TOYOTA NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS)
Post-Race Notes & Quotes
Charlotte Motor Speedway – May 25, 2014
· Matt Kenseth (third) was the first Camry driver to the finish line in Sunday night’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
· Kenseth started 12th in the race and led the field four times for a total of 33 laps (of 400).
· Race-winner Jimmie Johnson and runner-up Kevin Harvick reached the checkered flag ahead of Kenseth.
· Camry drivers Brian Vickers (sixth) and Kyle Busch (ninth) also registered top-10 finishes.
· Camry drivers Kenseth (second), Busch (third) and Vickers (eighth) are all in the top-10 in the point standings following Charlotte.
MATT KENSETH, No. 20 Home Depot/Husky Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 3rd
How good was your race car?
“I thought we had a top-five car — a lot of it was definitely an improvement. Jason (Ratcliff, crew chief) and the team did a great job. They had a great strategy and great stops — had me in front at the end there and just couldn’t hold them off unfortunately. Just needed a little more and couldn’t quite run with the 48 (Jimmie Johnson) and the 4 (Kevin Harvick) and a couple of them other cars. Overall, it was a good night for our Home Depot Husky Tools Camry — we just have to get just a little better.”
Were you able to keep up with adjustments needed throughout the race?
“I thought we did — we had pretty good balance most of the night. Really, we swung back and forth and we were way too tight there at the end to try to hold them off. The other time when the 48 (Jimmie Johnson) and us were battling and that was as good as I could be and he still beat me — I just didn’t have any speed. We’re working on it and I feel like we’re gaining on it. They gave me a chance to win and you’re disappointed when you don’t hold them off and come home with a victory. I was just too tight to hold them off.”
Was the plan to get a good jump on the final restart?
“That was the plan — just didn’t work. I got a good restart and got around Jeff (Gordon) there on the top and got away pretty far and thought honestly we were going to be in pretty good shape. I was just a little bit tight. The 48 (Jimmie Johnson) was just running us down and the harder I tried then the tighter it got and just couldn’t hold on.”
What does tonight’s performance say about the JGR’s intermediate program?
“It says that we just need to be a little bit better. You hate it when your team puts you in front of them and gives you the opportunity to win and you don’t win. We got away there and I felt pretty good about it and the 48 (Jimmie Johnson) cleared the 24 (Jeff Gordon) and I still felt good about it, but we were a little bit tight and the 48 just has so much more speed than we did tonight and he started mowing me down and the harder I tried the tighter it made my car. I just couldn’t hold on.”
Do you see the team making progress?
“I feel like we’re gaining on it. I thought today all things being equal and nobody having trouble that we had at least a fifth-place car — so we’re gaining on it. We’re not where we were last year yet, but I feel like certainly we’re gaining on it. Typically, this has been one of our best places and I was hoping we were going to be able to sneak up on a win there. We are just a little bit off and just need to get it a little better somehow.”
BRIAN VICKERS, No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing
Finishing Position: 6th
How did the car handle during the race?
“Our Camry was good all night. The guys on the Aaron’s team did a great job making great calls — Billy (Scott, crew chief) on the adjustments and the pit crew did a really good job tonight. Just all night — so solid and so proud of the team. It was a good run for us and it was solid. We were really close to top-five and probably close to a win, we just needed a little more speed, but not bad. I think if we would have had the track position then maybe we could run with them. I had to run so hard on that restart on the top for so long that I just cooked my right rear (tire) and then I started trying to run the 1 (Jamie McMurray) down and then it started getting really loose. We weren’t going to get him so the last couple laps I just said, ‘You know what guys, let’s just bring it home at this point — there’s no reason to stick it in the fence.’ I had a couple really close calls running too hard. The guys did a great job and just really proud of them. Pleased but not satisfied.”
KYLE BUSCH, No. 18 M&M’s Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 9th
Are you satisfied with a top-10 after starting from the back of the field?
“The extra 100 miles definitely helped us tonight. We got a lap down early, finally put ourselves in position to get back on the lead lap, but it was just a challenge with the M&M’s Camry tonight. We want to win and it’s hard to be disappointed with a top-10 after the weekend we’ve had.”
CLINT BOWYER, No. 15 Cherry 5-hour ENERGY for Special Ops Warrior Foundation Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing
Finishing Position: 17th
What happened in the race that forced the unscheduled pit stop?
“We were going for the lead about halfway through the race when I got a vibration and had to come down pit road. We went a couple laps down. I got one back pretty quickly, but could never quite get in position to get back on the lead lap. Just disappointing. We had a good 5-hour ENERGY Toyota all weekend long.”
DENNY HAMLIN, No. 11 FedEx Office Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 22nd
COLE WHITT, No. 26 Speed Stick Toyota Camry, Swan Racing
Finishing Position: 27th
ALEX BOWMAN, No. 23 Dr. Pepper Toyota Camry, BK Racing
Finishing Position: 33rd
JOE NEMECHEK, No. 66 Testoril Toyota Camry, NEMCO Motorsports
Finishing Position: 34th
RYAN TRUEX, No. 83 Burger King Toyota Camry, BK Racing
Finishing Position: 38th
