Toyota NSCS Las Vegas Post-Race Notes & Quotes 3-9-14

Toyota NSCS Las Vegas Post-Race Notes & Quotes
March 9, 2014

Las Vegas Motor Speedway

·         Matt Kenseth (10th) was the first Camry driver to the finish line in Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.  Brad Keselowski was the Las Vegas race-winner.

·         Camry drivers Kyle Busch (11th), Denny Hamlin (19th) and Brian Vickers (13th) also registered top-15 finishes in the race.

·         Jeff Burton finished 17th in his first start of the season, as well as his first race driving a Camry for Michael Waltrip Racing.

MATT KENSETH, No. 20 Dollar General Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position:  10th

How tough a day was it?

“Very tough day.”

Was there a problem with your car or the track?

“Well, the track was the same for everybody.  So, we were just kind of off.  We just kind of struggled most of the weekend.  We got some decent track position there — just couldn’t really go anywhere.  We were just about where we were.  It was about all we could do.  We just got to get them better.”

KYLE BUSCH, No. 18 M&M’s Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position:  11th

How would you describe your race today?

“We had a really up and down day with our M&M’s Peanut Camry.  We started off getting blocked in the pits and had to come from the back.  The car was too loose on the first run and we tightened it up and it was really fast for awhile.  But, we kept adjusting on it to try and help the tight in the center of the corner and it was just getting looser and looser, especially on the last run.  Just disappointing when we looked like we had a good car earlier in the race.”

DAVE ROGERS, crew chief, No. 18 M&M’s Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing

Was there a problem with the car towards the end of the race?

“Not really sure.  Our M&M’s Toyota Camry was really fast early in the race.  We had a mix-up there in the pit stall.  The 95 (Michael McDowell) car was coming around us and we were trying to do two (tires).  So, so we just did four (tires) and started the race last.  Through passing cars and pit strategy we took the lead and showed a lot of speed.  But, even when we were leading we saw some guys catching us and we knew there were some cars faster than us.  So we started working on it and just seemed like the more we worked on it the more we slowed it down.  Maybe we should have held what we had.  We had a good piece to start, but we didn’t end that way.”

DENNY HAMLIN, No. 11 FedEx Ground Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position:  12th

BRIAN VICKERS, No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing

Finishing Position:  13th

JEFF BURTON, No. 66 Let’s Go Places Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing

Finishing Position:  17th

How was your race today?

“That was a lot of fun today.  I think we had a really good car by ourselves, but once we hit traffic it became a handful.  That was a good day for the No. 66 guys.  Chad (Walter, crew chief) and the guys were a pleasure to work with this weekend.”

CLINT BOWYER, No. 15 5-hour ENERGY Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing

Finishing Position:  23rd

How disappointed are you with today’s race?

“Well, that stinks.  We were looking at at least a top-five finish there.  On that restart there at the end, people were checking up and once things got rolling, I had some damage on the right side and I had to pit for tires.  I feel bad.  My guys worked so hard and we were good all weekend.  We had a good qualifying run and the 5-hour ENERGY Toyota was fast in practice.  It’s just a shame.”