TEAM CHEVY ADVANCE
GO BOWLING AT THE GLEN
WATKINS GLEN INTERNATIONAL
WATKINS GLEN, NEW YORK
AUGUST 8, 2021

RACE #23 – WATKINS GLEN INTERNATIONAL
The four-race push to the NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) Playoffs starts Sunday, August 8, at Watkins Glen International. NASCAR’s premier series will return to The Glen for the first time since 2019 after COVID-19 pandemic restrictions forced the Series to move the 2020 event to another venue.

Team Chevy’s Chase Elliott has won the past two races on the 2.45-mile, seven-turn, multi-elevation road course. Elliott earned his first-career NCS victory in 2018 at The Glen and won from the pole in 2019. The driver of the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Camaro ZL1 1LE has won two of the four road course races this season and was runner-up to Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Camaro ZL1 1LE, at Sonoma Raceway. They have combined to lead 195 of 278 laps on road courses thus far this season.

Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 19 victories in 37 NASCAR Cup Series races at Watkins Glen International. Buck Baker, driving the No. 87 “Black Widow” Chevrolet Bel Air, won the 101-lap inaugural event on August 8, 1957.

Through 22 of 26 regular-season races, Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 11 wins and sits atop the Manufacturer Standings. The other three races remaining in the regular season include the inaugural race on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course and the ovals at Michigan International Speedway and Daytona International Speedway.

Chevrolet drivers in the NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) will kick-off the race weekend with a doubleheader at The Glen on Saturday, August 7. Chevrolet NXS drivers will compete in the Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey 200. AJ Allmendinger is second and Justin Allgaier is third in the Driver Standings. Chevrolet continues atop the Manufacturer Standings.

The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) will make its seventh appearance at The Glen and first since 2000 as drivers will race in the United Rentals 176, the Series’ regular season finale and the drivers last chance in capturing their spot in the 2021 Playoffs. Team Chevy’s Sheldon Creed is fifth in the Playoff rankings, with his win at Darlington Raceway in May securing his chance at competing for a back-to-back NCWTS Championship.

CHEVROLET MAINTAINS ITS LEAD
Chevrolet continues to lead the Manufacturer Standings in the run to its 40th NASCAR Cup Series title and has three drivers in the top-ten of the standings. Kyle Larson is second, while Hendrick Motorsports teammates William Byron is third and reigning NCS champion Chase Elliott is sixth. Heading into the Watkins Glen race weekend, six Team Chevy drivers have locked up a spot in the Playoffs that begin September 5 at Darlington Raceway.

CLOSING IN ON A RECORD
Team Chevy’s Chase Elliott, who has won seven of the last 11 road course races in NASCAR’s premier division, is third on the NASCAR Cup Series all-time road course win list behind Jeff Gordon (nine wins) and Tony Stewart (eight). Elliott has won at more different road courses – Watkins Glen (2), Circuit of The Americas, Road America, Charlotte ROVAL (2) and Daytona Road Course – than any driver in NCS history. He has won the past two NCS races at Watkins Glen International.

ON THE WAY TO THE GREEN
With no practice or qualifying for the 90-lap/220.5-mile Go Bowling at The Glen, the starting lineup is determined by NASCAR’s metrics system that was introduced to the series last year and incorporates results from both individual races and season-long results.

Team Chevy’s Top-20 Starters:
4th Kyle Larson, No. 5 HendrickCars.com Camaro ZL1 1LE
10th Alex Bowman, No. 48 Ally Camaro ZL1 1LE
11th Chase Elliott, No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Camaro ZL1 1LE
12th Ross Chastain, No. 42 MyMcDonald’s Rewards Camaro ZL1 1LE
13th Tyler Reddick, No. 8 Chevrolet Accessories Camaro ZL1 1LE
15th William Byron, No. 24 Axalta Camaro ZL1 1LE
16th Austin Dillon, No. 3 The Cowboy Channel Camaro ZL1 1LE
17th Kurt Busch, No. 1 Monster Energy Camaro ZL1 1LE
18th Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Kroger/Bush’s Beans Camaro ZL1 1LE

BOWTIE BULLETS
· Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 98 top-10 finishes and 2,442 laps led of 5,476 total this season.
· In addition to its 19 wins at Watkins Glen, Chevrolet has amassed 63 top-five and 128 top-10 finishes.
· Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 15 poles at Watkins Glen.
· AJ Allmendinger earned his first NCS win at Watkins Glen on August 10, 2014.
· Kurt Busch is tied for most starts at Watkins Glen among active drivers with 19.
Hendrick Motorsports leads all organizations with eight wins at Watkins Glen.
· Chase Elliott became the youngest race winner at Watkins Glen (22 years, 8 months, 8 days) on August 5, 2018.
· Elliott is the youngest pole winner at Watkins Glen (23 years, 8 months, 7 days) when he captured the pole at the NCS race in August 2019.
· Kyle Larson paces all drivers with 1,441 laps led.
· Austin Dillon is second among drivers with 99.91% of laps completed (5,471 of 5,476).
· Five Team Chevy drivers have combined for 20 stage wins: Chase Elliott (Daytona RC); William Byron (Homestead, Pocono2, Road America); Tyler Reddick (Road America); Kurt Busch (Nashville Superspeedway, Pocono1, Atlanta2); Kyle Larson (Las Vegas, Atlanta x2, Kansas, Dover x2, Charlotte x3, Sonoma x2, Nashville).

FOR THE FANS:
• Fans can visit the Team Chevy Racing Display in the Fan Midway at Watkins Glen International.
• Fans can check out an assortment of Chevrolet vehicles including: Corvette Stingray Coupe 2LT, Trailblazer Activ, Tahoe 4WD Z71, Suburban 4WD High Country, Silverado Custom Trailboss V6.

Chevrolet Display Hours of Operation:
• Friday, August 6: 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
• Saturday, August 7: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
• Sunday, August 8: 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

TUNE IN
NBCSN will telecast the NASCAR Cup Series Go Bowling at The Glen at 3 p.m. ET Sunday, Aug. 8. Live coverage can also be found on MRN and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. On Saturday, Aug. 7, FS1 will telecast the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series United Rentals 176 at 12:30 p.m. ET, and CNBC will telecast the NASCAR Xfinity Series Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey 200 at 4 p.m. ET.

QUOTABLE QUOTES
KYLE LARSON, NO. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 2nd IN STANDINGS
LARSON ON RACING AT WATKINS GLEN:
“Watkins Glen isn’t my best road course track, but I enjoy racing there. It’s fun because it’s fast-paced. With little fall off (in times), you have to be aggressive the whole run and it seems you have to make some hairy passes in the braking zones to get by people.”

CLIFF DANIELS, CREW CHIEF, NO. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM CAMARO ZL1 1LE
DANIELS ON WATKINS GLEN COMPARED TO OTHER ROAD COURSES:
“Watkins Glen is unique because it’s so fast and there’s not a lot of fall off (in lap times due to tire wear). Some of the other road courses we’ve been to like Circuit of The Americas and Road America are fast in some areas, but there’s a lot of fall off. We’ve been fortunate to look back through the (No.) 9 team’s notes from ’18 and ’19 when they won and make the best decisions we can based on that.”

WILLIAM BYRON, NO. 24 AXALTA CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 3rd IN STANDINGS
BYRON ON WHY HE ENJOYS RACING AT WATKINS GLEN:
“Honestly, Watkins Glen is one of the most fun racetracks we go to as a driver because it’s so fast. It gives you a chance as a driver to really get through the gears and feel the speed. That is unique for a road course but fun to do in our cars. Where when we go to these road courses that other series run on, we have to brake a lot more because our cars are so much heavier. Watkins Glen just really feels like a superspeedway for road courses. It makes it fun, fast-paced and exciting as a driver, and I’m ready to get back after we’ve had a year off from there.”

RUDY FUGLE, CREW CHIEF, NO. 24 AXALTA CAMARO ZL1 1LE
FUGLE ON RETURNING TO RACING AFTER THE TWO-WEEK BREAK:
“It was nice having a couple weeks off from racing but I’m ready to get back after it. We went into the break without the momentum that we hoped, so I think that the time off allowed us all to reset so we can come back even stronger for this final stretch before the playoffs. Road course racing is a strong suit of not only William but also Hendrick Motorsports. We don’t have the results on those tracks that we anticipated having but we’re going back to the basics Sunday. We’re going to go there and execute what we need and put ourselves in contention to get another win. I grew up close to there and it was the first race track I ever attended as a kid. I’ll have friends and family at the track supporting us, so ending up in victory lane would be even more special.”

CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 6th IN STANDINGS
ELLIOTT ON RETURNING TO WATKINS GLEN:
“We are excited to get back to Watkins Glen. Any time you run well and can win somewhere, it’s always nice to go back. Winning in the Cup Series, in general, is something to be proud of in my opinion regardless of where it is or who you beat. The last couple of trips to The Glen I have enjoyed battling against Martin (Truex Jr.). I feel like we share a lot of mutual respect and have for many years so I have enjoyed those battles with him.”

ALEX BOWMAN, NO. 48 ALLY CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 11th IN STANDINGS
“I’m looking forward to going back to Watkins Glen this weekend. We didn’t get to go there last season, so it should be a lot of fun. It is a really fast track and its extremely tough. I still have a lot to learn there, but I feel like we are gaining on it. Going back there, I think we can unload really strong. Really excited to see fans back at The Glen this weekend. It is always a great crowd there and it is a really fun atmosphere every time we go. Looking forward to the challenge.”

GREG IVES, CREW CHIEF, NO. 48 ALLY CAMARO ZL1 1LE
“With the uptrend of road courses on the schedule, we have been putting a lot of emphasis on fine tuning our set ups. Alex (Bowman) has been doing a great job in dry and wet conditions and giving us great feedback to help develop the set ups. Definitely looking forward to getting to Watkins Glen.”

TYLER REDDICK, NO. 8 CHEVROLET ACCESSORIES CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 12th IN STANDINGS
“Watkins Glen International is just a really fast road course. We’ve seen how fast the recent winners like Martin Truex Jr. and Chase Elliot have been there lately. They really thread the needle and run as close to perfect as possible every single lap, so we need to be ready to step up and perform at that level. My No. 8 Chevy Accessories team has been working hard to give us the best chance we can with the cars we have underneath us. I’ve been working hard as well to be as prepared as I can be entering a race weekend and understanding everything about each track so we can start the race as close to prepared as we can. The esses are really tricky at Watkins Glen. It’s important to your lap time, as well as the bus stop which comes up shortly after them. That whole back-half of the track is so incredibly important to your lap time. There is just so much momentum in this track that you can’t afford to give anything up at any point on the course.”

AUSTIN DILLON, NO. 3 THE COWBOY CHANNEL CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 13th IN STANDINGS
ANOTHER ROAD COURSE THIS WEEKEND. ANOTHER WILD CARD?
“Yeah, for sure. The road courses have turned into wildcard races. Taking care of your stuff, trying to make it to the end of these things becomes a demo-derby out there. This is going to be one of those ones that if you stay on track, you’re going to have a pretty good run. I’ve had decent runs at Watkins Glen International, but it’s been challenging to string together good finishes. I have a lot of optimism going into Watkins Glen this year, though, because our road course program has been solid this year compared to the past. We’ve put a lot of work in during the off season, and we’ve had a lot of highlights on the road courses this year, including earning stage points and decent finishes.”

HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR A RACETRACK LIKE WATKINS GLEN INTERNATIONAL?
“A lot of time in the simulator, going over notes and watching old races. We try to make sure we are putting in the work beforehand. We’ve been working really hard on our road course program this year. Watkins Glen is a really fast, aggressive track. You can gain a lot by getting after it on the braking zones and it’s just a high-speed place with all of the grip in the pavement.”

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE SEASON SO FAR?
“I think we’re all on edge with our position in the points, but these next four weeks will be really telling. There’s a lot of fight in this team and we’re not giving up. I’m pleased with the consistency this No. 3 team has had this year. We show up each and every weekend and have strong, consistent cars that withstand the races. I think the next part of that evolution is just getting a little bit more speed. We would like to be where some of our other Chevy teammates are. We’re doing everything we can to lock ourselves into the NASCAR Playoffs.”

DANIEL SUAREZ, NO. 99 GOOD SAM CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 22nd in STANDINGS
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST EXPERIENCE WHEN YOU FIRST ARRIVED IN UPSTATE NEW YORK?
“When I first moved here to the United States, it was to Buffalo. The team owner I was going to race for, Troy Williams, lived in Buffalo. I moved there in February and it was very cold. I just remember it being so cold and there was a lot of snow. I didn’t last in Buffalo very long – only about three months before I packed my stuff and went back to Mexico. Can you imagine a kid from Mexico going to live in Buffalo in the middle of winter?”

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT WATKINS GLEN?
“As a race car driver, I love coming to Watkins Glen. The fans make it so good and with all of the camping they do. The atmosphere is very good and so fun. Let me tell you, it’s a very, very fast track, especially for a road course, which makes it exciting, too.”

ERIK JONES, NO. 43 CLEAN HARBORS CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 25th IN STANDINGS
TALK ABOUT YOUR THOUGHTS RETURNING TO WATKINS GLEN.
“Watkins Glen (International) is really one of my favorite road courses. Every time we go there, I get excited. Though it is a road course, it races more like a superspeedway in a lot of ways and it is a lot of fun. It’s really fast, really high-paced. Every time I have been there, I feel like we have had really good speed. I think we all feel pretty confident going up there this weekend. Hopefully, we can go up there and have the speed that we have had the last few years in the Richard Petty Motorsports No. 43 Clean Harbors Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE.”

COREY LAJOIE, NO. 7 NATIONSGUARD CAMARO ZL1 1LE – 29th IN STANDINGS
“Ready to get back after it at Watkins Glen with the NationsGuard Chevy Camaro after two off-weekends. It’s been two years since we’ve been there, so the first stage will be just trying to get a feel for the brake zones and corner speeds again. I’m excited to see how we stack up. My road course skills have continued to get better each and every race, so hopefully we can contend for a top twenty this weekend. Watkins Glen is one of my favorite road courses because it’s fast. It’s kind of an intermediate road course, rather than slow and technical, it’s fast and flowy. I’m confident my guys at Spire will continue to build me strong race cars leading into the playoffs.”

Chevrolet NASCAR Cup Series Statistics

Manufacturers Championships:
Total (1949-2020): 39
First title for Chevrolet: 1958
Highest number of consecutive titles: 13 (2003-15)

Years Won: 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015

Drivers Championships:
Total (1949-2020): 32
First Chevrolet champion: Buck Baker (1957)
Highest number of consecutive titles: 7 (2005-11)
Most Recent: Chase Elliott (2020)

Years Won: 1957, 1960, 1961, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2020

Event Victories:
Record for total race wins in single season: 26 (2007)

2021 STATISTICS:
Wins: 11
Poles: 4
Laps Led: 2,442
Top-five finishes: 44
Top-10 finishes: 98

CHEVROLET IN NASCAR CUMULATIVE STATISTICS:
Total Chevrolet race wins: 806 (1949 to date)
Poles won to date: 721
Laps led to date: 239,147
Top-five finishes to date: 4,109
Top-10 finishes to date: 8,500
Stage wins: 20 – Chase Elliott (Daytona RC), William Byron (Homestead, Pocono 2, Road America), Kyle Larson (Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Atlanta x2, Kansas, Dover x2, Charlotte x3, Sonoma x2, Nashville), Kurt Busch (Nashville, Pocono 1, Atlanta 2), Tyler Reddick (Road America)

Total NASCAR Cup wins by corporation, 1949 to date

       General Motors: 1,140
       Chevrolet: 806
       Pontiac: 154
       Oldsmobile: 115
       Buick: 65

       Ford: 809                                                         
       Ford: 709
       Mercury: 96
       Lincoln: 4

       Fiat Chrysler Automobiles: 467
       Dodge: 217
       Plymouth: 191
       Chrysler: 59

       Toyota: 158

Team Chevy high-resolution racing photos are available for editorial use.

About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, available in 79 countries with more than 3.2 million cars and trucks sold in 2020. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

NASCAR CUP SERIES
GO BOWLING AT THE GLEN
WATKINS GLEN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT
AUGUST 4, 2021

CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS CAMARO ZL1 1LE, Teleconference Transcript Highlights:

EVERYBODY IS TALKING ABOUT A POSSIBLE THREE-PEAT FOR YOU AT WATKINS GLEN THIS WEEKEND. CAN YOU TELL YOUR FANS THE MOST CHALLENGING PART OF RACING AT THE GLEN?
“I think the most challenging part about Watkins Glen is passing. It’s a race track that has a lot of grip and you kind of get in a rhythm and there are not a lot of passing zones. A lot of the heavy braking zones are after some fast straightaways or the esses, which are really aero-dependent. If you have clean air, you can certainly get through that section faster than you would if you were directly behind somebody, and that leads to an opportunity in the bus stop, but it’s just hard to get close. I think passing, to me, is the first thing that comes to mind. Track position is huge. Positioning yourself well for that second to last run and last pit stop, and obviously the last run of the race.”

HOW MUCH TIME HAVE YOU SPENT IN THE SIMULATOR FOR THIS RACE?
“Not a ton. I think, for us, we look back at prior races and the things that we’ve developed and worked on. We had a test up there like pretty early on, for me, like 2016; I think it was my first year. It’s days like that more so than I do at the SIM and just how we’ve built on that from race to race and how we’ve improved in real life, which I feel like is way more important.”

WHAT IS IT ABOUT ROAD COURSES THAT SEEM TO COME SO NATURALLY TO YOU?
“I wish I knew. I really don’t feel like I do anything spectacularly special, more, or very different at those places. But again, we’ve had a good package as a company. The No. 9 team now used to be the No. 24 team, and Jeff (Gordon) had a lot of successes on road courses. Alan (Gustafson, crew chief) has a great understanding and a little history of road racing, too, prior to NASCAR. So, I feel like we’ve focused on things that matter and we’ve developed a good package. But as I always say, things are evolving and changing as time goes, and we’ve got to continue to push and be better, too. We know our competition is, and we’ll give it our best shot and see where we stack up this weekend, just like always.”

THERE IS A FAN AT WATKINS GLEN WHO SUNBURNS THE NO. 9 ON HIS CHEST. YOU’VE HAD A COUPLE OF INTERACTIONS WITH HIM. CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT?
“Yeah, just a passionate fan which I think is amazing. I got to see him a couple of times. I specifically remember seeing him after the first win up there a few years ago. Yeah, I mean, what else can you say? The guy is committed. I’m not sure we could ask for anything more. The fans up there have been awesome. That will forever be a special place to me, whether we ever run good there again, or not. Your first of anything is special and especially that first Cup win for me. Watkins Glen will always hold a special spot and certainly that gentleman, for his passion and commitment to not just wear a t-shirt, but he reps the No. 9 for free, which is cool.”

HOW MUCH HAS YOUR LIFE CHANGED SINCE THAT FIRST CUP WIN? AND THEN, YOU CAME BACK TO WIN AGAIN. THIS TRACK HAS A SPECIAL PLACE IN YOUR HEART.
“To be honest, I’m not sure my life has really changed a lot since that first win. A lot of things have happened, obviously, since then. From a professional standpoint, I feel like I have been a better race car driver since then. I would like to think I have developed off the track too, in growing up; like anybody would as you progress through your twenties. Certainly, I think things have changed. I think I’ve developed. I think I’ve learned a lot. I’ve learned a lot of lessons since then. But I’m not sure my life, my day-to-day life, is a ton different. I’m still surrounded by a good family and friends. At the end of the day, that’s what’s important. And I’m not sure that has changed because I think it’s a good thing.”

YOU RAN THERE LAST YEAR ON THE BIG COURSE, BUT WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS IN THE INDIANAPOLIS ROAD COURSE COMPARED TO SOME OF THE OTHER INFIELD ROAD COURSES?
“Did we? I don’t remember ever running good at the oval. Well, I wouldn’t call it an oval. Apparently, I try to block that one out because I don’t really remember doing good up there. Yeah, you know, that road course to me, is not going to be your average infield road course. That place was the host of an F-1 event, many INDYCAR events over the years, and obviously Xfinity last year. It was laid out probably more like a traditional road course, you know, a place that was kind of made for it and has a little more flow to it than some of the infield tracks that we see, like the ROVAL. A lot of these tracks have infield tracks. We just might not go to them. But I think it’ll be more like a normal road course, more so than the ROVAL. One thing about those types of tracks is they don’t have any elevation really. And that, to me, is kind of what makes them different. Charlotte has a little more elevation and up and down than you might think, but watching that race last year, the thing that stood out to me the most was it is super-flat. There is really no up and down to it. So, I think that could be a little different than the norm.”

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS OF A THREE-PEAT AT WATKINS GLEN?
“I’m just excited to be going back. I’m looking forward to the challenge. Every time you go to the track, look, it’s always going to be tough. As I’ve said many times before, past success doesn’t equal future success and I don’t think that’s any different this weekend. I anticipate everybody else will be better than they were last time we were up there; and we just try to make sure we match it ourselves to have another shot.”

YOU ARE THE FIRST CUP DRIVER TO HAVE THE DUAL TITLE OF DEFENDING CUP CHAMPION AND REIGNING MOST POPULAR DRIVER. DOES THAT COME WITH ANY ADDED SENSE OF PRESSURE OR RESPONSIBILITY?
“I don’t think so. I feel the most important things are just the folks in your inner circle. While I’m appreciative of the fans and the things they’ve done for me and the opportunities they’ve given me and the support they’ve shown, that’s not me downgrading that or not appreciating it, but I put a lot of emphasis on the folks that directly surround me that have an impact on either my day-to-day life or our performance at the race track on the weekend. The outside opinions beyond that are just development, really. At the end of the day, if it’s not going to make us go faster or make my life at home better, then it really doesn’t deserve any attention. And that’s just kind of how I’ve viewed it and as I’ve grown and gone along this journey. The more and more I realize how true that is. I think the more to your life how true that is, or just the less you care about everybody else’s opinion, and that’s just continued to prove true.”

YOU ARE JUST ONE ROAD COURSE RACE WIN AWAY FROM TYING TONY STEWART, WHO IS SECOND IN ALL-TIME IN ROAD COURSE WINS. WITH THAT, AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO WIN THIS RACE AT THE GLEN THREE TIMES IN A ROW, HOW MUCH ADDED PRESSURE IS THERE?
“Same answer. There’s not. I think, for me, it’s a great honor to be even on the same page as Tony or Jeff (Gordon). Whether we can ever get there or not, to even be in the same sentence, or like I said, on the same page, I think is very cool. For me, that’s not going to play a role in how I wake up Sunday morning or how I prepare for this weekend or how we go about our race. Again, if it’s not going to make us go faster, I really don’t care about it. And me, worrying about the stat sheet, is not going to do that. While I appreciate it and I think it’s a very cool achievement, it’s not at the forefront of my focus.”

PRIOR TO YOUR CUP SUCCESS IN ROAD COURSE RACING, YOU DID HAVE A WIN IN THE TRUCK SERIES AND IN K&N WEST. DID YOU ANTICIPATE SUCCESS AT THE CUP LEVEL AT THOSE TYPES OR DID YOU HAVE OTHER TRACKS YOU WERE FOCUSED ON?
“No, I wouldn’t say so. I’ve always taken it week by week. But no, I didn’t think just because we won a truck race and won a K&N race at a road course that certainly our first win would be there. I feel like it was kind of random, really. I’m not really sure why that’s been. But yeah, it’s been fun and we’re proud of our accomplishments. But we also are hungry for me and will try to do that this weekend.”

WITH WHAT WE’VE SEEN AT THE TOKYO OLYMPICS, AS DEFENDING CHAMPION AND MOST POPULAR DRIVER YOURSELF, CAN YOU DESCRIBE TO ME HOW IMPORTANT MENTAL HEALTH IS FOR YOU?
“I think mental health is important for everybody. I think you have to respect that. Being in a good place mentally is key to success in all walks of life, I feel like. I support that. I think everybody should be sharp in their head, and make sure their head is in the right place. I support it. I think it’s vital to be happy and to do a good job professionally. That’s a key element in doing that. So, it should matter.”

MARTIN TRUEX, JR. HAS BEEN YOUR MAIN OPPONENT AT THE GLEN. WHAT DO YOU HAVE, PERSONALLY OR CREW-WISE, COMPARED TO TRUEX THAT YOU SEE AS AD ADVANTAGE THESE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS?
“I’m not sure. Martin is a good road racer. We’ve seen that throughout his entire career. He’s had a lot of success. I’ve enjoyed racing against him these last couple of years up there. But I’m not sure. The last time we went, two years ago, I felt like he was every bit as good as us, if not probably better. I think if he’d ever gotten the lead from me, I don’t feel like we would have been able to get him back. And typically, when a guy stays that close to you for that amount of time, they’re typically faster than you are. We know that. I knew that then. But we ran a good race and were able to hold him off. That being said, I know we have to be better to go back up there and challenge again. And we’ll see how it all plays out. But yeah, I don’t really know the correct answer to your question. Martin is very good and always has been and I don’t expect this weekend to be any different.”

GOING BACK TO 750HP AND LOW DOWNFORCE, DO YOU SEE MORE PASSING AND THAT TRUEX COULD POSSIBLY CHALLENGE YOU MORE?
“I don’t know. I feel like we, as drivers, push to the limit of the grip that we have in the tire and in the car. So, whether that’s 550 hp or 750, or 1,000 or 250, I feel like we’re always going to find that limit. And behind the wheel, if you’re living kind of on that edge and finding limits of what you have to work with grip-wise, that’s all you’ve got. That’s it. So, we’re always going to find that, or at least the guys that run up-front on any given weekend, have found it better than others; or hit their balance right, or whatever. So, we’ll see. I’m not sure what the weekend will bring. But I’ll find out, right alongside you.”

REGARDING HIGH HORSEPOWER, WAS THERE ANYTHING YOU LEARNED AT SONOMA WITH THOSE DIFFERENCES THAT YOU CAN APPLY TO THE GLEN AND NOT HAVING THAT PACKAGE FOR REALLY ABOUT THREE YEARS?
“Great question again. Honestly, going back to Sonoma I don’t know if it was because we had a year in between but man, if you would have asked me then if I felt any different than the last time I raced there, I would have said no. To me, it was just the same Sonoma. I’m sure it will be a little different. And I’m sure you might see little, small changes, but I just don’t see it changing the overall complexion of the event. And again, like I said a second ago, I think we always kind of find that edge of what’s available grip-wise. If you have more downforce, you might go a little faster but you’re still on the edge of what you have to work with. And if you have a little less downforce, you might go a little slower, but we’re still going to be on the edge with what we have to work with. So, I don’t really see it being a ton different.”
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About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, available in 79 countries with more than 3.2 million cars and trucks sold in 2020. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

NASCAR CUP SERIES
GO BOWLING AT THE GLEN
WATKINS GLEN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT
AUGUST 4, 2021

ALAN GUSTAFSON, CREW CHIEF, NO. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS CAMARO ZL1 1LE, Teleconference Transcript Highlights:

LOOKING AT PENSKE RACING AND ROUSH FENWAY RACING AND THE CHANGES GOING FORWARD, WILL THAT GIVE HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS A JUMP TO FEND OFF THOSE CHANGES?
“I really haven’t thought about it to be honest with you. You just never know. It can be an advantage or a disadvantage. It could be opportunity to bring it to a new perspective and some energy or it could be time spent getting somebody up to speed. It’s just really tough to say. With Brad (Keselowski) leaving and solidifying where he’s going to go after his driving career and working through that. It could be a significant advantage for him, or it could be re-energizing and motivate him, or it could be a tough transition and a distraction. So, it’s just really tough for me to say. For us, I just think it’s all about us focusing on what we can do to be the best we can. I feel like if we’re at our best and certainly we’re competitive to win races and championships. To me, it’s always been about Hendrick Motorsports and optimizing what we can control. Mr. Hendrick gives us the resources, and Chevrolet and all our partners give us what we need to win, and we just have to optimize it and do what we can internally to be the best we can. If we can do that, regardless of what goes on around us, we’re going to be in good shape.”

THE FOCUS FOR THIS WEEKEND AT WATKINS GLEN SEEMS TO BE ALL ABOUT CHASE ELLIOTT AND HE WILL THREE-PEAT. IS THAT A DISTRACTION TO YOU?
“I try not to pay attention to any of the talk, positive or negative, and not let that influence me. That’s personally how I handle it. I try to lead by example for my guys and what we’ve accomplished in the past is great and we’re super-proud of that, but it’s ultimately not going to really do much for us this weekend besides us knowing the lessons we’ve learned from racing there and being successful. We still have to do our jobs and we still have to be prepared and be ready and we still have to execute. We focus on those things and race it like it’s your last race and in doing the best you can and try to do that every week.”

YOU TALK ABOUT RACING LIKE IT’S YOUR LAST RACE, BUT HOW MUCH OF IT IS THAT, AND HOW MUCH OF IT IS LEARNING AND MAKING SURE YOU’RE AT YOUR BEST ROAD COURSE WHEN IT COMES TO THE ROVAL?
“Obviously Watkins Glen is much different than the ROVAL. The backwards pit stops at Watkins Glen aren’t unique to Watkins Glen but certainly not something that we’ll take to the ROVAL. It is a bit more opportunity I think, than normal, so it’s certainly going to apply to Indianapolis, the pit stop side of it, and then the course configuration at Indy is probably going to be more like the ROVAL than it is what Watkins Glen will be. So, you always try to consistently improve and learn and push forward. But too me, Watkins Glen is really a lot about Watkins Glen. You’re always learning but I think in this situation it’s more about that track. It’s pretty specific.”

YOU LOST 25 POINTS. DOES THAT IMPACT ANY OF YOUR DECISION-MAKING AT ALL AND HOW MUCH DO YOU GET INVOLVED, ASIDE FROM WHAT ENGINES GO IN THE CARS, TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN’T HAPPEN AGAIN?
“It’s an unfortunate mistake and we’re all in this together and it’s not my specific job. But I think there are some things we could have done as a team to be a safety net and to make sure that doesn’t happen again. And yeah, we learned a lot of lessons from that and it’s an unfortunate error and oversight. So, 25 points hurts. We’re trying to make it as far up the points ladder as we can for those bonus points, and we’ve made some progress and then we get disqualified at Nashville and it’s a big hit and then the 25 points. It hasn’t really changed my perspective but it’s not a good thing. It’s stuff we have to clean up and to answer your question, no, I don’t think it’s changed our perspective and yes, I think there are things that we can do. There’s always an opportunity for second, third, and fourth checks and verifications and that’s something we’ve just got to stay on top of so it doesn’t happen again.”

HOW MUCH DID THE YEARS WITH JEFF GORDON HELP YOU WITH CHASE ELLIOTT?
“My years with Jeff absolutely have helped me be a better crew chief and a really a better person in general. The experience with him was amazing and yeah, absolutely. I think I’ve learned a ton from Jeff, and still learn a lot from Jeff. He’s an amazing person. He has a ton of experience so absolutely; I think that’s helped me get to a better spot. I certainly owe Jeff tremendous gratitude and what he’s done for me. Mark (Martin) and Kyle (Busch) and other guys I’ve worked with too, absolutely, have been a huge part in helping me become the crew chief that I am and the experience I’ve had with them pay off and is certainly very valuable.”

AT TIMES WE’VE SEEN AT ROAD COURSE RACES WHEN THE WINNER DOESN’T NECESSARILY WIN STAGES, BUT LATELY OTHER TIMES THEY HAVE. HAS THE GAME CHANGED IN TERMS OF HOW THE STRATEGY HAS PLAYED OUT OR ARE THESE INSTANCES WHERE CARS ARE SO MUCH FASTER THAT COULD MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE RACE?
“I think certainly the cars have a lot to do with it and that helps. And then it’s circumstantial, I think, depending on your fuel windows and where they fall and can you make it to the end, and that’s just stuff to watch at The Glen. I would say, if I had to answer the question with one answer, I would say the performance of the car is the bigger indicator in that. I don’t think it’s necessarily change that comes with a strategy play.”

AT THE DAYTONA ROAD COURSE, WAS THAT BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE PIT STRATEGY WENT AND YOU GUYS GOT FURTHER BACK THERE AND HE (KYLE LARSON) GOT COLLECTED IN SOME TRAFFIC, WAS THAT A LEARNING LESSON OR WERE YOU MORE IN THE RIGHT POSITION BECAUSE IF THINGS WOULD HAVE PLAYED OUT, YOU WOULD HAVE HAD FRESHER TIRES AND THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A BETTER SITUATION?
“if you rewind that race, we were leading at the time, the No. 20 (Christopher Bell) was second. I think we were the two best cars. We were slightly better than the No. 20, but not much. We were really pretty close and even. We pitted and didn’t get a great line-up lane, restart; and the No. 20 was able to make it through the first incident and we weren’t, and he won the race and we finished pretty dismal. But on the flip side, the No. 22 finished and stayed out and he certainly didn’t have the caliber of car that we did, or the No. 20 did. So, you can guess these things to death. I would have rather, hindsight being 20/20, I would have stayed out in that situation. But you just never know.

“It’s what makes it so tough, right? That’s what makes it so much fun and that’s why it’s so great to win these races is because it’s tough to make all the calls right and all the circumstances go your way and at Daytona, we didn’t get it done. It wasn’t the right call for the circumstances and that’s just another way to put it. You just have to navigate.”

SINCE KYLE LARSON JOINED THE FOLD, HOW HAS IT ELEVATED THE LEVEL OF COMPETITION AT HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS?
“He’s an amazing driver. He’s as good as anybody out there and he brings a huge amount of talent. He’s got a tenacity about him. He wants to win everything. I think the best way to describe it is I heard him say this in a recent interview. He said he wanted to be the best race car driver ever, like period. Like not just as a stock car driver. He wants to be the best race car driver of all time. It’s how he races. So yeah, he brings that level of competitiveness and that talent. He’s really good. He sets a bar that’s high and everybody wants to eclipse so it elevates the talent or however you want to describe it, and yeah I think it trickles down through all the facets of our company.”

ARE YOU SURPRISED THAT CHASE ELLIOTT HAS THE DESIRE TO GO RUN DIRT? HE HAS LIMITED EXPERIENCE AND IT’S A CHALLENGE
“It’s a huge challenge. I commend him. He’s got a lot of guts, right? He’s willing to go out there at a young age and with no experience, where a lot of people are insecure and won’t put themselves out there like that to get the experience. He just won a Cup championship. It would be easy for him to just sit at home and tweet about the race, right? But he goes out there and jumps in and knows he’s going to be in a very difficult situation to be successful, and he goes in and enjoys and works for himself. I commend him. There’s no doubt in my mind, with time, he will win anything he drives. There is just no question to me. He just needs some time and to be in the situation that’s the right situation and I think he’ll get there. I think it’s great he does it and I think it’s great he’s experiencing it. Life’s short. You’ve got to go out there and enjoy it.

“You know, when they go to race those races, it’s so much about just the true pleasure of driving and there’s not all of the other constraints and demands. I think it’s great they can keep it fresh and go out there and really have a good time. Certainly, it’s going to make it better when they drive Cup cars or whatever else it is. Certainly Chase, for putting himself out there with no experience; and like I said, I’m very confident he’s going to be at the top sooner or later, probably sooner than later. He just needs a little time”.
Team Chevy high-resolution racing photos are available for editorial use.

About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, available in 79 countries with more than 3.2 million cars and trucks sold in 2020. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.