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[/media-credit]TOYOTA NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) Post-Race Notes & Quotes Daytona International Speedway – February 27, 2012
Denny Hamlin (fourth) was the highest finishing Toyota driver in Monday’s rain-postponed NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) race Daytona International Speedway. Hamlin led a race-high 57 (of 202) laps at the 2.5-mile Florida superspeedway. Three other Camry drivers led laps in the Daytona 500, including Martin Truex Jr. (seven), Joey Logano (two) and Mark Martin (two). Camry drivers Joey Logano (ninth) and Mark Martin (10th) also earned top-10 finishes at the 2.5-mile superspeedway. Other Toyota drivers in the field included Clint Bowyer (11th), Martin Truex Jr. (12th), Bobby Labonte (14th), Kyle Busch (17th), Landon Cassill (22nd), David Reutimann (26th), Joe Nemechek (28th) and David Stremme (37th).
DENNY HAMLIN, No. 11 FedEx Express Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing Finishing Position: 4th Did you have an opportunity to win the race? “We were right where we wanted to be, but we didn’t have any teammates up there and those two Roush cars up front had a good plan and executed it really well. Hard to believe the two-car tandem didn’t win it really. Proud of our FedEx team — we had an awesome effort this weekend. We didn’t qualify that well. We didn’t finish that well in the Duel, but we showed that we had one of the best cars today.”
Is it difficult to restart following a two-hour delay? “It’s so hard because you’re basically starting another race, but it’s just a shorter distance. It’s hard to kind of get back in that mindset of what you have to do and keep focused. We did a really good job today.”
JOEY LOGANO, No. 20 Home Depot Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing Finishing Position: 9th Were you in position in the closing laps of the race? “I was right where I wanted to be with about 15 (laps) to go. We had an issue of saving fuel — I shut the motor off and with the new fuel injection system, it wouldn’t start back up. We lost about six spots by the time I got the thing to fire back off. It’s a little late in the race to lose that track position. People can change spots in a hurry here. I was positioned right where I wanted to be — around fifth or sixth and I feel like I could push up to the lead from there. We were back to like 13th or 14th after that. We finished ninth so we got what we got. We survived it, so that’s good. Everyone did a good job — we were shooting for a win so we’re a little disappointed.”
Does this finish give you momentum? “For sure — anytime you can come out of this to start the season and have momentum. You have to have momentum. Since we came here for Media Day, it’s coming off of momentum for these first few races. We need to go to Phoenix and keep doing it. Phoenix and Vegas will be important.”
Could you see the fire involving the jet dryer? “That was a big fire. I saw a lot of fire. I had a worse view than everyone else because I didn’t have a TV to look at. All I saw was fire and fire trucks go by and concrete and forklifts — I think they repaved the whole race track. They had one heck of a construction crew out there. Kudos to them for getting it put back together and letting us finish the (Daytona) 500.”
MARK MARTIN, No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing Finishing Position: 10th How was your race tonight? “This was a solid team effort and I am so pleased with it. Just a great, great team effort. The guys did such a great job on this car. We could see the front there at the end, we just couldn’t get to it. Every time we would get a run on (Kevin) Harvick, he would swerve and we couldn’t get clear of him.”
CLINT BOWYER, No. 15 5-hour ENERGY Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing Finishing Position: 11th
MARTIN TRUEX JR., No. 56 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing Finishing Position: 12th How was your race tonight? “I pushed as hard as I could and I just couldn’t go anywhere at the end. We had a good NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota all day. We started to run hot there in the end and that was about it for the race when it came to any real challenges with our car. Chad (Johnston, crew chief) and the guys did a great job to improve our car since the Duels. We led laps and led at halfway for the bonus. We just didn’t lead at the end. Good day all and all for the entire Michael Waltrip Racing organization.”
BOBBY LABONTE, No. 47 Kroger Toyota Camry, JTG-Daugherty Racing Finishing Position: 14th
KYLE BUSCH, No. 18 M&M’s Brown Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing Finishing Position: 17th How was your race tonight? “I thought we were in a good spot late in the race, but a couple of cars got together behind me and I got clipped and we ended up going around there. On the last restart, we were in the back of the line and we just didn’t have anything to go anywhere. We couldn’t make anything happen and it’s disappointing to be down here with our M&M’s Ms. Brown Toyota for two weeks and have nothing to show for it.”
What happened that brought out the red flag? “Apparently something broke on the 42 (Juan Pablo Montoya) and he lost control and ran into the jet dryer. It’s unfortunate circumstance and I hope everybody was alright over there.”
LANDON CASSILL, No. 83 Burger King Toyota Camry, BK Racing Finishing Position: 22nd
DAVID REUTIMANN, No. 93 Burger King Toyota Camry, BK Racing Finishing Position: 26th
JOE NEMECHEK, No. 87 AM/FM Energy Wood & Pellet Stoves Toyota Camry, NEMCO Motorsports Finishing Position: 28th
DAVID STREMME, No. 30 Inception Motorsports Toyota Camry, Inception Motorsports Finishing Position: 37th
