Toyota GAZOO Racing – Riley Herbst
NASCAR Cup Series Quotes

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (February 12, 2025) – 23XI Racing driver Riley Herbst was made available to the media on Wednesday prior to the Daytona 500.

RILEY HERBST, No. 35 Monster Energy Zero Sugar Toyota Camry XSE, 23XI Racing

Do you have expectations going into 2025?

“Yeah, I have expectations. We have worked really hard on them with the leadership team at Airspeed and the competition side as well. A lot of it is going to stay in house to be honest with you, but just from a macro level, it is about improving each week, understanding my team and my race car each week and when Phoenix and the checkered flag flies, just be a way better race car driver than I am right now. Just try to take the same steps, hopefully a little quicker, that I did in the Xfinity car.”

How important was it to bring Davin with you?

“It was important, but I guess I haven’t portrayed it correctly. It wasn’t like – I’m coming and Davin (Restivo, crew chief) is coming too. Davin was on Dave Rogers’ (senior director, competition, 23XI) radar just like Charles Denike, so we were having individual interviews at the same time. We both knew that we were talking to the team, but it was cool that they thought the same thing that I thought about Davin – that he is a race winner. He is extremely intelligent, and he is really good with race cars, and I think he brings a lot to Airspeed, 23XI and myself.”

Does 23XI’s upward momentum give you some confidence?

“I probably have more confidence than I’m supposed to have at this point. I’m literally on the best race team in the garage. I have the two best owners, who are so involved. Just sitting on the couch last year, I never thought about how involved Denny (Hamlin) and Michael (Jordan) can be – but walking to Airspeed – and everyone says that to me. They are like 23XI has overachieved. If you walk into Airspeed, they work so hard at their craft and what they do – them going to the final four last year is nothing short of hard work and really good race car drivers, really good engineers, really good crew chiefs, really good everything in that building. It has been phenomenal to join this team and I’m very excited for the future.”

Does that add pressure?

“I’m feeling gratitude. I’m so grateful to be in this opportunity. I get to drive a race car for 23XI Racing at the highest level. I used to dream about being in the Cup Series – the opportunity I have is immense, right in front of me and gratitude doesn’t even describe what I’m feeling. I’m going to take it, I’m going to have fun. I’m going to work as hard as I possibly can, and we are going to go, and we are going to achieve at a high level and hopefully we can do it soon.”

Would you say that this is the best opportunity that you’ve had in your career?

“Well this is the only opportunity I’ve had full time in the Cup Series, but to your point, this organization with this manufacturer, they just work hand-in-hand very cohesively, they truly just want the best for all of their drivers. Like I said, I’m very grateful to be in this opportunity, with this team and manufacturer and to have the ability to go to the race track and know that you have a fast race car underneath you are a really good feeling.”

What is it like to come back to Toyota?

“It is like I went off to college and I’m back home. It is cool. Everyone over there is amazing. I had a really good time at Stewart-Haas Racing. I went off to learn about myself and be able to become a better race car driver, and I’m grateful that I did. I’m grateful for everything over the last four years, but I’m glad to be back with Toyota and 23XI.”

What was the biggest thing you learned?

“The biggest thing I learned was how to run these NASCAR races properly. I know that is kind of a wordy answer, but it is just about taking a step back. There has been immense people that have helped me. One is them is Kevin Harvick. He really set me down helped me understand the process of running a race, from the green flag to the checkered flag and I feel like that is the biggest thing over four years is just the ability to run the whole race and race flow.”

This was always the dream for you. Has the reality exceeded what you thought it would?

“Yeah, it absolutely has succeeded. Every single time I walk into Airspeed, I kind of have to take a step back and just realize where I am – the top level of motorsport in America, with what I think is the best team in NASCAR. Grateful doesn’t even to explain how I’m feeling, and I’m just looking forward to it.”

How does having previous success on superspeedways in your limited Cup starts help you going into Sunday?

“It is a different team, different manufacturer, but I’m confident. I know that I can do this. I believe in my talents. I believe in my capabilities, and now I’m at a team that believes in my capabilities as well, and we are looking forward to good things this year, and we know there will be a learning curve, but it is going to be fun. This weekend is going to be fun. This is my first year, rookie year Daytona 500, so this is good stuff.”

Has there been anything since joining 23XI that has surprised you?

“The only thing that has surprised me, I would say, is just the information. How many tools are at Airspeed’s fingertips for us drivers and crew chiefs and everything for us to use at our disposal. The manufacturer side with Toyota – their sim opportunities and what they do for us drivers as well to prepare for us is awesome.”

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for nearly 70 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.

Toyota directly employs nearly 64,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 49 million cars and trucks at our 14 manufacturing plants. In spring 2025, Toyota’s plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 31 electrified options.

For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.

NASCAR CUP SERIES
DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
DAYTONA 500 MEDIA DAY
TEAM CHEVY DRIVER QUOTES
FEBRUARY 12, 2025

 Alex Bowman, driver of the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet – DAYTONA 500 Media Day Quotes

QUALIFYING ALL THE WAY THROUGH RACE DAY, IS THERE EXTRA PRESSURE GOING INTO THIS WEEKEND COMPARED TO THE REST OF THE SEASON KNOWING THE PAST SUCCESS THAT RICK HENDRICK AND HIS CARS HAVE HAD HERE?

“I feel like there is extra pressure for the 500 because it’s the Daytona 500. It’s not an internal thing, it’s not from Mr. H or Jeff Gordon or anybody. Obviously, they want to win the race as well, but it’s just the Daytona 500. The magnitude of this race creates pressure more than anything.”

“Its just a huge event and everybody knows what the Daytona 500 is and the amount of people here is insane. Gosh, I can remember there have been Sunday mornings here when we turn into zoo animals and kind of get carted around to our appearances and there have been so many people that we have been late to all our appearances because we can’t physically get to and from places quickly enough just from the amount of people. So, its just a crazy event and its our Super Bowl. We have been close, and maybe we can make it happen this year.”

WHAT WILL MAKE THE DIFFERENCE IN WINNING AND BEING OH SO CLOSE?

“A button push. I mean for me honestly it doesn’t change much, but I have continued to improve my racing stuff on the superspeedways. I feel like we have done a better job lately, our race cars have gotten better, so looking forward to another 500.”

HOW MUCH SLEEP DID YOU LOSE OVER A BUTTON PUSH?

“Not a lot. It’s kind one of those things where you can’t do anything about it situations and yeah, it was what it was. Like unfortunately we didn’t win, but at least a teammate won. 1-2 in the 500 is really cool for Hendrick Motorsports and hopefully this year we can be on the other side of it.”

DOES IT KEEP YOUR CONFIDENCE UP THAT EVERY YEAR YOU HAVE BEEN THERE AND YOUR CAR HAS HAD THE SPEED IN IT?

“Yeah, for sure. I don’t know what we do or don’t have for qualifying tonight, but we have definitely had a lot of good race cars for sure. So just trying to capitalize on that.”

GOING INTO THIS ONE, WHAT IS YOUR GOAL AS FAR AS IF WE CAN ACCOMPLISH THIS, WE CAN AVOID THE WRECKS AND BE IN POSITION?

“Capitalizing on the things you can control and maintaining track position has certainly changed with the fuel saving stuff. With the Next Gen car, you can’t really go from the back to the front like you used to be able to. Lot of things have changed in how the race plays out, but yeah, we will just have to wait and see how the race flows. I think it is important to get stage points obviously, because it’s highly likely you are going to crash in the final stage. So, if you have zero stage points and you crash, it’s pretty sad. So hopefully we can avoid that.”

DO YOU THINK IT’S MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER TO QUALIFY NEAR THE FRONT GIVEN YOU SAID ITS HARDER TO GO FROM THE BACK TO THE FRONT?

“I do. For whatever reason, like when the pace gets wicked up, the third lane dies and its too far around for the Cup cars now. So, for the bottom two lanes, they move around a little bit, but you don’t have that when it gets fast the three wide stuff. So that kind of eliminates opportunity for the most part. There is a lot of opportunity at other times like when you are out there saving fuel and stuff like that. Its just different than it used to be and having track position is certainly key.”

REGARDING GREG IVES WORKING WITH JUNIOR MOTORSPORTS AND SEEING THAT CAR COMPETE

“Yeah, its super cool. Obviously with Greg, he was a big part of my career and so was Dale (Earnhardt Jr.). Excited for Justin (Allgaier), and I know it’s not his first 500, but seeing him back in a Cup car at the Daytona 500 and Dale and Kelly having a Cup car, its pretty cool. Greg is going to bring a lot to that program, a lot of knowledge, experience and a lot of front rows at the Daytona 500. So, we know that thing will go fast.”

LOOKING BACK AT LAST YEAR WITH TRIPS TO VICTORY LANE AND THE UPSWING, HOW DO YOU LOOK AHEAD TO THIS YEAR?

“Yeah, we just need to keep that going. I feel like we are in a good spot, and I have a good group around me. Looking forward to the challenge this year and seeing where we stack up really. It’s how you get going and its really hard to say because this sport ebbs and flows so much. You never know who is going to have what when a season starts, but I am looking forward to seeing where we are at and going from there.”

HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO GET OFF TO A GOOD START IN THE FIRST THREE, FOUR, FIVE RACES?

“It’s definitely important. You know last year we were obviously good in the 500 and then we went to Atlanta, and I don’t think we made a whole lap and crashed on lap one. We will just have to wait and see how things go and obviously focus on the things we can control and kind of go from there.”

A COUPLE OF DRIVERS SAID YOU WERE ONE OF THE MOST UNDERRATED DRIVERS. HOW DO YOU REACT TO THAT?

“I certainly appreciate people saying that and I think for me, I have had a lot of success, but I have also had down years where things haven’t gone how I want them to, and the team wants them to. So, I think I have been on both sides of it for sure and we ended it at a good point last year obviously through a lot of B.S. Hopefully we are on the good side of that. I don’t want to call myself underrated, I just want to go out and win races and I would rather prove it than say it. But, yeah, just got to go do that.”

WHAT IMPROVEMENTS DO YOU THINK THE 48 TEAM MADE IN THE OFFSEASON TO MAKE A DEEPER RUN IN THE PLAYOFFS THIS YEAR?

“You know, honestly, I think we were streaky. To start the year we had streaks of really good runs and then we fell off early summer and then we won. But when the Playoffs hit, we were able to step up and find another level and execute at another level for the rest of the year. The last couple probably don’t look like it because we had a couple of issues. We were really as good as anybody in the Playoffs. We were in contention to win right after that penalty which would have put us into the final round if we would have made that happen. We are capable of running at that level and I think we showed that. We need to continue to step up and we need to continue to evolve. We need to continue to run like that all year instead of the last ten. I thought we were definitely in a good place.”

HOW LONG TILL YOU THINK TILL PEOPLE ASK ABOUT YOUR FUTURE?

“It has started two months ago. It never ended. When is it going to end? That is never going to end and that has been my entire career. Yeah, just got to go win some races.”

About General Motors

General Motors (NYSE:GM) is driving the future of transportation, leveraging advanced technology to build safer, smarter, and lower emission cars, trucks, and SUVs. GM’s Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC brands offer a broad portfolio of innovative gasoline-powered vehicles and the industry’s widest range of EVs, as we move to an all-electric future. Learn more at GM.com.

Toyota GAZOO Racing – Bubba Wallace
NASCAR Cup Series Quotes

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (February 12, 2025) – 23XI Racing driver Bubba Wallace was made available to the media on Wednesday prior to the Daytona 500.

BUBBA WALLACE, No. 23 McDonald’s Toyota Camry XSE, 23XI Racing

What’s the conversations been like with the team to continue improving like you have over the last few years?

“I’m looking forward to this year. Unloading with speed, it’s hard to gauge the speed you have in practice like today when it’s single car stuff. For us, with Charles (Denike, crew chief) coming on board calling the shots for us is a different change of pace, a change of attitude, a change of twang in his voice from Bootie (Barker, former crew chief) (laughter). So, it’s all seemed to work out well. The Clash went really well. We’re excited about that and still building off that. A lot of things that are still left to be unfolded for Charles and just to figure out his place in this series and where we’re at right now. There’s a lot of moving parts, but everything seems to be flowing well right now.”

What has your experience been like so far with your new crew chief, Charles Denike?

“He’s (Charles Denike) very direct and he’s structed with a military background. I was kind of informed on that. We had a briefing meeting for Daytona and our strategy stuff Monday and 10 minutes before (he called), ‘Hey man, just making sure you have the call in information and the links and all that setup and you’re ready to go.’ And, I’m like, ‘I’m ready. I’m good.’ So, it’s nice to have somebody to keep you in check. Keep you on your toes. I think just from that standpoint, I’m sure that trickles through even at the shop. I don’t see all the behind-the-scenes stuff there but just for how we interact there’s not any games being played and we’re straight to the point.”

How difficult is it to make a crew chief change?

“It’s definitely tough with it being such a big change. I was on the fence with making a change because I was so comfortable with Bootie. It’s hard to step away from something that you’re comfortable with and something that seems to be working fairly well. But I kind of just took a step back and put all the trust and faith in the team to make the necessary calls and the right call. So far so good. The season started today, and so there’s a lot left to unwind and get to work on, but I think Charles fits right in with the brand that we’ve created at 23XI — everybody at AirSpeed – and just the culture and environment that we have there. It’s a so far so good change, but we’ll just have to see. I love Bootie (Barker, former crew chief) to death. I text him I think Sunday going up to the track at Bowman Gray and I said ‘Hey man, I know it’s a change of pace, but I wouldn’t be where I’m at without all the help and all the guidance that you gave and I appreciate you.’ So, it’s cool.”

How important is consistency for you?

“Consistency is key. We seem to start out the year really hot in the Daytona 500. In Atlanta, we run okay and then we kind of decline in the summer stretch – we’re top 5, top 10, top 10. We need to keep the flame lit the entire season. It’s super hard to do. You’re going to have a high flame, you’re going to have a low flame but as long as it’s lit, you’ve got a chance. We’ve got to do a really good job of doing that. This sport is so hard. Being at the Cup level the wins don’t come often, and you have to be ready to pounce when they do. That’s what we’re looking forward to. Not going to leave the reservation on anything that we don’t have to, but just put a little more into it.”

What has Michael Jordan meant to you?

“He’s (Michael Jordan) very much invested into the sport and what we have going on at 23XI and he reassures that through all the people that work on our race cars each and every day. That we’re showing up competing for wins and competing for a championship and we’re just moving forward with that. MJ is competitive, he wants to win, and he knows what it takes to win and it’s all up to us.”

What have you noticed from Riley Herbst that gives you an idea of what he’s like to work with?

“His (Riley Herbst) year last year really kind of opened up a lot of our eyes and it was really cool to see him win in Vegas the way he did, and Indy was really cool and Phoenix. That was big. I think, man, confidence. Confidence is so hard to come by when you’re down in the trenches and I’m not sure if he’s ever down in the trenches because the couple weeks that I’ve been around him now, he’s a very upbeat and positive kid and it’s nice to have that. So, seeing where he’s at. Like, the Clash weekend didn’t go as planned for him, but I talked to him and he’s like, ‘Yeah, you know, it’s okay. I could’ve done this that and this better and things could’ve gone better, but we’ll be fine.” It’s a good mentality to have, but I think last year doing what he’s done brought him a lot of confidence but you have to learn how to manage that in the Cup Series because it’s not like you’re just walking into – you’re walking into a new avenue but it’s such a big step getting here. So, I don’t want him to get discouraged if things don’t go his way. It’s so hard, man. I remember making my first Cup start at Pocono and I thought I was the best at restarts and I got my ass kicked six ways to Sunday and I was like, ‘Okay, I need to go to work.’ And, here we are. It takes a lot of work to be competitive. I think he has that passion and that drive to do it. It’s just putting everything together and making it work.”

What do you feel like you still need to unlock as a driver to elevate your performance?

“It’s just winning and being more competitive. Being a name that is being talked about for the performance and the success. I feel like I have the mentality to do it, and I feel like I have the performance to do it. We just have to put those two things together and make it coincide and exist together and you never know where the results can take you. We’ve just been barely hanging on to the last Playoff spot or missing it by one or two spots and that’s not acceptable. That’s not acceptable for me and that’s the most important person that I’ve got to please is myself and now my kid. But, good this is he doesn’t really know what’s going on right now. But, yeah, just having fun with it. This is my eighth year in Cup and I feel like I belong here and done a lot. I just need to do a lot more.”

What does the Daytona 500 mean to you?

“After coming home second a couple times, seeing the stats for how we perform here at Daytona, it’s an incredible race. Something really cool to be a part of. When Baxter came over and crew chief ’ed for me in 2020, I said, ‘Hey man, take 15 minutes to yourself to be a fan of the spectacle that you’re a part of for the 500. And, I told Charles (Denike, crew chief), I said, ‘Take 10 to 15 minutes when you get a break in your schedule to just walk around and see how many people are here and just the environment that you’re in.’ It’s totally different than a Truck race. And, being here in Daytona, it’s a massive facility and they always do a great job putting on a great show here for the fans. It’s cool. We’ve come close too many times but I’ll take second. That pays better than some other spots.”

What would a win here mean to you?

“Winning early would be awesome. Just getting yourself locked in, you could have a massive weight lifted off your shoulders. Doing it here on the big stage at the 500, there’s no better day for it.”

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for nearly 70 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.

Toyota directly employs nearly 64,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 49 million cars and trucks at our 14 manufacturing plants. In spring 2025, Toyota’s plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 31 electrified options.

For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.

Toyota GAZOO Racing – Ty Gibbs
NASCAR Cup Series Quotes

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (February 12, 2025) – Joe Gibbs Racing driver Ty Gibbs was made available to the media on Wednesday prior to the Daytona 500.

TY GIBBS, No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota Camry XSE, Joe Gibbs Racing

Does having more Toyota teammates in the field this year change your approach in the race?

“Yeah, I think so for the speedways for sure. I don’t think it changes a whole lot on the big tracks but it’s definitely nice to see more Toyota numbers at the race track. Excited to see what we can do this weekend with the whole group.”

What things are in your control during a race like this?

“I think there’s different things that are in my control, especially when it comes to pit road and everything there, executing on that point and same with my group. And then, making the right moves on the track. There’s probably more things controllable things than I’ve seemed to have said in the past.”

Have you had conversations with NASCAR about that incident?

“Yeah, that’s happened, and I respect Brad (Moran, managing director, NASCAR Cup Series) and all of those guys. Our conversations will stay private, but I’ve talked to him.”

Do you like the style of racing on the superspeedways?

“Yeah, it’s fun. It has its ups and downs. I think the biggest thing for me is, I’m not in control of everything while racing in the pack. It’s just the racing we have to do, and I try to maximize my day.”

What are your earliest memories of the Daytona 500?

“Yeah, this was their (Joe Gibbs Racing)’s first Cup win in 1993. So, it’s cool to see that and I’d love to win this race. I’ve been here for two Daytona 500 wins, so I’d love to add to that.”

What are your thoughts for Carl Edwards being inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame?

“Yeah, I have a ton of respect for Carl (Edwards). I think we can all agree, everyone in the garage can agree, that Carl is a great guy. He’s been very cool and a big help to my family’s team. He’s just been really great to us. I respect Carl and Coach (Joe Gibbs, owner and founder, Joe Gibbs Racing) talks with me about people to look up to, the number one person is Carl. It’s always Carl. I made sure to let him know that and how much I appreciated of what he had to say, and I think he’s a great guy. Glad to have been around him and look up to someone like him.”

How do you manage pressure with carrying your family’s last name?

“Yeah, it’s definitely hard. I’ve been very blessed, God’s blessed me with this position I’m in. I love racing, enjoy it so much. I wouldn’t say I don’t acknowledge the pressure, I think it’s there. But for me, I enjoy racing so much I just want to be the best I can at what I do. Also, I put more pressure on myself compared to the other pressure and I’m very appreciative to do what I do, I love the country I live in and try to make the best of it all. Might make mistakes along the way, but feel I’ve had a good run at it so far.”

How does it feel to be back in a race car around Daytona?

“Yeah, it’s nice for sure. It’s fun to be back in a Cup car and get ready for this race.”

What was your offseason like? Did you do much racing?

“Yeah, I did two races. Hung out, did some traveling and hung out with my family. It was a fun offseason but definitely ready to get back going.”

How’s it been being back in the shop and prepping for the new season?

“Yeah, it’s been good. I’ve been working with my new crew chief, Tyler Allen and my new engineer. I’m very excited to get going and hopefully will have a great year.”

What’s your comfort level with Tyler Allen so far and what are the expectations for this season?

“He’s (Tyler Allen, crew chief, No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry XSE) been really good, and I like his personality a lot. It’s been fun working with him. Excited to get this year going and see what we can do. I think we’re just getting into it, but I’ve enjoyed working with him so far and I think he’s very hard worker. Grew up under Adam Stevens (crew chief, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry XSE), and so, I’m really excited about it.”

What do you think about Chris Gayle now working with Denny Hamlin?

“Yeah, I’ve always loved working with Chris Gayle (crew chief, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry XSE) and appreciated him so much. He’s been a tremendous success to my career along the way and I don’t think I’d be where I’m at right now without him. Especially in my Xfinity Series days. I wish him the best with Denny (Hamlin). Of course, Denny is very wise and has a lot of experience, so I think they’ll work well together.”

How much input do you have with the No. 54 Xfinity Series team?

“I haven’t done a ton yet, but I’m close with Taylor (Gray) and he can learn off me and what I’ve done. I’ve had enough experience to help him along the way, as well as the other young drivers. I’m excited for that team and hope they do well, as well as the No. 18, 19 and 20 teams.”

Where did you and Taylor start your friendship?

“Well, I grew up racing go karts at Millbridge Speedway with Taylor (Gray), and I think I met him when I was nine or 10 years old, so I’ve known the Gray family for many years. They’ve been like a second family to me. I’ve been close with all of the brothers, especially Taylor and Tanner. I always appreciate being around them and appreciate them watching over me as well. They’re great family friends and will always be close with them.”

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for nearly 70 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.

Toyota directly employs nearly 64,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 49 million cars and trucks at our 14 manufacturing plants. In spring 2025, Toyota’s plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 31 electrified options.

For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.

NASCAR CUP SERIES
DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
DAYTONA 500 MEDIA DAY
TEAM CHEVY DRIVER QUOTES
FEBRUARY 12, 2025

 Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet – DAYTONA 500 Media Day Quotes

Q. Can you tell me the difference between you, A.J. and Jimmie Johnson, the three guys in this race that have raced both the Indy 500 and the Daytona 500? What are the differences between the two?

KYLE LARSON: The car. Yeah, I think the car. I don’t know. Both atmospheres are really good, for sure. I don’t know. They’re still, like, very different.

I don’t know. I don’t really know. Like, it’s hard to answer that because they’re both the peak of the sport. They just have their differences.

The infield at Indy has the snake pit, but the infield here has all the campers, and that’s really cool. Driver intros sort of similar. The crowd feels closer to you at Indy, at least the grandstand crowd.

The frontstretch at Indy is swarmed with people. But pit road is also similar to that here. But it’s more race fans.

I don’t know. I feel like maybe Indy just has like a little bit more of the kind of history feel to it than the 500, Daytona 500. Other than that, I mean, they’re both great. The atmospheres at both of them were great.

Q. You were the rookie at Indy last year. Helio is the rookie at the Daytona 500 this year. Doesn’t have a week of practice like you did. What are going to be the biggest challenges for him?

KYLE LARSON: I really don’t think he’s going to find it that challenging just because Daytona is Daytona. It’s not hard to make a lap at Daytona. When you’re in the draft, you’re kind of just stuck in the draft. You’re not making moves, getting your way to the front.

It turns into a lot of strategy, which I think he’s very used to in INDYCAR stuff, saving fuel, trying to manage that side of your race.

I think the challenging part potentially is just probably the weaker brakes. You don’t slow down as good as you would in INDYCAR for like a green-flag pit cycle. Maximizing time for the green-flag ins-and-outs, that’s where it’s going to be probably a challenge.

Too, at Indy, it’s so narrow, y’all just follow each other. Here it’s like you’re trying to pass people, braking and stuff. That’s probably where he’ll get a little bit maybe overwhelmed at times. But he’ll get the hang of it. It’s not a big deal. He’ll be fine.

Q. What does the Daytona 500 mean to you?

KYLE LARSON: Yeah, I mean, it’s cool. It’s a big, big race. Everybody in here wants to win the big one.

I think this is like the last of the big ones that I have left. I think that adds a little bit more to it. Yeah, I’m not sure. Just get your season started, too, so it’s a lot of fun.

Q. You’ve had one of the most successful winters that you’ve ever had. You’ve been one to race as much as you can. Do you feel it’s an advantage that helps you stay sharp coming into the start of the NASCAR season?

KYLE LARSON: Yeah, I don’t know. I mean, I’ve done it both ways. Last couple years I haven’t done much dirt racing in the off-season. Well, yeah, a couple years ago I didn’t do any really besides Turkey Night I think. Then I’ve had years where I raced a lot, even more than I ran this time.

I don’t know. I think it keeps me sharp, for sure. It’s not a big deal no matter one way or the other. I just like to race. I kind of like to stay in the rhythm of racing.

Obviously I wish the off-season was still longer so I could squeeze in some other racing, but also more time not at the racetrack.

Yeah, it’s fun. I feel like I’m just trying to continue to better my abilities.

Q. With Volusia, is there a fun factor for you here, too?

KYLE LARSON: Yeah, I’ve never gone to Volusia and qualified well. We’ve qualified decent, but you can’t win from the seventh or eighth row. It was more fun to qualify good, giving ourselves an opportunity to win.

It was a fun week there, the best we’ve ever had at Volusia. Hopefully it can carry over to this week.

Q. Does not having won at Daytona mean the same thing to you it does for other drivers?

KYLE LARSON: I don’t know. I’m not really sure. I don’t know how it feels to them. I would imagine Tony Stewart or Kyle Busch is still racing, but I imagine Tony Stewart who doesn’t have it doesn’t loose sleep.

I think when you look at the style of racing, especially nowadays, how it’s difficult to win because you do have a lot of good fortune where there’s a lot out of your control. I think that helps you sleep at night if you don’t win.

So I don’t think it does anything to Tony’s legacy whether he’s won the Daytona 500 or not. He’s in every Hall of Fame that he’s deserving of being in. I don’t think it does anything to his career.

Obviously he would love to have it. That’s probably the same as me. Like, I’m not going to lose sleep if I don’t ever win this race, but I still want to win the race and have that ring and that trophy and be a part of the names that have won it.

But again, I think there’s a lot else, a lot more that goes into winning and a lot of luck. It’s not a big deal.

Q. Is it frustrating as a driver that there is so much that is out of your control?

KYLE LARSON: No, I mean, because it just kind of is what it is. It’s going to be on the schedule every year. We all show up with the same opportunity to win, so…

No, I mean, it’s not frustrating. I think obviously all of us drivers would want to be able to make our own moves, get to the front, there not be a wreck with 25 cars in it.

But it’s just also the style of racing. Like I said, it kind of is what it is. We all understand that when we come to places like Daytona or Talladega.

Q. (No microphone.)

KYLE LARSON: I don’t know. I mean, I think it’s easy to agree with that because I haven’t won. But then I think if you go talk to the guys who consistently run up front at these, they would probably have a different opinion.

I don’t know. I think there’s a lot of strategy that goes into these races now in the Next Gen era that I do enjoy, fuel savings, the green-flag pit stops, working together with your teammates and others, I enjoy that.

I do think, like I said, there’s a group of drivers that are always up front at the ends of these races, so… There is skill, for sure. Whether that’s the driver or it’s just the team or manufacturer as a whole, yeah, I don’t know.

Q. (No microphone.)

KYLE LARSON: I mean, I think it’s definitely a response to that, for sure, to protect them. But I don’t really think you’re ever going to see it come into play in that same exact scenario.

I think it’s definitely going to come into play more when drivers get suspended for making a mistake – not a mistake, but intentionally wrecking somebody or something like that. That’s where you’re going to see the rule come into place.

I’m sure they thought about that, as well. Maybe that’s what they wanted to have, to keep drivers from doing, like right hooking somebody.

But yeah, I don’t think you’re going to see that scenario kind of come into play as what happened last year.

Q. (No microphone.)

KYLE LARSON: Yeah, I guess. I don’t know. It’s whatever. Try not to run into any of those issues.

Q. (Question about qualifying importance.)

KYLE LARSON: I don’t know. I mean, I don’t necessarily think that it’s that important. It’s always important to qualify good. I’m not saying it’s not important. I think it’s way more important at a short track to qualify good or an intermediate to qualify good.

When you come here, sure, you qualify bad, you sacrifice some stage one points, but you save enough fuel, then you cycle your way to the front to start the next stage or whenever the case may be. You just kind of chip your way at it. You can get big chunks if you’re saving fuel and executing your green-flag stops. Yeah, you’re probably in position. I’ve seen the Toyota guys do it. They never qualify good. They’re always in contention in the second stage.

Yeah, I don’t think it’s that important.

Q. Is it good to get back into the seat of a Cup car?

KYLE LARSON: Yeah, it is. It’s just good to be back into, like, the normal routine or what I feel like is the normal routine of the racing season, getting to your scheduled Monday meetings, Thursday meetings, I know I’m flying out on this day, stuff like that. Being around my teammates, that’s all the stuff that you miss in the off-season. Even though I’m racing, I still just miss the routine of all that.

Yeah, glad to be back going again with all that. Yeah, just look forward to hopefully another successful season.

Q. (Question about Atlanta.)

KYLE LARSON: Yeah, it’s definitely its own unique style. Different even than Daytona or Talladega. It’s just really, like, high intensity. It’s like a hybrid in a way of Daytona and Talladega, as well as maybe an intermediate style track.

Yeah, it’s intense, for sure. It’s unique. Your heart rate gets up.

Q. What makes it intense?

KYLE LARSON: I mean, you’re drafting, you’re on top of each other. You feel like you’re on edge. The lap happens really quick. There’s some bumps. It’s really edgy.

Yeah, I think that’s what makes it feel intense.

Q. This is the first time since ’96 there hasn’t been a major NASCAR event in southern California. How important is it to be in California? How do you get back?

KYLE LARSON: Yes, I do think it’s very important that we get out to that region. I think there’s some of the best race fans, very passionate race fans, in southern California and on the west coast in general.

As far as how you get back? I don’t know. Irwindale just shut down. We don’t go to the Coliseum anymore. They say Fontana is still going to convert. I don’t believe that. I don’t know.

I would love it. I don’t even know what tracks are out there. I would love for us to get back out to southern California.

Q. (No microphone.)

KYLE LARSON: Yeah, I mean, I wish we could race in every state, but we can’t, so…

Yeah, I mean, times change. I don’t know. I don’t run the schedule. I don’t run the sport, so… It’s not like NASCAR has forgotten about southern California. I’m sure they’re trying to figure out ways to get back there.

Yeah, I think hopefully in the future we can get back to southern California.

Q. (Question about the Clash.)

KYLE LARSON: Where I set on that? Well, I love that it has moved around. I love that we’re not here racing the Clash. I love that we’ve built a track at the Coliseum. That was awesome, in a market that didn’t know what NASCAR might have been. I also loved going to Bowman Gray and getting back to the roots of our sport.

Yeah, I mean, I think you could say the L.A. sort of idea and move around to different markets and stuff, or I feel like it would be cool if you can revive some other grassroots style tracks that are close to the roots of NASCAR.

I think they’ve done a really great job with the Clash over the last four years or so.

Q. Denny Hamlin was talking about irrational confidence. I talked to him about Chris Gabehart not being his crew chief anymore. He said all drivers have irrational confidence, thinking that you can move and making it, if you didn’t have that, you wouldn’t be able to do that. Do you understand what he’s saying? We think of you guys as having a ton of confidence all the time.

KYLE LARSON: Yeah, I don’t know.

Q. Have you always been the kind that little things like a change in a crew chief, losing something on track, does it not affect your confidence? I mean, you’re Kyle Larson.

KYLE LARSON: Yeah, your confidence is always affected whether good results, bad results, changes in teams or personnel. Just uncertainty on that kind of thing.

Chris Gabehart is a phenomenal leader. When you lose a guy like that… I view it as like if Cliff was tomorrow to leave his role, for sure I would be devastated and very worried about my future. But you kind of have to get back after it and also use it as motivation probably.

I think, yeah, Denny is going to have a great year still. JGR has awesome stuff. Yeah, maybe Gabehart in his new role will be able to touch on the team organization as a group and make it overall better than it already was.

Yeah, change is change. There’s always uncertainty until you get racing.

Q. Is it more than the decisions on the track with a talented crew chief? You learn to lean on him, you’re so used to him, it makes you confident because you don’t have to try to figure out things, and that’s the hard part?

KYLE LARSON: Yeah, I don’t know. I don’t know what Denny thinks. Like I said, I can only try to put myself in his shoes.

I feel like Gabehart and Cliff are very similar people, very similar leaders, very similar crew chiefs, especially like how Gabehart leads Denny or led Denny and how Cliff leads me.

Yeah, if I was to lose that, it would be super awkward at first. I’m sure it was just out of nowhere probably to him, as well.

Yeah, but he’s still got a great team. He was super fast at the Clash. He’s going to be just fine.

Q. What about your confidence on superspeedways? Seems like you’re in the mix more frequently.

KYLE LARSON: Yeah, no, I do feel pretty confident when we come to these races. I feel like we have a great feel for the race and kind of how it works out, the strategy. I do feel like we’re up front quite often at the end of them.

We’ve not made it through some of the wrecks or I’ve made a bad move and got shuffled back real late, stuff like that. Talladega we missed a wreck finally, finished third or fourth.

I feel like we have a good understanding of these races. Just got to keep doing what we’ve been doing and hopefully things will work out.

Q. What do you think makes Denny so great here?

KYLE LARSON: He’s just a very calculated racer. I feel like it takes less of that now with the style of racing. I think his ability doesn’t shine maybe quite as much as it used to.

Yeah, he’s just a super smart racer. He stays calm. I feel like it’s not hard for him to stay focused.

Q. Was Jeff Gordon kind of a pioneer, his dirt track background? Are you aware?

KYLE LARSON: Oh, yeah.

Q. What has been his impact?

KYLE LARSON: Well, as far as like yeah, he’s being a pioneer. He was the first real dirt racer I feel like, young too, to make it to NASCAR. Yeah, he definitely paved the way for guys like myself. Especially coming from northern California, my career path really modeled his. Moving from northern California to Indiana, doing USAC stuff, coming to Charlotte. He kind of showed you the way to do it. A lot of people still try to do it that way.

Yeah, very thankful for that even from a long time ago. Now that he’s my boss, it’s really cool.

Q. What kind of respect do you have for Helio Castroneves?

KYLE LARSON: Tons of respect for Helio. He’s won the Indy 500 four times. That’s pretty amazing to put yourself in contention to win four. He’s probably been close to winning a lot of others.

Yeah, he’s just a huge personality. He’s a really big name. So to have him here racing the Daytona 500 in a totally different car and series, it’s pretty awesome.

I hope he does well. I know he will do well. I don’t think it’s going to be too challenging for him. It’s not a big deal racing around here. The strategy is very similar to Indy 500. He’ll be just fine.

Q. Running so much in marquee dirt races as you do, what is the approach like for the Daytona 500 compared to these other races that you’ve won?

KYLE LARSON: I don’t know. I mean, those are all shorter races, so… That’s a lot different.

I don’t know. Your mindset is similar probably in all of them. I feel like as I’ve gained more experience in racing in a lot of races, winning other big races. Your nerves aren’t they very high anymore. You’re pretty focused throughout the whole time.

Yeah, I think age and experience helps more than anything.

Q. (Question about bonus points.)

KYLE LARSON: I don’t even know what you’re talking about.

Q. (No microphone.)

KYLE LARSON: I have no clue. We get extra points now for fastest lap?

Q. Yes.

KYLE LARSON: Sorry, I had no idea. I literally had no idea. I don’t care. Whatever.

Q. (No microphone.)

KYLE LARSON: How it’s going to affect it? I don’t know. I think it’s going to be — I’m not really sure. I’m not like a road racer, so I don’t know how it’s going to affect it.

I think you definitely lose one passing zone. I’m not sure if you gain any with this new section. I haven’t seen it, at least at ground level I haven’t seen it. Then you’re probably losing a heavy braking zone into whatever that is, 12.

But you get to go through turn one more often, stuff like that. So I think you do gain some. But I don’t know. I think it’s better for the crowd. They get to see us more. That’s important.

Q. Season opener at Las Vegas, are you looking forward to increasing the level of Cup drivers that might be interested in joining you?

KYLE LARSON: I haven’t heard of any Cup guys running. Regardless, I think ticket sales sound like they’re really good. I think there’s going to be a big field of cars, too, which I’m pumped about because I wasn’t sure how that would be. I think a lot of California teams, west coast teams are coming, even teams from the Midwest.

Should be really good. Hopefully the track prep is right and we can put on some good racing for dirt fans and hopefully some NASCAR fans coming over, as well.

Q. Christopher Bell…

KYLE LARSON: Yeah, he’ll be fast. If he is in the 69K, he will be really fast. He should win a lot of races in that thing. That car is really fast.

About General Motors

General Motors (NYSE:GM) is driving the future of transportation, leveraging advanced technology to build safer, smarter, and lower emission cars, trucks, and SUVs. GM’s Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC brands offer a broad portfolio of innovative gasoline-powered vehicles and the industry’s widest range of EVs, as we move to an all-electric future. Learn more at GM.com.

Toyota GAZOO Racing – Martin Truex Jr.
NASCAR Cup Series Quotes

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (February 12, 2025) – TRICON Garage driver Martin Truex Jr. was made available to the media on Wednesday prior to the Daytona 500.

MARTIN TRUEX JR., No. 56 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry XSE, TRICON Garage

Does it feel different coming back knowing this is a one-off race for you?

“Yeah, not so much just getting ready for it. We kind of prepare all the same and things like that. I know when I leave here, I don’t have to worry about where I’m at in points or just anything like that. There’s no repercussions, right? It’s just have fun, hopefully have a great race, hopefully have a shot at winning this race for the first time. That’s the whole reason to do it. Really, nothing else matters. It’s kind of fun. It feels more old school. You race each race as its own and the rest of the year doesn’t matter. This has nothing to do with that. It’s a little different there, but at the same time you’re like we’ve got to make the race first. So, that’s a different feeling because we haven’t done that since 2005, I guess, I haven’t had to do that. So, qualifying is way more important. Usually, you come down here and qualifying at the Duels, whatever. It is what it is. You start where you start. But now, it’s important so a little more nervous early in the week than usual.”

How much do you feel you control on whether you make the race or not?

“In the Duels, not a lot I guess, but tonight a lot. The team has spent a lot of time on the car and hopefully they’ve got it dialed in to where we can lay down a fast enough speed tonight to be locked in. That would be the perfect scenario, but if not, we’ll just go racing and do what we know how to do. As we know in speedway racing, a lot can happen. We’ll try to put ourselves in the best position we can and not make any mistakes and usually that’s the best way to get there but there’s no guarantees.”

How stressful is having to qualify into the Daytona 500?

“I don’t know. I’m not sure yet. Talk to me tomorrow. One step at a time. I don’t like to look too far ahead. I’m worried about qualifying. I’ve got that on the brain and what I need to do. Then, if that doesn’t go the way we want it to then we’ll switch gears and worry about tomorrow. I think I’ve got enough experience with this car and knowing kind of how it plays out to do what it takes tomorrow night, but you just never know what could happen. With this type of racing, a lot can happen especially with just a simple green-flag pit stop. That could really mix things up a lot.”

How does it feel to put the number 56 back out there?

“It feels great! That was the first thing that I asked for I think when we put the deal together was, can I pick the number? This was obviously the number I grew up racing with and it’s special to me. It’s fun to see it back out there in this series and especially here at Daytona.”

Is it harder to see considering the recent loss of your dad?

“No, I don’t know about harder, but it probably means more. It probably hits home more with me of just what it means to us and our family. A lot of people are going to be excited to see it out there.”

What did your dad mean to you?

“Everything I’ve ever learned was from him. He was my hero growing up and still is. He made a lot of things happen for me. Taught me a lot of things with racing and really the opportunity to get here and what I’ve accomplished is all because of him and his sacrifices. Hopefully we’ll go win this thing for him on Sunday.”

Is it unfair that Helio Castroneves is already locked into the Daytona 500 field with a provisional and you as a series champion have to race your way in?

“I have to say yes. I don’t see any other – I really don’t understand it. I don’t see a reason why he should be in the race and Jimmie Johnson shouldn’t be you know. So, it’s a little weird to me but I don’t make the rules. I just come here and race.”

Have you had much interaction with your team at all and do you know a lot of the guys?

“Oh yeah, I do. I know a lot of them. A lot of good guys who have been around a while. I’m sure they’re happy to race and not be stuck in the shop all week. It’s always fun to get out and then they don’t have to worry about going many more times this year. Just go out and have some fun. It’s a fun group.”

How important is it to you to win the Daytona 500?

“I think in the grand scheme of things, this is probably the easiest one to do as far as being a driver in a series. You couldn’t do a one-off and go to Richmond or Dover or somewhere and expect to have a chance to win honestly. It’s just not really feasible. With the way it works for the team, and how fast things change, and you’ve got to be on the newest stuff, and you’ve got to have that team chemistry and that notebook going all the time. So, speedway racing is the best opportunity to come out and have a true shot at winning. I think that’s why guys do it, that’s why I wanted to do it and especially because it’s the Daytona 500. It’s such a big race. It’s such a big deal. To have the opportunity to come here with a great team and a great car and have a shot. We have as good a shot to win as anyone to win as long as we get in it. If you’re in it, you can win it. I’ve always said that. One of these days I’m going to be right about it.”

Do you think you can lay down a fast lap tonight?

“I think we can tonight, but it’s so hard to know anymore what everyone has. If we went out and did a qualifying run today, you can pretty much bet on it being the same. There’s not a lot of tricks with these cars I don’t think as far as from practice to qualifying like there used to be when guys changed motors and oil and all kinds of stuff. It was like, ‘wow, where did that speed come from?’ So, it’s a little more straight forward. Thinking back to last year – Talladega too, we were really slow at qualifying. I think they’ve put in a lot of work in the offseason, especially at TRD, to be better. Our speed looked pretty decent today, but you never know. Hopefully we can do it tonight, but you never know I guess.”

What does it feel like going in tonight knowing you have to qualify your way in, it’s been a long time?

“Yeah, 20 years. So, it’s a little different but it’s still just a race so we’ll go out and do our best.”

What do you remember from that race in 2005 when you had to qualify your way in?

“I was a lot more nervous than I am now. Of course, trying to make our first one and I think we ran fourth in our Duel, so it turned out pretty well. I was definitely a lot more nervous and way less experienced and racing against some big names. It was pretty crazy.”

What’s it been like not being in the grind? Has it been hard to get used to or has it been easy?

“It’s been great. I have zero complaints. It’s nice to wake up every day and say, ‘What do I want to do today?’ Not looking at my schedule seeing how many days I have off, when do I have to leave, where am I going next? It’s been good. Nobody tells me what I have to do anymore.”

Do you have other races on your plate?

“I don’t. None.”

Are you looking to do other races?

“Yeah, I’m going to do something. I don’t know what yet, but we’ll see.”

Can you leave here content knowing this is a one-off if you don’t qualify into the Daytona 500?

“I don’t really want to think about that right now. Yeah, it will suck. You still want to do good, you still want to win. I want a shot to win Sunday night. That’s what I’m looking forward to. Anything less than that would be a disappointment.”

What will it mean for you to get a win for Toyota?

“It would be huge. Honestly, it would be a huge accomplishment for the team and for Toyota and all they’ve done for me throughout my career. They’ve been awesome partners. We’ve done a lot of special things together and this would be another one to add to the list so we’ll do all that we can.”

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for nearly 70 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.

Toyota directly employs nearly 64,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 49 million cars and trucks at our 14 manufacturing plants. In spring 2025, Toyota’s plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 31 electrified options.

For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.

Toyota GAZOO Racing – Denny Hamlin
NASCAR Cup Series Quotes

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (February 12, 2025) – Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin was made available to the media on Wednesday prior to the Daytona 500.

DENNY HAMLIN, No. 11 National Debt Relief Toyota Camry XSE, Joe Gibbs Racing

For 20 years, FedEx was your sponsor for this race. Is it strange to be wearing different colors?
“It is different. When I get to the bus for the first time and I see that there is a new suit – you’ve had these, in the middle of the season, whatnot, but certainly, the Daytona 500, starting a new season, first time in 20 years. It is different, but it is time for change and certainly, we are really happy to have National Debut Relief on the car. It is a partnership that is going to go beyond just this race.”

What does this race mean to you?

“For me, I try to tell people that we tell people that we try so hard when we are kids, we are trying to get to the highest form of motorsports, but to win its biggest race is one of the things that we aspire to do. To have done it three times is certainly special. If any of you have the question on what will the fourth mean, I can’t answer that. I tried to figure out what it would mean to win one, and I didn’t have any idea until I won one, and I didn’t have any idea, until after I won two, what two meant. It is all really, really hard to put into words – but the attention when you come back, you are in an elite class of drivers that have won this multiple times. It is just one of those things that stays on your resume forever.”

What do you feel like you need to accomplish to be in contention for another 500 win?

“I think it starts with tonight, truthfully. Where I really feel like we’ve lost results on superspeedways, it is because we qualify in the back, and once the track gets logjammed two-by-two or three-by-three, there is nowhere to go, and then it is executing on pit road. All of the things that I grew up trying to learn to be really, really good at – that is foot on the gas, trying to figure this thing out, get to the front at all costs, that is the opposite of how you become successful in the Next Gen superspeedway racing. It is how that I can slow down more to give my pit crew less time on pit road. How do I get on-and-off pit road – on the race track, I feel dialed in, just as I did in the old race car. It is all of the other things that the races are won, that I’ve got to get better at in the Next Gen era.”

When did qualifying matter this much in the 500?

“It has never mattered as much as it matters now – simply because the way these cars punch holes in the air, there is just not the ability to drive from the back to the front. The last year of the Gen 5 car, I restarted 29th at Talladega on a green-white-checkered and won the race. That day is over with. You have to be well upfront.”

Has qualifying been a focus?

“It has from our team standpoint. We always said that qualifying didn’t matter at Daytona and Talladega – that was true when you could really make a lot of moves, now it is really, really difficult. What I am just looking for is progression. If you look at all of the Toyotas, and we qualify on average 25th on these types of tracks, can we get that better tonight? Can we move that number to 20th or 18th or something in the right direction to give ourselves a better chance.”

How has your relationship with Joe Gibbs changed as you became an owner?

“Joe (Gibbs) has been great – just like he has always been. He has been my second father – my first father on the race track for all of my career. I believe that we’ve actually come closer in the sense that we are talking about – now that I’m an owner, I give my perspective on things. He has been so used to things going one certain way, and now that has been challenged a bit, I think he has opened his eyes a little bit.”

How does Bubba Wallace get on a faster start this season?
“That’s the point of emphasis for the 23 (Bubba Wallace) team. No doubt about it. They have had 10-to-12 races stretches in his career where he has been as a top-five driver and team. They’ve not done it for 26 races or 36 races yet. They’ve not put it together for a full season yet. It is unfortunate because what has happened is a panic in the last 10 races before the Playoffs start – oh my gosh, we’ve got to get more points – if we would have started that process earlier, we wouldn’t have been in a panic. I think it is for Bubba is that every race is very important. I fought it for most of my career. I fought getting off to slow starts, and it wasn’t until the summer months. Tony Stewart was always known for, well, wait till it gets to the summer. He will pick it up then. Well as the formats have changed, and the regular season you are accumulating points and are you going to get in or not – it has made more of an emphasis on you have to be solid. If you are not one of the guys that are guaranteed to win every win, you have to be solid from beginning to end.”

What is your perspective on practice before qualifying?

“I think if they open up the racetrack, we are going to run. To each their own. We saw a few issues with some cars that needed to get some things worked out. I think it is just a good warmup for our qualifying, and some sort of preview – any preview is a good one, even if it is optical.”

What are your expectations for Riley Herbst?

“My expectations are that he is going to perform better than 95 percent of people’s expectations. I think there is still going to be a learning curve there, but I just want to see him get better as the year goes on. I know that is a cliché answer, but I believe he is better than people think. I know his team is good. I really want to see him contend inside the top-20 on a regular basis by race 15.”

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for nearly 70 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.

Toyota directly employs nearly 64,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 49 million cars and trucks at our 14 manufacturing plants. In spring 2025, Toyota’s plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 31 electrified options.

For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.

NASCAR CUP SERIES
DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
DAYTONA 500 MEDIA DAY
TEAM CHEVY DRIVER QUOTES
FEBRUARY 12, 2025

 Shane van Gisbergen, driver of the No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet – DAYTONA 500 Media Day Quotes

Q. Are race car drivers athletes?

SHANE van GISBERGEN: I guess so. I don’t really know how to answer that.

Q. Aren’t you strong and built like an ox?

SHANE van GISBERGEN: Yeah, but not compared to others.

Q. What do you have to work on specifically to be good at racing?

SHANE van GISBERGEN: It’s probably like mental strength, I guess, focusing on something for a long period of time, consistency. We are in the car for a long period of time, but you don’t have to be particularly fit to do it or strong.

Yeah, again, I don’t…

Q. What about the endurance part?

SHANE van GISBERGEN: It’s more mental. Some tracks are physical, but most aren’t. It’s normally just the heat, yeah.

Q. How fast do you drive on an interstate?

SHANE van GISBERGEN: The speed limit.

Q. I feel like you guys aren’t telling the truth when you answer that way.

SHANE van GISBERGEN: Speed limit, yeah (laughter).

Q. Helio said you have been working with him. Do you feel comfortable he’s going to understand this style of racing?

SHANE van GISBERGEN: I guess he’ll be good. He gets that practice in the Duels and he doesn’t have the pressure. He still wants to qualify in probably. He’s got that fallback plan I guess.

The hardest thing we talked about is the pit lane limiter. In other series we a press button, hold our foot flat, the speed works it out. Here you really have to concentrate on your braking on pit road, then you got to find the speed. It’s so hard to hold the speed. Then you’re looking for your pit box. That’s probably the most difficult part.

Yeah, I’m sure in the racing stuff he’ll be fine. It’s just all the procedures here are very, very different.

Q. You ran a lot of seasons in Supercars. What is it like preparing for a NASCAR Cup Series season full-time?

SHANE van GISBERGEN: Yeah, it’s pretty similar, I guess. The pre-season buildup is kind of the same. Yeah, now that we’re going be racing every week, I’ve never done 36 weeks in the same series. I’ve done it in other series.

Yeah, it’s going to be full on, yeah.

Q. Compared to your rookie year in Supercars, how does your rookie year in Cup feel emotionally-wise?

SHANE van GISBERGEN: That was a long time ago, man. It was 2007 that I did that. I don’t really know.

Yeah, I feel like a rookie. I feel like everything is new. I feel like I have a lot to learn and improve on and prove myself there. Probably similar to what I thought back then, yeah.

Q. Is it pretty cool to think about you’re going to be in the Daytona 500? Is that still a special thing for you?

SHANE van GISBERGEN: Yeah, for sure. I found it difficult to answer that question today. The race is obviously still massive, but it’s not massive where I’m from. I guess it’s like the Bathurst, Le Mans 24. Watching the pre-race stuff last year, being here to spectate the race was awesome. You see the scale of it.

Yeah, I try mentally to treat it like another race, prepare like I would every other race. Try not to get too hyped and focus on doing my thing Sunday.

Q. The difference between the Supercars schedule and NASCAR schedule, how has it been adjusting to Speedweeks, six or seven days?

SHANE van GISBERGEN: That’s what we do every week in Supercars. Wouldn’t be as big as this, the media, but so much more to do. It would be spread out. You’d end up pissed off at the world.

NASCAR, you turn up, a little bit of media, go racing. It’s all about the racing stuff. I personally enjoy that much more.

I guess you kind of have to, racing every week. You’re only there for two or three days. All about the racing, yeah.

Q. In a recent interview you compared speedway racing almost as being out like a lamb for slaughter. How do you prepare for something like this?

SHANE van GISBERGEN: That was in reference I think the first Talladega I did. I was running good, then four or five laps to go got shuffled to the back. I was coming 30th or whatever. It doesn’t matter. Came around the last corner, and I was at the back with Kyle Busch. There was a crash out of four. Saw it happening. Backed down. He just stayed flat out, just drove into the crash carelessly. I’m like, What are you doing?

But they treat the cars here like they’re disposable. There’s another one back at the shop. Every point matters. I kind of slowed down, second, third gear, wabbled through the shunt, then came across the line. He’s still crashing and spinning. The car is completely destroyed. My thing is brand-new, ready to race next week. He gained three or four spots. Just the mentality for these races is so, so different to anything there is.

Yeah, I guess I just have to pull my belts tighter and get amongst it.

Q. Have you had enough time doing the full season in Xfinity to decide you like superspeedways or short tracks or road courses?

SHANE van GISBERGEN: Again, it comes back to like this week. I don’t try and get caught up in the races that are good and bad. You don’t want to be, Oh, I’m excited for Daytona. Oh, we’re going to Dover. Something like that.

I try to be excited for every race, try and approach them with all the same amount of prep and focus.

Q. Do you feel like you’re used to this type of racing yet?

SHANE van GISBERGEN: No, no.

Q. Do you think you ever will be used to it?

SHANE van GISBERGEN: I certainly enjoyed it more. I used to watch it on TV. Did my first one, This is a bit boring. Just flat out the whole way. When you’re in the race, there’s so much going on.

Xfinity was pretty flat out and strung out. In this you’re jockeying for position, fuel saving, trying to place yourself in the right spots. There’s so much more to it. It’s fascinating as a driver learning these different skills, placing yourself right for the green-flag starts. Pretty cool learning.

I certainly feel like I can be in it now. I remember my first Talladega, I’d get in the battles, then people would put me four-wide on purpose just to single me out and send me to the back because they didn’t want me in there. I guess I was driving like an idiot. Now I feel like I can flow with the guys, have the right momentum, judge the runs a bit better.

The last Talladega I was pushed to the lead and held the lead for a while. Definitely feel like I’m part of it now. Happy that I don’t have yellow stripes on my car. I feel like I’m better at it now.

Q. You’ve been at this racetrack before. How are the emotions different coming here knowing this is the first of 36 as a full-time Cup driver?

SHANE van GISBERGEN: Yeah, again, I don’t have that excitement. I just try and stay calm throughout the week and save it for the race.

Again, I remember first time at Rolex coming through the tunnel. The second time I come through I tried to get air off the top of it. It was pretty fun (laughter). That was Cooper MacNeil. A bad influence.

Yeah, it’s always cool flying into this track, coming and seeing how massive it is. Yeah, just staying calm, ready for Sunday.

Q. You talked in the past about learning the car, how it’s so much different. How does that compare with trying to understand the draft? Helio will try to do this without experience. Is this drafting harder?

SHANE van GISBERGEN: Yeah, like driving out just then, the car is on the stops basically to try and get speed for a single car, it’s like driving a go-kart.

I was also driving one-handed easy flat. I hadn’t seen the track for a while. Grandma could jump in and do it, it feels like it’s so easy. We are doing 49s or 50s then. Then we get in the draft later on, we’ll be doing 47s.

Especially when you’re at the back and in the middle, hate being in the middle, there’s no air lift, the car feels like it’s out of the track, you’re basically drifting on corner entries. You got 35 other maniacs flat out as well pushing you around. It’s a rush. I think my heart rate barely got up on the single cars. I’m like at 150 in the pack. It’s a rush.

Q. Anybody else in the Supercars world you would like to see come out and try this race?

SHANE van GISBERGEN: There’s a few of them. Cam Waters wants to do some more this year. He was pretty decent in the tracks. Will Brown. Brodie Kostecki. There are a few guys.

The Xfinity race I’m trying to get one of them to drive in the (indiscernible) car. It would be awesome. I’d love for more guys to come over afterward try it. There’s some good, talented drivers there. Love to see them come out here.

Q. Anybody from this side of the world in NASCAR you’d like to see try Supercars?

SHANE van GISBERGEN: I would have loved to see how Kyle Busch went last year in the Supercar. It would have been very difficult, but I’m sure if he took it seriously, he would have done really well. Hopefully that happens this year. There’s talks actually Kyle Larson might go and do it.

Love to help them if they have any questions. I’d be really interested to see how they went.

Q. How important is it to get off to a good start this year?

SHANE van GISBERGEN: It would be amazing. If you can just get ahead of the points, settle in. I always love to start championships being an accumulator sort of. That was my sort of strategy. Even in the weeks where you can’t be up front, get the best results you can, minimize mistakes.

If we start well, get in a good rhythm, everyone stays positive, that really gets you off to a good start for the year.

Q. Any difference in preparation for this year knowing you have every weekend? Different than a part-time stint?

SHANE van GISBERGEN: Yeah, last year I’d never done it before. This year I wanted to have a routine, know what I’m doing every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, prep for the week, have my Thursday off as a day to do my own stuff outside of racing.

Yeah, it’s been pretty full on, especially with a whole new team. The 88 guys at Trackhouse, just learning them. Yeah, just trying to get in a routine, every week try and be refreshed for it.

Q. Ross said you guys kind of bounce things off each other in terms of learning. How has that worked for you? Do you feel like the communication has gotten stronger?

SHANE van GISBERGEN: Yeah, for sure. I think that dynamic in Trackhouse has changed a little bit, which for me is good. Everyone works a lot closer together. The crew chiefs. It’s got to be a good thing.

But yeah, at the sim, all our driving notes are open now. Yeah, I obviously learn and lean on those guys as much as I can. Daniel and Ross are very, very different in the way they go about it, the way they think and describe things. Of course, I’ll be different again.

It’s paying back at the moment because I help them for road course stuff. Yeah, it’s a pretty cool dynamic at the moment. I’m enjoying that.

Q. With four drivers from four different countries for this race, the same team, does it add some importance in terms of having maybe some more worldwide attention on this race?

SHANE van GISBERGEN: It’s just amazing what Justin and Trackhouse have achieved. Have such a diverse lineup at a race like this, it’s epic. Four different nationalities, we’re probably going to be talking about loose, tight, oversteer and understeer in different languages but probably meaning the same thing.

It’s been really cool having all four cars lined up at the shop on Monday. The workers, the mechanics, they all signed the cars. It’s a really cool moment.

Q. Are you a guys that sets goals for what you want to achieve, a successful season if we do X, Y and Z?

SHANE van GISBERGEN: No, no, never. You always have ambitions. But I never really set goals and targets. I just try to prepare, do my best every week. As long as I keep moving forward, I’ll be happy.

Q. You raced the short course at COTA.

SHANE van GISBERGEN: Yeah, but we’re doing a different one now. The one we did at Supercars was terrible. Had a really big bump in it. These cars wouldn’t be able to handle it. Would have been worse. What we had at the Roval last year, got taken out the last chicane. They’ve used another layout, so it should be better.

Q. (No microphone.)

SHANE van GISBERGEN: It’s more passing zones. You only lose that back hairpin. Gain another passing zone out of it. I think it will be better for racing.

Q. If you can’t win, who is your pick for the 500?

SHANE van GISBERGEN: Ross or Daniel or Helio. Trackhouse guys (smiling).

Q. You go 200 miles an hour. You’re not afraid of speed. Is there anything you are afraid of?

SHANE van GISBERGEN: Snakes and spiders. Don’t really have them here, which is good. Australia wasn’t fun (smiling).

Q. If you could have a celebrity spotter for a race, who would it be and why?

SHANE van GISBERGEN: I would not want a celebrity on my radio.

Q. How about the Daytona 500? Event when you think about making decisions in the Daytona 500, you’re an analytical guy, raced a lot, how do you balance being analytical versus committed and knowing that you have it without overthinking?

SHANE van GISBERGEN: I don’t know. I guess that’s what I’ve done all my life.

Q. Overthink?

SHANE van GISBERGEN: No. It’s all in preparation, right? You got to have that clear mind when you’re racing, things become instinct. Obviously there’s a lot of teamwork, too, with the spotter. Spotter is going to be guiding me.

Spotters are probably the most important thing of the superspeedway racing. I just kind of trust his guidance or my crew chief will be telling me when we don’t need to save fuel, so…

Yeah, it’s very different this kind of racing.

Q. When you make the move, you have to be in your head 100% committed.

SHANE van GISBERGEN: Yeah, but then you have to make sure you have friends in this kind of racing, make sure you got the right kind of cars behind you. I never really had to do that before. You have to make sure it’s a teammate or a Chevy. If you go three-wide, a Toyota is not going to push you.

Q. You’ve had to worry about that?

SHANE van GISBERGEN: No, no. You just race in every other series in the world. It’s very, very different how it works here.

Q. How do you know who is in Chevys and who is not?

SHANE van GISBERGEN: I’m still figuring that out, yeah (laughter). I don’t know who’s who yet.

Q. Are you old enough to remember the actual Thunderdome in Australia?

SHANE van GISBERGEN: No.

Q. Did you ever watch any videos of that?

SHANE van GISBERGEN: Yeah, yeah, I watched videos there. The old HQs they used to race.

I’ve driven at that track, the circuit next door. I also competed in drifting on the oval. It was pretty cool. But never saw the cars racing there.

Q. What is drifting on an oval like?

SHANE van GISBERGEN: We kind of started on the tri-oval and ended up in the pit lane sort of area. Used the small oval.

Q. (Question about ice drifting.)

SHANE van GISBERGEN: I’ve always wanted to do that. My father-in-law, he was on snow drifting this week. Yeah, I was pretty jealous the pictures he was sending.

Q. Would it be hard?

SHANE van GISBERGEN: Yeah, it would be difficult, but it would be so much fun.

Q. You would have an advantage.

SHANE van GISBERGEN: I hope so.

Q. You’re a pretty tall guy. What kind of adjustments do they have to make inside the car for you?

SHANE van GISBERGEN: This is like one of the roomiest cars I’ve ever driven. I could get enough leg room. There’s a lot of head height in these cars. Actually, yeah, feel pretty good in these.

Q. More so than other cars?

SHANE van GISBERGEN: Yeah, yeah. A single seater is obviously tight. The newest edition Supercar was terrible. It was really small. All the big guys struggled.

Yeah, this car is really comfortable for almost everyone.

Q. Do you like it like that?

SHANE van GISBERGEN: Yeah, yeah. I could set this car up how I wanted. You can personalize it so much, so… It was really cool.

Q. If you need a relief driver, probably going to need some extra pillows.

SHANE van GISBERGEN: Need a baby seat for them, yeah (laughter).

Q. Is there any one track that’s going to provide a challenge that maybe you didn’t get a good enough taste on in the Xfinity ranks?

SHANE van GISBERGEN: Probably Bristol will be tough, yeah.

Q. Why is that?

SHANE van GISBERGEN: It’s just such an intense track. We only went there once. That’s pretty early on this calendar. It’s going to be difficult.

Q. What do you think about the changes to COTA? Is that going to change how you approach that track?

SHANE van GISBERGEN: No. But I reckon it’s a good adjustment, shorter track, more laps, more times past the fans. We don’t lose any passing spots. I think it’s going to make good racing, the new corner.

Q. What about braking zones? Will it remove some you depend on?

SHANE van GISBERGEN: Only one real braking zone, then it really shortens the other one off the back straight. I think there’s still going to be passing zones, yeah.

Q. They’re still going to have to catch you.

SHANE van GISBERGEN: Yeah, that would be nice.

About General Motors

General Motors (NYSE:GM) is driving the future of transportation, leveraging advanced technology to build safer, smarter, and lower emission cars, trucks, and SUVs. GM’s Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC brands offer a broad portfolio of innovative gasoline-powered vehicles and the industry’s widest range of EVs, as we move to an all-electric future. Learn more at GM.com.

NASCAR CUP SERIES
DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
DAYTONA 500 MEDIA DAY
TEAM CHEVY DRIVER QUOTES
FEBRUARY 12, 2025

 Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet – DAYTONA 500 Media Day Quotes

Last year, the front-row for the DAYTONA 500 was swept by Ford. Was there a concern with the speed of the Chevrolet’s this year, or how did you feel after practice?

“No concern, at least from my perspective. I’m not worried about it.. whether we qualify on the pole or not. The practice thing is really hard to know, just because – like I can look at the timing sheet, but I’m not sitting there watching who’s drafting and who’s not. I can’t keep up with all of that at one time. I don’t know.. I think until you get into qualifying tonight and everyone is on a level playing field with the cars being cold, going out for the first time and all that, you really just don’t know. I think it’s a hard thing to guess.”

No Mic..

“It’s so frustrating sometimes because like we’re sitting down there in line, you know, and some people were trying to get a nice gap and then there were other people trying to fill the gap and are rushing. So there’s always that element to making single-car runs. Just getting impatient sitting down there and wanting to go. I understand that, but that’s the most confusing element. Outside of that, I think it’s pretty standard ops, really.”

President Trump was at the Super Bowl last weekend. You were there and saw it. There’s rumors he’s going to be here on Sunday. How would you feel about having him in attendance?

“Yeah, I wasn’t sitting next to him, but I saw that he was there at the game the other day. Yeah, I think having a sitting President come and be a part of one of our biggest days of the year – certainly what I would call our biggest event of the year, I think is special. It certainly brings a lot of eyes and a different perspective to what we do down here for this race. I always thought it was really cool — I remember, a long time ago now, the sitting president used to call the winner. I don’t know if you all remember that or not, but there was some stories of that happening. I’ve never won, so I don’t know if that still happens or not. But I just think that — it just goes to show you that it’s a big deal, right? I don’t care who the President is at that point.. that’s just a cool thing. I had heard stories of that happening and I hope that still goes on..”

So you’d like to get a call from President Trump on Sunday?

“That sounds like we would have won the race at that point, so that sounds like a good thing.”

If you could redo a race from 2024, which race would that be?

“Hmm.. that’s tough. There’s a lot of races that I would redo. You know, probably Indy, I would say sticks out to me the most. We had our violation there early in the race, which I kind of thought was our death sentence that day. And then the next thing you know, the way the race cycled out, we ended up being — we were actually the first car on the winning strategy at the end of that race. I just didn’t get through traffic very well. Kyle (Larson) and Tyler (Reddick) knifed their way up through there and both had a shot to win the race. I just felt like that was on me. I didn’t do a good job. We had a great car that weekend, and I needed to take better advantage of a good opportunity.”

Christopher Bell said earlier today that he felt like the practice session this morning was unnecessary. Where do you stand on practice before qualifying here?

“Yeah, I think that’s a fair statement for someone like him, or someone like me, who’s been here and who’s done it. But I look at it like this — from a weekly standpoint.. do we need practice at length, like we had in years past? Absolutely not. But for a race like this — we’re down here all week anyway. We have Media Day today. We qualify tonight. It’s not a big deal. It’s an hour practice and gives guys who have maybe not driven a Cup car before, rookies, people coming in to make at least a lap or two.. I don’t think that’s hurting anything. It’s not like we’re here extra early to do that.. days in advance or anything. I agree with him.. not necessary for people that have been here for a little while. But I could certainly see the argument for guys who haven’t, you know, so I get that. I don’t want it to be taken the wrong way, like it needs to be that way all the time, but just to be clear.”

What does the DAYTONA 500 mean to you?

“It means a great opportunity to submit your name into the history books of the sport, is kind of how I look at it. This race has always been, in my view, been kind of it’s own event. I understand it’s part of the season, the winner gets locked-in or kind of locked-in.. however you all want to say it. They’re locked-in when they leave here, right? And then it gets close to the playoffs and we’re promoting how many winners we have, right? It’s always important to remember that a win does not lock you in, if you get more winners than you have spots. I kind of don’t like that narrative, but I do think that — it’s just it’s own thing. It’s an opportunity to put your name on that big trophy over there; to finish your career and say you’ve won the DAYTONA 500. That’s what it is. It’s an opportunity to do that, which is a really big deal.”

It’s been 10 years since your first DAYTONA 500 start… (inaudible).

“Yeah, it’s just honestly crazy that it’s been that long, to be honest. It’s just gone by so fast. Every year has felt so different to me. I think people look at careers and they think of just this one big storybook, with every year being a different chapter. And to me, it’s almost like every year is its own book. That’s how different the seasons feel to me. Just so much changes.. I mean, I was 20 or 21 years old my first year, and now I’m almost 30 and just like — for everyone standing here that is almost 30 years old or older than 30, how much did your life change from 20 to 30? How much different did you look at things from 20 to 30? That’s just a huge chunk of your life that just makes things feel different, you know? Every year has its own story and it’s own feel. I’ve enjoyed that ride. Some of its been really good.. some of it’s not been so good. But there’s a lot of experiences in all of that that I think can help shape you and mold you to be better, and the only thing you can control is today moving forward.”

Was this off-season any different than past off-seasons. If that’s how seasons feel, did this one feel any different?

“The off-season in particular? Not really. You know, I enjoy being around home; spending the holidays with family and all that sort of thing. And that’s pretty standard, I would say. But certainly from a competition standpoint and just kind of how we finished last year, the things we were focused on going into this year — the way I was looking at things at the end of last year versus how I was looking at things the year before are different. You hope that that they’re better, or I hope that it’s better. But from that standpoint, absolutely. From the off-season side of things, not really.”

Good things on the horizon for your foundation this year?

“We’re still working through that, but it will likely be more of a program that we’ve done with the ‘DESI9N TO DRIVE’. And we’re looking at kind of adjusting and changing things a little bit moving forward. I think this year will probably stay the same, and maybe after this year, we’ll kind of look at trying to find some other unique way to do something cool.”

As you start getting older, do you start thinking about the future and what you’re going to do post-driving career?

“I really haven’t. I don’t know what I would want to do. It’s a hard thing to — It’s kind of one of those things, I feel like.. I’ve watched other guys go through that. I’ve watched other guys leave and come back. I’ve kind of seen it all, I guess, depending upon who it is. But I think those feelings, those emotions, that timing or whatever’s next — you have to kind of assess those things when that time comes. As I said a second ago, so much can change. You could look at things a little differently. Your interest might be a little different or something. When those moments come, you’ll address them. You’ll assess it, address it and make those decisions and you’ll know that’s the right time to make those decisions I think. I think it’s just kind of a feeling thing, from what I’ve gathered. I don’t know.. I don’t want to go anywhere yet, so I hope I can stick around for a few more years.”

On Dale Earnhardt Jr. and JR Motorsports attempting to make the DAYTONA 500 as a former JRM driver:

“I know it’s a big deal to him, and I hope that they’re successful and are able to get into the show and all that. I think to have a guy like him involved in any capacity I think is a good thing. He’s just passionate about it. He’s been very vocal about how much it means to him and to field a Cup car, especially here at the DAYTONA 500. I just think it’s healthy and it’s good. I’m glad that the system isn’t so complicated or has gotten so outrageously expensive that that couldn’t happen because it almost kind of felt that way, you know, there for a little while that he was kind of scared to get in a little bit was the vibe I got.. or kind of scared to make that commitment. So I’m just glad that it makes sense, you know, and he can come in and field a car and have fun with it and live a dream that he’s had.”

From a team perspective, how much confidence did the Clash win give you?

“Yeah, it was great. And really not just that, but the end of last year was really encouraging for us. I thought we ended on a really good note. We were just a little late to the party, you know, I think really and truly. We started to run better and lead some laps there at the end of the year, and we had a great shot there to win a couple of races in the last month. I thought all of that was really encouraging. To be able to build on those things; to come out and perform the way we did on Saturday. Yes, the race went well, but all of that start over the off-season, and the things we were focused on, talking about and thinking about and trying to make sure we executed properly. And then to go do that, I thought that was a nice boost for us. I don’t think it’s one of those things where it will make your year or even break your year if it didn’t go well, but certainly nice to know that the things we’ve been zoned in on and pushing were also reality at Bowman Gray, too.”

About General Motors

General Motors (NYSE:GM) is driving the future of transportation, leveraging advanced technology to build safer, smarter, and lower emission cars, trucks, and SUVs. GM’s Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC brands offer a broad portfolio of innovative gasoline-powered vehicles and the industry’s widest range of EVs, as we move to an all-electric future. Learn more at GM.com.

Toyota GAZOO Racing – Jimmie Johnson
NASCAR Cup Series Quotes

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (February 12, 2025) – LEGACY MOTOR CLUB driver Jimmie Johnson was made available to the media on Wednesday prior to the Daytona 500.

JIMMIE JOHNSON, No. 84 Carvana Toyota Camry XSE, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB

What steps have you and LEGACY MOTOR CLUB taken for improved performance this season?

“On the competition side, we’ve really restructured, reorganized the department, and (pause), you don’t have a choice, but we started in the late spring of 2024 and started making changes, evolving and ultimately trying to recruit individuals to our company. That process is tough, on top of people who are available, on top of contracts and when they’re going to be free and come and work for us. So really, mid-November, maybe even the first of December, we had everyone in-house that we recruited. So, there’s been various steps along the way with people coming in. I’d say Jacob Cantor (director of competition, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB) was probably the earliest one to come in and his presence, trying to put processes into place and organize the competition department. He at least got a head start on it. We’re still playing catch up and we’re not totally where we want to be, but we’ve made a lot of massive steps forward. Being able to go to the track now and finding out where we sit is really important, but with that, we have two (superspeedway) races and a road course (to start the season), so we still have a month before we can fairly evaluate ourselves.”

Was it as much of a “cleaning of house” in the organization as it seemed from the outside?

“It might look that way, but (pause), I guess I’m reacting to ‘cleaning house.’ I didn’t clean Maury (Gallagher, minority owner and team ambassador, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB) out in a sense. There’s been of stuff going on and certainly, one of the worst parts I’ve experienced as an owner is termination and trying to move on from an individual or a department of people and bring in someone new. I’m not sure I’ll ever get comfortable with that. So that’s been tough, and we went through a lot of that over the course of last season. I was really surprised when I spoke to Maury at the end of last year that he was just in a different place in life and didn’t want much of the day-to-day (responsibilities) and wanted to give me that opportunity and he just wants to come (to the races), hang out, have a hot dog and put his headphones on to enjoy the races from a fan’s perspective in supporting us. A lot has happened, and the offseason has been very busy as a result.”

As a car owner, where do you stand on the storylines concerning NASCAR, away from the track?

“(I) could talk for hours. I’m learning my way and trying to surround myself with people who have deep experience in the sport, deep business experience, legal experience. Everything I can to make sure we’re smart and taking the right next steps. But there’s a lot in play and even with all of the stuff that might seem negative in some respect, I still feel our sport is as strongest as it’s been in a long time and as we went out to find a private equity party and land Knighthead Capital, the excitement at looking at NASCAR and the excitement around live sports, there’s a lot here and hopefully, we can work through these issues and get the drag on our sport’s trajectory up, out of it, and continue to climb.”

How nice is it to jump back into a race car and go for another win?

“It’s nice to be back in the car, but I find, especially last year, to be prepped and ready like I need to, I just didn’t have the time. There’s so much to focus on and work through. We’re trying to recruit, build. We had the recruitment of Knighthead Capital and everything that went with that. I just couldn’t be as prepared as I wanted to, and Daytona is different. There’s very little driver preparation required. So, I’m relieved at that (laughs) aspect, but I think that at least in the short term, I just need to run less races as a result. There’s more work for me to do on a race weekend with partners, prospects, crew members, drivers, crew chiefs than the advantage of a running a third car all the time, especially with nine races last year. And so, with this year, we have two (races). I’m not sure what next year will look like. I know I’ll at least be in this race (Daytona 500) next year. But we’ll see how we evolve as a company and if it makes sense. I feel I’ll need to chase my desire in driving the car, as that’s still very much there, through IMSA (International Motor Sports Association) or sportscar racing or classic car racing as we move forward here.

Do you feel like you’ll be in the Daytona 500 this year?

“I can’t tell. That practice session, as much as I was excited to have it, there was so much interference with drafting of other cars. We can’t tell who had a clean lap and who didn’t but I know our cars are much faster than they were last year so I’m hopeful we’re there.”

Did you look at the Open Exemption Provisional at all for this race?

“We didn’t know about it until the rule came out. Evidently, it was buried in the charter agreement that came out. But when the rule came out, I forget the time of the morning, three minutes later, we were on the phone with NASCAR and recognized it wasn’t within the 90 day-window and we weren’t eligible. So, we’ve had a lot of talks with everyone at NASCAR and I have a better understanding of the intent of the rule, and I would anticipate some changes following here (Daytona) to better define and clarify that. When first read, our reaction wasn’t great, but it is what it is and hopefully, we have a fast-enough car to get in.”

Have you had any conversations with Helio Castroneves?

“Well now that he’s (Helio Castroneves) locked in (with the Open Exemption Provisional), I would talk to him. Before knowing he was in, I would’ve lied to him (laughs).”

How stressful are today and tomorrow for you as an open car?

“It’s awful. What I went through last year to get in. I wasn’t in until the last half-mile of my duel race. Hopefully I don’t have to go through that again.”

With this new podcast you’re launching, how do you fit that into your schedule?

“I’ve not figured that out yet. My family is still in England until the school session is out, really since October last year when this opportunity popped up to advance my position in the team, I haven’t been there much. That part isn’t easy. But knowing that’s coming to end once the school session is out, that’s nice, but I’m trying to manage it (all).”

Is there any more pressure to make the race this year with the partnership with Shaquille O’Neal this year?

“Yeah. And the All-Star event is Sunday after the NASCAR event. TNT and FOX are collaborating and working together with planned interaction back-and-forth. And of course, we’d love to have Shaq (Shaquille O’Neal) here, but with the eyeballs and added exposure, this will have more reach as you’ll have the two networks and different fanbases (watching) and should be really, really good. So if we’re not in the race, that’s definitely a shame.”

Thoughts on Dale Earnhardt Jr. having the chance to potentially own a car in the Daytona 500?

“I’m really excited for him (Dale Earnhardt Jr.). I know that having a car in the Cup Series is very special, important for him, his sister (Kelly Earnhardt) and their family. Hopefully this is the start of many things for them.”

With this current car, is handling not as important as in previous generations?

“Handling still matters here. It’s changed a little bit with so much parody. The rule book is so thick that it’s bunched everyone up. But it still does require a lot of handling, and you make the car faster when you sacrifice handling and we’re just too dumb and we want more speed in the cars, trim them out and lower them, bounce off the bump stops and create handling issues as a result. Ultimately, tire wear, before they repaved the track, tire wear was quite high. We’re not back there yet and I’m excited for the day that we are and you can bring more driving back to this race and some setup options, but don’t think we’re quite there yet.”

What have Erik Jones and John Hunter Nemechek brought to the team that’s benefitted the organization?

“Erik (Jones) is that steady, calm thing for us. Erik has been so patient with the organization, going through different ownership changes and promises about making things better. We feel a deep obligation towards him to get it right. With Jinh Hunter (Nemechek), coming up through the Toyota system and our deep relationship with Toyota, we’re thrilled to have him back. As far as he’s concerned, in his first year with us last year, we didn’t have our act together and our obligation to John Hunter. But we switched up the crew chief arrangements, and last year with 10 or so races to go, we had a conversation about, ‘hey, let’s just try (the change). We’re not where we want to be, let’s try.’ It was tough for John Hunter to separate from Ben (Beshore, crew chief, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB) because of their relationship. But he’s had an open mind on what’s better for the company, and Erik and Ben got off to a decent start there. With Travis Mack (crew chief, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB) coming onboard and the energy he brings to the program, we do have a little different lineup there with engineering below that, but everybody’s had a really productive offseason and to roll into racing, we’ll see how this pans out.”

If some sponsorship funding came in, would you run any additional races this year?

“I would consider a few more. The time it takes to be prepared and do it right is something I overlooked running nine races. I’ve been living out of the country, a chance for my family to live abroad, as a minority owner of the team, it was easier to do. Now with my new position, it’s becoming much harder. So, staying focused on the growth of the team, our partners, prospects, OEM, management, drivers. It’s really tough to give the driving piece a chance right now.”

What feels different about this Daytona 500 for you compared to your previous?

“Qualifying to get in and that uncertainty is new. I guess I had it the first time I was here (Daytona) in 2002. Especially this year, cars trying to get in on speed have an affiliation with a bigger team. And I imagine, everyone’s trying to put their best stuff on those cars. RCR (Richard Childress Racing) with the No. 62 and Hendrick (Motorsports) with the No. 40. That’s interesting on speed, but with the duels and how they’re split up, if you’re in a duel without your teammates and have to look to the OEM, and if I’m in a duel without my teammates and I have the Gibbs (Joe Gibbs Racing) cars and Martin (Martin Truex Jr.) is there, they’re going to push Martin. It’s a wild scenario and hopefully we cure all of that by being in the top two (of open cars) tonight. Every year has its own challenges and for us, where I am now, it’s just getting in the race. In year’s past, it’s been the race and how we’re going to win. Of course, we want to do all of that but we haven’t thought about that yet. Everything’s been about getting into the race.”

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