KURT BUSCH, NO. 1 GLOBAL POKER CAMARO ZL1 was the fastest driver in the final practice session today with a speed of 177.731 mph / 30.383 seconds, and met with media to discuss the effects of the new package, preparation for the All-Star Race, the importance of Memorial Day weekend for motorsports, and more.
MATT DiBENEDETTO, No. 95 Digital Momentum/Hubspot Toyota Camry, Leavine Family Racing - Your team owner has owned Twitter this week. Can you give us some insight into his personality?“I’m definitely proud to drive for Bob (Leavine, Team Owner), because he’s a really, really passionate individual. He always wants to be a man of the people."
CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS CAMARO ZL1 met with media and discussed new rules changes, his expectations at Kansas, the fan vote for the upcoming All-Star race, and more. Full Transcript:
JOEY LOGANO, No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford Mustang -- COMPARED TO OTHER PRACTICE SESSIONS THIS YEAR, IT SEEMED LIKE EVERYBODY WAS MORE JUMPING INTO DRAFTING AND FORGOING SINGLE-CAR STUFF: “I think so. I think everyone just realizes that you are going to have a lot of wide-open time here and the more you have the more the draft will come into play. You have to be around other cars for those reasons."
NATALIE DECKER, No. 54 N29 Technologies LLC Toyota Tundra, DGR-Crosley - How is your familiarity with this track since you have been here in ARCA although it is your first time here in the trucks? “We’ve been here before so that definitely helps because it is not new to me and it’s not something where I have no idea what to expect."
It’s not very often that a championship contender in a racing series will visit a track that’s been on the schedule for years for the very first time. That’s exactly what’s going to happen when ARCA Menards Series contender Michael Self (No. 25 Sinclair Lubricants Toyota) visits Toledo Speedway for the May 19 Sioux Chief PowerPEX 200.
Former Kansas City Chiefs players Neil Smith and Christian Okoye will give the most famous words in racing “Drivers, Start Your Engines” for the Digital Ally 400 on Saturday night while former Chiefs player Mark Collins will wave the green flag.
Next up for Paul Menard and the No. 21 Menards/Dutch Boy team is Saturday’s Digital Ally 400 at Kansas Speedway, a track that has been a good one for Menard and his No. 21 team.
In October 2018, Chase Elliott became the youngest (22 years, 10 months, 23 days) winner of a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway. “I think as it has aged that outside lane has really prevailed and I think that will continue to be that way,” said the driver of the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Camaro ZL1, who is coming off a victory and fifth-place finish in the past two events. Elliott will be making his 125th MENCS start.
Jimmie Johnson on racing at Kansas:
“It would be nice to leave Kansas as the only four-time winner there. This weekend will be a bit different with the new rules package and the race being at night. I am anticipating a lot of speed, a lot of grip and a lot of action. This package promotes a lot of passing in the pack, so it should be a very charged-up race. I’m looking forward to it.”
The NASCAR Cup Series heads to the city of San Diego, California, and Coronado Island for the much-anticipated, historic inaugural race at Naval Base Coronado.
In 82 NASCAR Cup Series starts on road and street courses, Spire Motorsports has seven top-five and nine top-10 finishes, with a best result of second earned by Michael McDowell in this year's event at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International.
This year’s Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park will again see an extra level of excitement when the stars of the Pro Stock class face off in the GETTRX Pro Stock NHRA All-Star Callout on Saturday, June 27.
