NASCAR Cup Series

KEVIN HARVICK, NO. 4 BUDWEISER CHEVROLET SS – QUALIFIED 4TH “I didn’t really put a whole lap together. The car was really good and just didn’t get everything out of it that I needed to get the pole. Still a solid effort by our Budweiser team and a really good starting position. From there we should be able to hopefully race up front all day.”

MATT KENSETH, No. 20 Dollar General Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing - Starting Position: 8th - How was qualifying? "It was good. We got a good second lap and the third lap wasn't quite as good in the last round but it was good. It was a lot better than we expected. I think we made a lot of improvements from yesterday. We had a lot more speed and the car drove a lot better, so that was encouraging."

JEFF GORDON, NO. 24 DRIVE TO END HUNGER CHEVROLET SS - POLE WINNER “Oh gosh, I am so proud of this pole, and the effort the this Drive To End Hunger team put in this weekend, as well as that lap. Qualifying has really been what has been hurting us a Watkins Glen, and I blame myself really."

POST QUALIFYING PRESS CONFERENCE – “I am very proud of my RPM team and everyone. It has been a great weekend for us so far. We qualified fourth and second, so that is a pretty good start to the weekend. I wish Jeff was a little kinder to me to let me get the pole. I thought we had it at the end but it wasn’t enough. It was a pretty good lap though and I will take it. You have to be happy with front row starts.”

Gordon was ecstatic after winning the pole and dedicated it to his son saying, “Luckily I got three shots at it today with this format and that last one was just a really, really solid lap. Today’s my son’s birthday so this is just an awesome way to give him a birthday present.”

Riding high and leading the point standings, things are going great for Jeff Gordon - especially since he announced recently that AARP and Drive to End Hunger renewed their sponsorship.

For Danica Patrick, practice at Watkins Glen did not go anything like she planned. The day started off with a blown motor, resulting in plenty of loss time as the team made the change. Then out on track with only five minutes left in the session, she would have a tire go flat, causing her to make heavy contact with the tire barrier.

DANICA PATRICK, NO. 10 GODADDY CHEVROLET SS – INVOLVED IN A PRACTICE ACCIDENT IN THE CLOSING MINUTES OF THE FINAL PRACTICE SESSION AT WATKINS GLEN

Marcos Ambrose and A.J. Allmendinger both know that the road course at Watkins Glen offers them one of their best chances at securing a spot in the 16 member Chase for the Sprint Cup. When asked questions about making the field both have differing thought processes.

Jeff Gordon, No. 24 Drive To End Hunger Chevrolet SS, met with members of the media at Watkins Glen International and discussed the return of Drive To End Hunger and AARP as sponsors in 2015, the first practice session and many other topics.