SM Archive

Four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon led the way for Team Chevy in qualifying for Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway with a sixth-place time of 14.962 (128.245 mph) in his No. 24 Axalta Chevrolet SS.

JOEY LOGANO – No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Ford Fusion – HOW DID YOUR STRATEGY WORK OUT AT THE END? “Not good enough (laughing). I feel like we did what we were supposed to do to be able to go out there and give it a shot for the pole. Really and honestly Brad’s car has been a little faster than ours today."

Ryan Newman, No. 31 QUICKEN LOANS BILLION DOLLAR BRACKET CHALLENGE CHEVROLET SS met with media and discussed his sponsors, the track & tire conditions during practice, changes in the qualifying procedure, and more.

“It’s been a real good place for me in years past -- not quite as good the last couple years and we would certainly like to change that around a little bit and get back to our old winning ways here with our Skittles Camry. Put the rainbow in victory lane.

This is a fun race track. I love racing on the short tracks. We don’t get to do a whole lot of it throughout the year so really hoping to just be able to make all the laps and if you are out there making all the laps you’re going to be enjoying yourself because you can’t run around here without having fun.

“It’s a challenging track -- I always like coming here no matter what the configuration is. It’s changed a lot over the years, since they repaved it or put new concrete on it. It’s one that I look forward to -- it definitely changes a lot during the weekend.

“I just want to survive this place. We did get our win in 2010 and we have been able to run consistently in the top five. That is truthfully our goal. This track really is difficult on me and Chad (Knaus) and the team through practice and qualifying.

NASCAR Connect will allow fans to compete against each other using live event predictions. As the race unfolds, players can win game tokens by selecting tiles with race action descriptions that predict what happens next on the track. The game will be operational for all NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events beginning this weekend’s race in Bristol, Tenn.

Alex Tagliani, the 2011 Indianapolis 500 Mile Race pole sitter and 2009 Rookie of the Year, will join Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing for the 98th Running of "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing."

Matt Kenseth was a happy driver when he left Martinsville Speedway last fall and when he stopped by the track earlier this week, he was still feeling pretty good about that second-place run and his chances in the STP 500 on March 30.