HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT YOUR TEAM’S PERFORMANCE SO FAR THIS SEASON? “Obviously we would like to have a better year. You always want to do better. There are some races I wish we could have back but at the end of the day it is nice to be a part of the playoffs. I think our team is plenty capable and I think we have a shot at making a good run. We just can’t have any mistakes and things like that. We have the team to do it, it is just a matter of maximizing your full potential and seeing what happens.”
WHAT IS IT ABOUT THIS TRACK THAT YOU HAVE FIGURED OUT THAT THESE OTHER GUYS HAVEN’T WITH YOUR THREE WINS HERE? “Certainly Vegas has been a good track for us. When they made the change to make Vegas the first race of the playoffs, there was not a single complaint here. We are looking forward to it. I don't know, it has a good balance of challenge to get through the bumps in 1 and 2 and then the exit of turn 4 you have to be perfect. I really like that challenge and our team sets up a car really well for that.”
REGARDING THE RACE THIS WEEKEND IN LAS VEGAS “Yeah, just to go there and have a good race and get some Stage points. We are typically good at Vegas, so I like it being the first race of the Playoffs because you will get set with the rhythm and momentum that you need to have the confidence to go on to the next two races.”
YOU SAID AFTER LAST WEEK THAT BEING IN THE POSITION WHERE YOU ARE FIGHTING TO GET IN THE PLAYOFFS ISN’T FUN RACING. WHAT CHANGES NOW THAT YOU ARE IN THE PLAYOFFS? “Fun. I have always thought that. Over my career of making these playoffs, it comes at a good time of year for me. Those summer months are long, grueling and they drag on. You needed a wake up call and shot in the arm. For me, that is the playoffs."
DID YOU THINK YOU WOULD HAVE A SECOND CHAMPIONSHIP BY NOW?
“I would have thought. But again, it’s a matter of piecing it all together and putting yourself in position to have a shot at the championship. And it’s not a given. It’s not a guarantee. There are those good years, where you have plenty of speed in the car, but it might be this other weakness; maybe pit road or not quite having the horsepower you need."
“I think the answer to your question is that it is what it is. The balance is you are going to have guys, and I am not picking on anybody, but let’s just say the 48 who is not in the playoffs but he can help by being more aggressive to his teammates and things like that. That is no different than me."
DO YOU FEEL THAT HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS, AS A GROUP, ARE TITLE-READY FOR ONE OF YOU GUYS TO WIN?
“I think so. I mean, why be here if you don’t think that? I mean, there’s no point in even coming to this Playoff Media Day if we don’t feel like we have a shot; or, even being in Vegas in general."
The NASCAR Cup Series starts itsPlayoff run, while the Xfinity Series and Truck Series have Playoff milestones. The NHRA starts their Countdown to the Championship in Pennsylvania, and Formula DRIFT, ARCA and POWRi are also on track this weekend.
For the first time in 13 years, the No. 6 team has qualified for the NASCAR Playoffs after Ryan Newman and the team raced their way in through the first 26 races, culminating last week at Indy. His Championship hunt begins this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with the first of three races in the opening round. RFR boasts 16 wins all-time in the Entertainment Capital of the World, having finished in the top-10 in more the half of the races it has competed in at the track.
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