FORD RACING NOTES AND QUOTES
LENOX Tools 301 (Qualifying)
July 15, 2011
New Hampshire Motor Speedway
FORD RACING QUALIFYING ORDER
15th CARL EDWARDS
17th AJ ALLMENDINGER
20th GREG BIFFLE
22nd MARCOS AMBROSE
26th DAVID RAGAN
30th MATT KENSETH
34th DAVID GILLILAND
36th JEFF GREEN
38th JJ YELEY
41st MIKE BLISS
42nd ANDY LALLY
DNQ TONY RAINES
DAVID GILLILAND, No. 34 Taco Bell Ford Fusion “We just lost a little bit of time, but overall I am pretty happy with our speed. The track got a little hotter and lost a little grip from practice. I am happy that our teammate Jeff Green made the race and JJ Yeley made the race so all three cars will be racing here on Sunday. That is a good feeling for Front Row Motorsports.”
JEFF GREEN, No. 55 Front Row Motorsports Ford Fusion “I really didn’t know what to expect when I got here but these guys gave me a great race car. It has been awhile since I had to qualify one of these things. It is different than the Nationwide car, tons different, more than I ever remember. It is a good day for us. We made the race and there are several that can’t say that. I am looking forward to Sunday when I can race with these guys. They are the best in the world and anytime I can get out there with them makes me feel really proud of what I have done.”
JJ YELEY, No. 30 Long John Silver’s Ford Fusion “It was just a little bit off. It was pretty good through all of practice and we did a lot of fine tuning adjustments. We were solid enough through all of practice that it was something we didn’t want to mess too much with. That was a nice conservative lap but just a little too tight to get down what I needed to, I lost a lot of time off turn four.”
MATT KENSETH, No. 17 Affliction Clothing Ford Fusion “That will probably put us 25-30th, not too good. We have been way far off all day today for some reason. We are definitely working on it and we have the two practices to work on it tomorrow, so that is good.”
MARCOS AMBROSE, No. 9 DeWALT Ford Fusion “I am hoping the sun will come back out. That was okay. We have been struggling and we are getting better every time we go out, so that is a good thing. I just want a decent spot for the race. If we can be in the front half of the field I will be happy. We haven’t done much yet in race trim, but I feel good that our team is committed to get the car better. It has been a little bit of a tough day so I am looking forward to having a sleep on it and coming back tomorrow fresh.”
CARL EDWARDS, No. 99 Aflac Ford Fusion “That was a pretty good lap. It is better than practice by a tenth-and-a-half. It is not the pole but I think it might be a top-10 starting spot. That is what we are hoping for and we will just have to wait and see what happens. There are a lot of fast cars coming up, so we will have to wait and see.”
GREG BIFFLE, No. 16 3M Ford Fusion “I was hoping for better. I don’t think that is bad but I think we have a good car and the facts are we were just a little too tight. We haven’t been tight since we got here. We had been struggling with rear grip. That run there was really tight. I had to come out of the gas and really lay down on it the second lap to pick up. I am a little disappointed. I think our car is faster than that. That will be good in the race I guess to be starting where we are at and having a faster car.”
YOU’VE HAD A LOT OF CHANGES THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS WITH THE NEW BABY AND NEW CREW CHIEF. HOW ARE YOU HANDLING ALL THIS NEW STUFF? “Really good. Really good. Everything is running good and everything. The car is good. I am really looking forward to the race.”
