Ford Notes and Quotes
NASCAR XFINITY Series (NXS)
Bar Harbor 200 (Dover International Speedway, Dover, DE.)
Saturday, October 6, 2018
Ford Finishing Results:
2nd – Cole Custer
8th – Austin Cindric
16th – Ryan Reed
19th – Chase Briscoe
AUSTIN CINDRIC, No. 22 Discount Tire Ford Mustang – NEVER A DOUBT, RIGHT? “I don’t think there’s much doubt when I’m driving for Team Penske. The ball was definitely in my court today. We had a top-five car and did just about that with it. We gave up in a few spots knowing the points situation and having a really solid day, so I think that’s one of the first races I can say that went smooth. We executed everything and thanks to Discount Tire, MoneyLion and everyone who supports this car. I get to breathe for a week. I actually get to go play with some Mustangs next weekend, so it will be fun to get my mind off of it and then it’s back to scrounging and clawing and grabbing to try and get a final four spot, which will probably end up meaning trying to win a race, but it’s nothing we can’t do.”
YOU WERE SOLID IN THE TOP 10 ALL DAY. WERE YOU JUST TRYING TO MAINTAIN AND NOT PUSH THINGS KNOWING YOU WERE IN A GOOD SPOT? “Yeah, without a doubt. We knew where we had to be. We just had to get stage points and be solid in the top 10 and that’s exactly what we did. I wish we could have gotten a top five-out of it because I think I was capable.”
COLE CUSTER, No. 00 Haas Automation Ford Mustang – HOW DID YOU APPROACH THE RACE TODAY? “Early on there were probably some restarts where I was a little bit too conservative, just making sure I wasn’t gonna get wrecked. Our car was pretty solid. It was a lot about track position and we had to work on our car throughout the day, but the car was awesome at the end. We just needed a tick more. Me and Chris were about equal, but he had the track position. I wish I could have figured out the top faster on that long run, but I think we made huge gains at this track and that’s a testament to our engineers and crew chief and whole team and the Ford simulator, too. I think we have some good momentum going into the next round.”
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE NEXT ROUND? “I think the next round is definitely more of our strongsuit. I though this round was gonna be tough for us because most of the tracks this round were not our best tracks, so I think next round should be a little bit better. I think we’ll be pretty strong and hopefully knock off some wins.”
POST-RACE PRESS CONFERENCE
AUSTIN CINDRIC – “I can breathe and I think Matt feels the same way, especially with what it sounds like he went through in the last few restarts, but, all in all, it was a really solid, executed day. It’s exactly what we needed. We got stage points in every round. I was probably a little conservative on my race craft and my car setup, but, all in all, it’s exactly what we needed and I get a week off to breathe and go have some fun with some Mustangs at Road Atlanta next weekend, and go back to clawing and scrounging and trying to figure out how to make it in the final four.”
COLE CUSTER – “This whole round for us was pretty stressful, honestly. After Richmond, I was pretty worried honestly because we had the Roval, which we had no idea what to expect, and then we had this track, which was absolutely horrible for us at the spring race. So I was pretty worried these last few races, but I think our team did an awesome job doing what we needed to do at the Roval and this race we made our car 10 times better, so I think that’s a testament to our team and I think this next round is gonna be a lot more our strongsuit. We’re going to a lot more mile-and-a-halves and stuff like that, so I’m looking forward to it and just ready to go.”
AUSTIN CINDRIC CONTINUED – WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT ROSS AND THE WAY HE RACED TODAY? “Obviously, he’s a really talented race car driver. Everything else other than that is his own business. We’re all trying to do the best we can and he’s got to make the decisions he’s got to make to try and advance himself and advance his career. He’s obviously impressed a lot of people this year, especially in the last month or so, so I think we all have plenty of respect for him as a driver and what he can do behind the wheel of a race car and I think that’s all where it stands. I know it was a big deal for those JD Motorsports guys to be in the Playoffs and in this far and they wanted to carry Ross as far as they can, but at the same time we’re all racing for our own careers and our own seasons and our own guys, so, like I said, that’s more for him – a good question for him – but on my side I’m just thankful to move on to the second round.”
WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO BETTER IN THE ROUND OF 8? “I feel like we probably have to have more days like today, maximizing everything and at the same time I don’t feel like I maximized everything today, but being able to execute all day, this is one of the few races this year I really feel like I’ve been able to do that, we’ve been able to do that as a team. With that being said, I’ve been with three different teams throughout the year, so it’s been a bit jumbled. It’s been good to have some continuity the last few weeks and Brian and I are really hitting our stride right now, so I’m excited for the next few rounds. I feel like I’ve probably got to win a race to get in the final four, but I don’t see why we can’t do that. Obviously, this team has been able to prove that they can do that week in and week out with the best drivers in the world, so I’ve got to figure out how to do that with little ‘ol me, but I’m more than excited to be able to having this opportunity and go on and claw and scrounge for another four Playoff spots from the bottom of the grid again.”
COLE CUSTER CONTINUED – WHAT’S IT GOING TO TAKE FOR YOU TO SEPARATE YOURSELF FROM THE PACK IN THE NEXT ROUND? “It would be nice to win a race. I think we’ll have a shot to do it at the mile-and-a-halves. Those are definitely our strongsuit, but we just have to keep doing what we’re doing. I think Homestead is obviously a good track for us, but you’re not guaranteed going into Phoenix that you’re gonna make it. It’s gonna be close, so I think you definitely want to try to get a win and push for it as hard as you can.”
