SM Archive

Carl Edwards, driver of the No. 99 Fastenal Ford Fusion, was third fastest in opening Sprint Cup series practice at Chicagoland Speedway Friday afternoon. Edwards spoke with media members after practice to discuss the upcoming weekend, his Chase chances and more.

MATT KENSETH, No. 20 Dollar General Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing - What is it like coming to Chicago as the defending race winner and trying to get the first Chase win this year? “We had a strong start last year. This is a great race track, I love coming here. It’s the closest track to where I grew up. We had a strong start, but Jimmie (Johnson) still beat us at the end. I’m looking forward to getting on the track today and getting to work. It’s been a long week and ready to get started.”

JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE’S CHEVROLET SS met with media and discussed the new Chase for the Sprint Cup format strategies, challenges, approachs, and more.

MICHAEL WALTRIP, Co-Owner, Michael Waltrip Racing - Why is MyAFibStory.com so important to you? “My mom unfortunately suffered a stroke 25 years ago due to AFib (Atrial fibrillation) and September is national AFib Awareness Month and Michael Waltrip Racing has partnered with Janssen Pharmaceuticals to raise awareness of AFib -- 2.7 million people live with AFib."

KYLE BUSCH, No. 18 M&M’s Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing - Where do you feel the team is starting the Chase? “I feel like the 18 team is pretty good. We’ve had some not-so-great runs, but still I think we’ve been working through all the mistakes that we’ve made. We’ve been discussing different things as a team that we can do better and what we can work on to overcome those things that have taken us down the last month or so, but all in all I’m looking forward to the Chase starting here."

The Verizon IndyCar Series championship has concluded, but many of INDYCAR's biggest stars have one more race on the schedule this season. The Dan Wheldon Memorial Pro-Am Karting Challenge returns on Sept. 20to New Castle Motorsports Park, where participants will race to raise money for the Alzheimer's Association.

Late season special events abound as the schedule winds down for most tracks in the Midwest. In Indiana, one of the last big sprint car races is the Haubstadt Hustler at Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt. This single night event brings together, both the Amsoil USAC National Sprint Car Series and Midwest Sprint Car Series for a full night of action. Three editions of the Haubstadt Hustler have been contested dating back to 2011, and Tracy Hines has raced in each and every one.

Ohio has a handful of “must-see” events for 410-winged sprint cars each season. The Jim Ford Classic at Fremont Speedway in certainly one of those races. Named after former Fremont Speedway Promoter, the late Jim Ford, the two-night event was born in 2007, and has continued to grow each and every year. Taylor Ferns, who has competed in some of the biggest events in Midget and Silver Crown Racing will add the Jim Ford Classic to her resume this weekend, as the first marquee 410-winged sprint car event she has competed in since returning to the discipline, after spending the previous three-plus seasons in a variety of different race cars.

About 600 donors showed up to give blood at the Spirit of America Blood Drive at Michigan International Speedway, serving as a strong reminder that America will “never forget” the events of 9/11.

GREG BIFFLE, No. 16 3M Ford Fusion – HOW DID YOU BALANCE THE FEELING OF NOT RUNNING HOW YOU WANTED AT RICHMOND WITH ULTIMATELY MAKING THE CHASE? “You know, last week there was a lot of emotion. We were as high as we could be on life going into that race. Well, keep in mind I was completely nervous about it but we had five great races, our five best races of the season all put together put us in that position to even be close to making it."