an exciting finish and I’d love to go back and see it again. I certainly wish it was the yellow car over there, but Joe’s (Gibbs) happy, so that’s all that matters.”
What does this mean for Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota?
“It just shows that when you have a game plan and you work together and you stick together, it works for you. A lot of the other teams, they may come up with a game plan and they do this and they do that, but sometimes those game plans they fall off and those guys – you don’t stick together. That’s probably the longest and the best I think our JGR (Joe Gibbs Racing) cars have ever worked together and it certainly showed.”
CARL EDWARDS, No. 19 ARRIS Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 5th
MATT KENSETH, No. 20 Dollar General Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 14th
Is it tough being in a photo finish situation with teammates?
“Well, I didn’t get a photo finish, so I was back in turn three somewhere. No, if I can’t win, I want my teammate to win. That’s what being teammates is all about is to get everybody at Joe Gibbs Racing running good and we did that today. Those guys got the finish. I didn’t unfortunately.”
Is the leader a sitting duck?
“Actually, that’s the position I wanted to be in. I wouldn’t trade that position for anybody in the whole field. I didn’t really think the outside was going to muster up enough run to get it to be honest with you. Somehow the 11 (Denny Hamlin) just got a massive run. Like I said, hindsight I probably should have stayed in front of Martin (Truex Jr.) and tried to race him back to the line, but it looked like he was going so fast I could get in front of him and get a little boost and I just couldn’t.”
Did you ever think the high line was that strong?
“It seemed like the bottom was the fastest. In my opinion, the bottom was the fastest because it had the fastest cars. The JGR (Joe Gibbs Racing) cars were all fast today and if we could lined up on the bottom it was just hard to get around us.”
Could you have done anything differently?
“There’s a million things you could do differently, but I did what I thought I should do at the time to try to win. We finished terrible, but that was the move I thought I had to make to try to preserve the win. He (Denny Hamlin) had such a big run, he was going to go right around me in my opinion anyway and turn four was treacherous on the bottom. I didn’t think we were in a good spot to try to win it with his run, so I was trying to get in front of him. Unfortunately, his run happened pretty late in the straightway and he had the whole width of the corner to make a move and he was able to cross back over and get under me.”
What did you think of the finish?
“I wasn’t in a photo finish, but I thought we were close enough. I was in the position I wanted to be in. I didn’t think the outside was going to be able to do it to be honest with you. I thought the bottom was the fastest. And with the JGR (Joe Gibbs Racing) cars lined up there it was the best place to be because it was just hard to get around us.”
JASON RATCLIFF, No. 20 Dollar General Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing
Are you disappointed with your finish?
“We’re disappointed we didn’t win it especially after leading that many laps at the end. But you know, I’m not sure I’m going to run over there right now and congratulate him (Denny Hamlin) – not because I’m not happy he won, but because I’m disappointed we didn’t win, but we’ll sleep on it and then in the morning or on the airplane we’ll know we’re one big team and it’s going to be nice to see that trophy sitting there in the shop even if it doesn’t have our car number on it. So obviously were going to be disappointed. If we weren’t, then we’d need to go do something else.”
DAVID RAGAN, No. 23 Dr. Pepper Toyota Camry, BK Racing
Finishing Position: 29th
MICHAEL WALTRIP, No. 83 Maxwell House Toyota Camry, BK Racing
Finishing Position: 30th
ROBERT RICHARDSON JR., No. 26 Stalk It Toyota Camry, BK Racing
Finishing Position: 38th
MATT DiBENEDETTO, No. 93 Dustless Blasting Toyota Camry, BK Racing
Finishing Position: 40th
Are you okay after the accident?
“Yeah, I’m fine. Just knocked the wind out of me there, but no we’re fine. I just hate it for my guys. They worked so hard to get here and I’m glad I made the Daytona 500, but once the fuel runs started getting going farther and farther we were getting loose. Everybody was sliding around a lot. Handling came into play and I have no excuse – went in there with a head of steam and got sideways, crashed, so my fault. Nobody to blame but myself, but got to thank Dustless Blasting for being on the car, Toyota, Cosmo Motors, Dr. Pepper – everybody on our wonderful team that supports me and we’re going to have a good year. We’ll go get them at Atlanta.”
