Last fall, Brian Scott had the dominant car and looked to be on his way to his first career Nationwide Series win. Then an unexpected caution came out. The ensuing restart, Brad Keselowski was able to get the advdantage and cruise to victory lane – a restart that Scott is still mad and frustrated that NASCAR didn’t call Keselowski out on for jumping.
“I’m just frustrated and mad that we didn”t get to victory lane,” he commented. “I’ve got a chip on my shoulder and I want to get out there this spring and show that we can dominate a race just like we did last fall here and we can get it done in the closing laps, as long as we don’t have any misfortune and bring home the checkered flag this time.”
Last year’s fall trip to Richmond really put Scott on the map for many fans, and he says that before then he never liked the track. He attributes the success to the Richard Childress Racing’s short track package and how well it suits his driving.
“I have a lot of confidence here now and on the short tracks because they made my life a whole lot easier last fall,” he commented. “We unloaded right off the track really well and this can be a place that be challenging to practice. You can easily dial yourself out as we practice in the heat of the day versus racing at night. It’s a place that really tests your wit versus your ability and I feel the smart drivers are the ones that are able to capitalize and normally win here. I think that’s why you’ve seen consecutive Sprint Cup drivers win here because they’re smart. I think we hit on it well last year with unloading quick and not dialing ourselves out; we were able to set-up the car and run well.”
Scott is hoping to have that win this weekend in hopes to give his season that extra kick that it needs as he currently sits sixth in points with one top 10.
“I think for the most part our cars have been fast and competitive,” he commented. “The thing that we’ve failed to do thus season is failed to finish races where we’ve been running. We’ve qualified in the top five more often than not, and ran there for most of the race but it seems after the last pit stop in these races we keep falling back and finishing 11th or 12th when we run fifth, sixth, seventh all race.”
Scott added that he feels that they’re in a better place so far this year but are capable of being in the top five in points and contending for the championship.
“We just need to stop giving away positions near the end of races and finish where we run,” he commented. “Really, near the end of races, we should be trying to gain positions and capitalize.”
Scott is bringing back the same car to this year’s Richmond race that he ran last year as it has been their primary short track car since Scott joined RCR.
“It’s had some updates,” he commented. “The guys in the shop continue to make developments and find improvements. we have a lot of confidence and a lot of good history with this car.”
Beyond racing for the Nationwide Series championship this year, Scott is running a limited Sprint Cup Series schedule that includes Talladega next weekend, along with the Coca Cola 600.
“I like getting in the Cup car and getting the experience,” he commented. “I feel it has helped me on the Nationwide Series side due to more horsepower and more competition. I think it helps my confidence in the Nationwide Series car.”
Scott says he hopes to do some more Cup races this year if they can land some sponsorship to do them, with a possibility of the full schedule in 2015.
“When I came into NASCAR and throughout my career, my goal has been to get to Sprint Cup,” he commented. “I’d like to be in the Sprint Cup Series next year but obviously we need to perform in the Nationwide Series and in the Sprint Cup Series. So hopefully we can have some good runs and get some more opportunities.”
