Official Release

For open wheel drivers that compete on the dirt, Eldora Speedway in Ohio is hallowed ground. Taylor Ferns, while still just 16 years-old, knows the mystique of the famed half-mile very well.

Jeff Gordon, driver of the No. 24 Drive To End Hunger Chevrolet, will lead the field to the green in Sunday’s Sylvania 300 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Round 28 on the tour and the second stop of the 10-race Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Gordon posted a lap of 28.232 seconds, 134.911 mph to capturing the 72nd pole of his Cup career in 681 starts and fourth pole award at NHMS. This is Gordon’s second pole of 2012 and his 12th start from inside the top-10 this season.

Brad Keselowski (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge Charger R/T) TALK ABOUT THE MOMENTUM ENTERING THIS RACE AND HOW YOU THINK THAT WILL PLAY OUT FOR YOU. “It’s great. I feel like I can come here and finish dead last and only be like 30-something points behind. I’m trying to be optimistic about it but that pessimist always comes out. You know, it’s another new opportunity in the Chase to go out there and put together a solid run and show that you know we’re a team capable of getting the job done and I believe that. Just looking forward to getting started here and get through a few more of these races.”

JEFF GORDON, NO. 24 DRIVE TO END HUNGER CHEVROLET – POLE WINNER “This car has been awesome in qualifying trim all day long. I just give a lot of credit to this Drive To End Hunger Chevrolet team. Don’t forget to text Hunger to 50555 to continue to help this great cause. What an awesome effort, great lap. It felt good. The car got off the corner really strong and I thought that it would be really close and as tight as these times are you just never know. Kyle (Busch) laid down a heck of a lap so did Tony (Stewart) there to shoot for and man I’m so proud. That felt great. To go out and get a pole on a non-restrictor track, we haven’t done that in a little while so this feels really good.”

KYLE BUSCH, No. 18 M&M's Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing Starting Position: 2nd How was your qualifying run? "That was a pretty good lap from where we were earlier in the day with the M&M's Camry. Dave (Rogers, crew chief) and the guys did a really good job -- making some good changes to it to make it pick up speed. I felt like the car had decent balance -- just needed more grip to make speed. They did a good job of that. That's about what our teammates ran in practice and everybody's been kind of picking up a tenth, or a little bit more than that. From where we were -- a good improvement. Happy with that. See where it stacks up."

CARL EDWARDS – No. 99 Aflac Ford Fusion – “We had a pretty good lap with our Aflac Fusion, which is very good, and now we just go race. We’ll tune in the race car tomorrow in practice, but the track is very fast right now. We’re hoping that holds up for a top-five, but there are some guys that are really, really fast, so the race is gonna be a hard battle.”

Dave Blaney (No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Dodge Charger R/T) Qualified 10th “It’s been fun all day, you know, obviously, making runs and learning and gathering information for Brad’s (Keselowski) car and hopefully it’s going well. It’s just been enjoyable to jump in and do. I hope tomorrow goes well and I hope Sam (Hornish Jr.) has a good run in it on Sunday.”

JEFF GORDON, NO. 24 DRIVE TO END HUNGER CHEVROLET, met with members of the media at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and discussed the Chase, racing at New Hampshire and other topics.

The World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series 4-Crown Nationals event at Eldora Speedway on Friday has been cancelled because of impending rain and the potential of severe weather.

Dave Blaney will practice and qualify the No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Dodge Charger on Friday and Saturday here at New Hampshire Motor Speedway while Sam Hornish Jr. competes in the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Kentucky Speedway. Blaney and Travis Geisler, Director of Competition at Penske Racing, spoke about the situation earlier today at NHMS.