NASCAR Cup Series

JTG-Daugherty Racing officially introduced Allmendinger as their new driver beginning in 2014. He’ll replace Bobby Labonte in the No. 47 Sprint Cup Series entry. The team does not know as this time whether they’ll remain with Toyota or be switching to another manufacturer.

AJ ALLMENDINGER, No. 47 Scott Products Toyota Camry, JTG-Daugherty Racing - How does it feel to be the full-time driver of the No. 47 Camry for 2014? "I'm excited. Just in the short amount of time that I've had a chance to work with them (JTG-Daugherty Racing), the relationship that I've built with them -- I feel like Tad and Jodi (Geschickter, co-owners) and Brad (Daugherty, co-owner) especially -- everybody's got such good family values, just a good values outlook on life. It's been great for me to be a part of the race team so far. It's a good, little race team -- you know, a one-car team. "

MARK MARTIN, NO. 14 BASS PRO SHOPS/MOBIL 1 CHEVROLET SS, met with members of the media at Atlanta Motor Speedway and discussed what the team will be working on in final practice today, his plans for 2014 and other topics.

TRAVIS PASTRANA PRACTICE: NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Travis Pastrana got a hand from his Roush Fenway Racing teammate Carl Edwards during Saturday’s first practice session. Pastrana, who turned the 9th-fastest lap time of the session at 177.630 mph (31.211 seconds), said he asked Edwards to make laps in the car to compare notes with the veteran.

This week the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads to a fast, wide track this week at Atlanta Motor Speedway, with the two twins in the series to Atlanta being Charlotte and Texas with the familiar 24 degrees of banking in the corners and 5 degrees on the straightaway's.

DENNY HAMLIN, No. 11 SportClips Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing - Starting Position: 4th - What impressed you the most about your qualifying run? "That I didn't wreck? I've been doing a lot of that lately. I don't know. Our SportClips car was very strong all day, even in mock qualifying runs and race runs. This is a race track where we hope to turn things around."

RICKY STENHOUSE JR. – No. 17 Best Buy Ford Fusion – POLE-WINNING PRESS CONFERENCE – WHAT ABOUT YOUR LAP? “I love Atlanta. It’s been a good track for us in the Nationwide car. I think our worst finish was 10th. We’ve had a third and first, so Atlanta has been a fun race track I enjoy. Friends and family get to come out because it’s not too far from home, and the guys worked really hard on the Best Buy Ford Fusion today"

With a best speed of 188.539 mph in 29.405 seconds, Juan Pablo Montoya put his No. 42 Target Chevrolet SS in the third place starting postion for Sunday’s Advocare 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. This qualifying effort was Montoya’s fourth Top-10 start on the 1.5-mile oval, and his ninth Top-10 start of the season.

JUAN PABLO MONTOYA, NO. 42 TARGET CHEVROLET SS – QUALIFIED THIRD ON HIS LAP: “I was really expecting to run in the 20’s to be honest with you. I ran in the 40’s in practice in the heat. It just bottomed out and with the cooler conditions the track grip bottomed out and I had to get out of the gas in (turns) one and two. It’s okay. I mean I can’t complain I’m third. That is probably a top five start.”

DANICA PATRICK, NO. 10 GODADDY CHEVROLET SS, met with members of the media at Atlanta Motor Speedway and discussed the first practice session, the addition of Kurt Busch to Stewart-Haas Racing in 2014 and other topics.