Toyota Racing – Denny Hamlin
NASCAR Cup Series Quotes

CHARLOTTE (September 4, 2024) – Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin was made available to the media on Wednesday as part of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Media Day.

DENNY HAMLIN, No. 11 FedEx Toyota Camry XSE, Joe Gibbs Racing

What do you put your odds at for making it to the Championship 4 and what trouble spots do you see with the rounds this year?

“I feel like our chances are as good as anyone. Now, I would say that the 45 (Tyler Reddick), the 20 (Christopher Bell), the 5 (Kyle Larson) have a better chance because they have more Playoff points going into the Playoffs. But, ultimately, we’re one of the very few cars that can win any given week. So, no matter what points position we might find ourselves in, and we will be in a precarious points position at some point of the Playoffs. We always feel like we can go to the next track and win, so that’s on something that only a few cars can do.”

Do you think the first round could be the toughest with the races that are scheduled?

“Yeah, absolutely. Certainly, with a new road course in there in Watkins Glen in the Playoffs, with an unknown tire. Atlanta – who knows. I haven’t finished a superspeedway Next Gen race I don’t think in my entire career. It’s just who knows what can happen. We might have to go to Bristol and win but if that’s the case, we will.”

Does it feel like this is going to be a tough Playoffs to make it through?

“Absolutely. Because of the variables. Like, it’s one thing to not have many Playoff points but then to not have them on tracks that you know that your result is not necessarily in always your hands, it certainly makes it a precarious position but it’s what we got and I’ll do the best that I can and I know that I’m going to go to the track with the same mindset and that’s to win every week.”

Did the penalty invigorate your team and give your team motivation?

“I think it will if it has a positive outcome. I really can’t honestly say to you that it was something that we rallied around. I mean, certainly, it took away 15 points when you add it all up in the regular season as well. Fifteen points every round that we lost. That’s something that’s really going to be hard to overcome, but we can. I know that we can. So, that’s the good news. If we are able to find ourselves making it through these first two, three rounds and have a shot at it – at Phoenix I should say, then that’s going to be a very rewarding feeling. And, so, if there’s ever a year to win it, do it when there’s the most adversity on the line.”

Should the season finale rotate?

“Yeah, certainly but there’s always going to be challenges contractually. There’s a lot of red tape involved with that. City councils and money going this way and that way so it will be hard.”

Where is the charter conversation right now?

“Stagnant.”

What has to be done from either side to move it to the next level?

“One side will have to wake up and be reasonable. That’s all.”

Which side?

“Not ours.”

What made Curtis wear the sign on his shirt at Darlington?

“Frustration.”

Do you think his message was received?

“I’m not sure. You know, certainly, pretty disappointed to not see anyone from NASCAR present Tyler (Reddick) his trophy. That was a little disappointing.”

Do you think that was personal?

“I don’t know. That was the first I’ve seen.”

Do you feel like we’re getting the story that it’s getting closer?

“Of course, they want it to, but the truth is they keep going in the wrong direction.”

Are you telling the truth?

“I believe I am from our standpoint, but it depends on who you ask. But certainly, I feel like yeah, there’s probably a handful of teams that are just happy to take any deal that they can get and there’s others with some business sense that says this is unreasonable.”

Can you talk to the teams?

“Yeah, of course, but everyone’s going to do what their own – what they want to do that’s best for their team and each one of the teams will execute an agreement that they feel is fair for themselves.”

Do you have others in your ear asking you to say things on their behalf?

“I think, not directly, no, but they don’t hate it either. I don’t love being the megaphone. I wish some of these other owners who are griping to me through text and calls would just do it publicly themselves, but I think that they fear pushback.”

What’s the fear of pushback if you’re trying to improve?

“Yeah, that’s the thing. We’re all trying to improve the sport and grow the sport. We all want what’s best for the sport. If the sport does great, we will do better, so I think we all just need to figure out how to lock arms and do it together. But we don’t have any agreement in front of us that is locking of arms, it’s all one sided.”

Are the younger owners more vocal because the veteran owner’s future is more intact?

“I guess. People see me gripe, but they have to realize I made a good living in this as a NASCAR driver and I chose to invest back in the France family and NASCAR, and they are yet to show me an opportunity where I’m going to get that back.”

What do you have to do to win at Watkins Glen?

“I’m not sure. I think there’s going to be such an unknown with the tire there that I’m somewhat excited for. I think that if you think about, will I be one of the top five fastest guys? Maybe unlikely, but if you put a tire situation in there, maybe. So, certainly, that there’s an opportunity there that we could capitalize on. I think it just depends on where I net out after Atlanta. I think you’d be dumb and bull-headed to just say this is our strategy for the first round and that’s what we’re going to do. I think it has to be fluid based off of your position.”

Chase Elliott said the first round is little gimmicky, do you agree?

“He said it, I agree.”

But you won Bristol?

“But we won it in the non-gimmicky way. This race last year we won it in the Playoffs as well and it didn’t have any of those variables you talked about. So, we can win in multiple different ways and fashions. What I love about our team is everything that you just said. I feel like I’ve got one of the best crew chiefs and the best teams in the garage, and there’s only two to three of us that knows that they can win every single week that they hit the track and we’re one of them.”

Will the speculation on the tire degradation at Watkins Glen put a price on flipping the stage and restarting on older tires?

“It certainly will. I certainly think that it could definitely play a role in strategy. It’s been so straight forward in the past that you just want to get to those stage points and then you go ahead and pit. But certainly, if tires are going to matter like it seems like they might, it throws a whole new element in it and it’s not a huge gimmicky element because you have to strategize around tire wear. The driver plays a huge role in that, so certainly, hopefully I’ve got my fingers crossed that it’s a race that’s going to be unlike any road course we’ve seen.”

Do you fear a Playoff race-winner spoiler at a Watkins Glen or Atlanta?

“Well, certainly, I think with some of the cars that didn’t make the Playoffs, there’s a chance of that – the Chris Buescher’s of the world and Ross Chastain’s – they can win at races like that. Certainly, I think given our type – Atlanta this weekend, we could have someone outside the top 30 again win. It’s a realistic thing that could happen, but it’s part of the format that’s the variables that you can’t account for. It’s impossible to predict.”

Should NASCAR do any changes to their points system to avoid something like that happening?

“Yeah, I don’t know how it’s good. I think that you can have those moments without necessarily taking a car that was towards the back and they’re playing by the rules, right? I have nothing against Harrison (Burton). But then taking out someone that has scored twice as much or three times as many points as them throughout the year. I’m always going to be in favor of a bigger sample size, instead of one race and you’re in.”

Can a charter deal get done with NASCAR with 10 races to go and what happens if it’s not done by Phoenix?

“Yeah, absolutely, it could. But, again, someone will have to wake up and have a completely different mindset and I just don’t know if that is going to be possible. What happens if the season ends? Then, we retain all of our rights.”

Is it clear that you retain all of your rights?

“Yeah, if we don’t have a charter agreement, we don’t owe the series anything and they don’t owe us anything, so it goes both ways for sure.”

Can they stop you from racing without charters?

“I don’t think so. Yeah, I don’t think they can stop you from racing. I mean, Joe and Billy’s garage can put a car together and run a race the way our sport is formed right now.”

Curtis’ shirt said I don’t want my charter taken away – is that a threat?

“Yeah, it’s a threat. That’s if you speak negatively. If they don’t like what you say, yeah, they’re trying to reserve the right.”

So, do you have to be measured?

“I don’t know how you – it’s subjective. How do you even – who’s the jury, the judge and the executioner? It sounds like it’s all the same person. It’s never been the same person, but now they’re proposing that it is.”

Who would be the person?

“Them.”

Which is who?

“Whoever is in charge. I don’t know.”

Do you have many bargaining chips left as an owner?

“Yeah, I mean, I’m not really sure where leverage lies. I would argue both sides feel like they have some, but I think it’s more just a frustration of a lack of acknowledgement that the teams have built this sport. (Rick) Hendrick and (Joe) Gibbs putting superstars on the race track – that is what has built the sport. Fans do not come to see cars going around in circles. If they would, then we would sell out ARCA races, but they don’t. They come to sell out on Sunday to watch Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson and Kyle Busch. So, who provides them the cars? And that’s the teams. Who spends the money? That’s the teams. Whose sponsors go buy a suite? That’s the teams. Whose sponsors activate in their midways? That’s the teams. That’s the tough part that, they just don’t value us.”

Did you think this negotiation would go into the Playoffs?

“Oh, yeah, I had a feeling this was going to go all the way to the 11th hour for sure. And there’s just been a lot of stall tactics that have been in play and here we are.”

Is this a distraction?

“Certainly, I’m going to thrive in chaos. That’s my MO. But, generally speaking, I always prepare as much as I can as a driver, do my job as an owner, do my job as a podcaster and certainly, are my days filled now with disgruntled people calling me saying we’ve got to do this or we’ve got to do that, yeah, absolutely. But it doesn’t change when I put my helmet on. I’m always going to be locked in.”

Do you feel like being an owner is a big important part of your legacy?

“I’m just trying to make it better than what it was and still try to grow it and it’s unfortunate. I wish I had a bigger role in it. Certainly, there’s been some changes that have happened around some conversations that you have, and I think NASCAR for a while has been very receptive to listening to advice and some things. But certainly, when it comes to dollars and cents, that’s where we’re in two different ballparks. As a driver, I’ve put in 20 years doing this and I feel like I’ve tried to do my best to grow social following, giving more content. Things like that. Trying to update the times, right? I tried to start a race team to build my legacy well beyond being a race car driver itself. Being part of the sport, investing in Jim France, investing in NASCAR. You know, I’m doing my part, but certainly I think probably from their standpoint they just see me as a thorn in their side and more than likely would be better off without me.”

Have they ever warned you?

“Of course. Yeah, of course.”

If you buy a charter, own it, abide by all the rules and finish where you’re supposed to finish, how can they take a charter from you?

“I don’t know. It doesn’t make sense.”

How can they threaten that?

“I’m not sure. It would have to be explored for sure.”

In what ways do you think Ty Gibbs has grown as a driver?

“I would say generally speaking, I think he’s (Ty Gibbs) has matured some. I see it on the race track. Certainly, he’s more aware of situations. I mean, experience in this series does mean a lot and I think that he knows he’s with a really great team and he’s doing a better job, in my opinion, the last half of the regular season of executing decent days when he has a decent car. That comes from managing risks and I think he’s understanding how to do that.”

Are you still looking at having Martin Truex Jr. run the Daytona 500 next February?

“Yeah, 23XI and JGR (Joe Gibbs Racing) are kind of looking at the options and trying to figure out what’s the best avenue for it but certainly having Martin (Truex Jr.) in the 500 is going to be exciting.”

Is there more in the driver’s hands or less this first round?

“There’s less. Simply because I feel as though having this extra superspeedway in there in Atlanta, it just might put you in a hole that you cannot overcome. Because this is a race that you could easily go finish 32nd or 33rd and have one point and you find yourselves 20-some behind and even being solid at Watkins Glen or good at Bristol, it might not be enough. So, I think that anytime again we shrink the sample size down to three races, and one of those three is one that most drivers would say I don’t have a role in where I finish. I try to do the best I can to avoid the wreck and that’s it. And, now it’s down to a two-race season and that’s hard for us to overcome if we don’t get through the first one.”

Is making it to the Championship 4 still a meaningful stat to you?

“Absolutely. 100 percent. If I can make it to the Championship 4 this year with all the variables that got thrown our way, it would be one of the more rewarding accomplishments I feel like in my career.”

How challenging has this year been for you?

“Yeah, it’s been challenging for sure whether it be the charter stuff or team stuff or driver stuff or penalty stuff. It’s certainly a lot but I feel as energized as I ever have. I don’t know how or why but I still have the stamina to do it and still have the drive to want to do it. It’s been trying, no doubt about it. Trust me, when I walk in that room and they said basically three of your race wins won’t count towards the Playoffs, it was like holy crap. That’s a big, big deal. And it’s certainly something that’s totally out of my control. I wish I could control it, but I can’t. But it’s just part of this sport and I just have to come to grips with, I’m not going to be able to control my outcome. Sometimes it’s going to roll black 10 times in a row and never hit red.”

As you begin the Playoff quest, this is the march for that ring that your fiancé joked you were still looking for?

“That was my comment. I like to troll myself (laughter). I certainly believe that a championship this year would be more rewarding than any of the other years just simply because of all of the variables that we just talked about. So, trust me, I’m going to give it my 100 percent effort to make sure I find myself in a position to win.”

How aware were you of how Tyler Reddick was feeling on Sunday?

“I didn’t know anything until I was in the car, and they told me over the radio, he’s (Tyler Reddick) battling. I was not made aware – 23XI – Dave Rogers tries to shield race day 23XI drama away from me because he’s like, you do enough during the week. I don’t need to bother you with all of this stuff. We have protocols in place with backup drivers and whatnot. They shielded me from that, so I didn’t know until the race.”

Would you have been surprised if Tyler Reddick got out of the car during the race?

“I would’ve been surprised if he did, yes. It’s just, drivers themselves, they just never ever want to get out of their car and see someone else run. And, certainly with what was at stake for him, he would rather lose it on his terms.”

What do you think Martin Truex Jr.’s legacy is going to be?

“This sport can forget about you really quick. I just hope we don’t forget about Martin (Truex Jr.) because I think his career accomplishments are so highly regarded from my standpoint, right? While he might not have as many wins as I have, he hasn’t been with championship caliber teams all of his career like I have. So, I think that he’s just a grossly underrated driver. We had a survey earlier I had to fill out (at media day) who’s the most underrated driver? Martin Truex Jr. is the most underrated. He makes himself underrated because he doesn’t want to talk about himself. He doesn’t want to talk about his accomplishments because he’s a very modest human and he doesn’t want the fanfare. I’ll sing his praises for him that he’s just been the best.”

How do you right the results for the 11 team now that you are in the Playoffs?
“We’ve had speed, but my average finish is atrocious. We will dive into it when the season is over on how much atrociousness did, I cause, versus – there is a column called racing shit happens and that is the things that neither myself or the team causes to have a bad day. It is someone crashed right in front of us at whatever track it might be or blown engine in Sonoma and finishing dead last. There is a column, and I like to keep track of – what did I control, how good did I did do it, and what I need to improve on. It’s really hard to judge our season, because we are fast. One of the two or three best cars every single week. Yet our average finish and points position would tell you otherwise, so there is clearly a disconnect there that we have to hem up.”

Do you think you can during this Playoff run?

“100 percent. I think we went on a pretty good long streak in the spring, early summer and then we went on this really bad run of finishes and now, surely this thing comes back around where the racing gods are a little nicer.”

How do you manage 23XI’s success on race day, especially in later rounds in the Playoffs?

“Yeah, I’m rooting for them. I’m rooting for them to make the final four and lose to me by finishing second. That’s what I really want. I can tell you with honesty and look in your eye, I would be just as happy with an owner’s championship this year as I would with a drivers, because I know how much it took and how much it takes to win a championship in NASCAR, clearly, I know – I’ve been in the sport long enough. I know that I had my hands in every part of that race car – it would be hugely gratifying for myself. If anything, I feel like my chances are doubled this year. While the 45 (Tyler Reddick) made it last year, but they had too many chinks in the armor, speed wise – at some tracks, to really truly contend. I knew the short tracks they were going to have issues, but I feel like they have gotten better on all of those, so they are going to be a viable contender.”

With how the Toyota’s ran in Phoenix earlier this year, does it feel like it is a make-or-break season?

“It could be. Next year might be another good opportunity. I don’t know, but certainly, I’ve gone to Phoenix, and I will never forget when Coy (Gibbs) told my mom flying to Phoenix that we have no chance, so don’t get your hopes up (laughter). We were in the final four, but our short track stuff was just not good and it suited Hendrick guys that year, and we just didn’t have the speed to contend, but this year there is certainly no excuses. C. Bell (Christopher Bell) was definitely the fastest car in the Spring there. We qualified on the pole and contended. I just hope to have the opportunity and see where I stack up.”

Are you interested in trying to get Pato O’Ward in for Mexico?

“Yeah, I saw his interest in that. A talent like him (Pato O’Ward) would be fantastic and with him raising his hand and wanting to participate, logistically you hope it could be possible.”

About Toyota

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Toyota directly employs more than 63,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 47 million cars and trucks at our 12 manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 13th 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 29 electrified options.

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

NASCAR CUP SERIES
PLAYOFF MEDIA DAY
SEPTEMBER 4, 2024

Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Camaro ZL1 – 12th in Playoff Standings

Victories: 1
Top-Fives: 6
Top-10s: 12
Laps Led: 14
Average Finish: 15.4
Stage Wins: 0

Of Note:

• The 2024 season marks Bowman’s sixth appearance in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.
• Bowman has advanced to the Round of 12 in each of his NASCAR Cup Series playoff appearances – making it to the Round of Eight in the 2020 season to score a career-best sixth in the final standings.
• Bowman has one victory at two of the 10 tracks on the playoff schedule: Las Vegas Motor Speedway (one win) and Martinsville Speedway (one).
• Bowman’s eight career NASCAR Cup Series victories have come on every track configuration in which the series competes on: short track (Richmond Raceway, Martinsville Speedway), intermediate oval (Chicagoland Speedway, Auto Club Speedway, Dover Motor Speedway, Pocono Raceway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway) and road course/street course (Chicago Street Race).  
  ALEX BOWMAN, NO. 48 HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS CAMARO ZL1 – 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Media Day Highlights:

Your name is out there about what’s happening next year.. do you know your plans for 2025?

“Yeah, that rumor has certainly been annoying. Obviously my contract is through the end of 2026. All I can tell you is like what my bosses have told me, and that is that there are no plans to change anything. Yeah, rumors are just rumors. Hopefully they’ll get their announcements done so my rumors stop, obviously. Yeah, as far as I know, I’m driving the No. 48 next year.”

Is there any reason that you should doubt that? How do you feel?

“Yeah, I don’t think so. I trust my bosses and that’s what they’ve told me. So yeah, other than that, just focused on trying to be strong the next 10 weeks.”

You’ve had to deal with a lot this year, even in the past. Fair or not fair, how do you deal with that?

“Yeah, I mean for me – like that’s a rumor that I’ve heard for a month. It got to the point where I picked up the phone and called everybody, and everybody said, ‘absolutely not’. So, that’s really all I have to go on and I don’t have a reason to believe anything other than that. There’s no – oh, you need to do this to keep your job. Like it’s absolutely not.. everything’s fine.

Beyond that, we need to go run better. It’s been a miserable month. We haven’t executed on a high level at all, so we need to go run better the next 10 weeks. But we need to do that for us and our playoff run; for Ally and the No. 48 team. There’s no like – you need to do this to keep your job. As far as I know, I’m not worried about that at all.”

How does one turn things around? At the start of the playoffs, everyone says – hey, it’s a new season. Just because it’s a new season doesn’t mean the same things aren’t following you. How do you break that chain?

“I feel like we’ve been able to do that in the past, and honestly, a month ago everything was going pretty well. We had the crash at Indy. We crashed at Daytona. Obviously we had some issues last weekend (at Darlington). It’s been frustrating, but we’ve had some fast racecars sprinkled in there. Obviously we crashed at Michigan with another fast racecar. We just need to execute at a high level the next 10 weeks. We just need to buy in; have the whole team locked in and execute well.”

With the playoffs, obviously there’s a process you go through throughout each week of the season, in living your life and doing things. When you get into the playoffs, is there something that you cut out, or is there something you make sure you keep because of the potential stress and everything for 10 long weeks?

“Yeah, I don’t think you can change much. I think you kind of have to – the way our sport works, you kind of have to live the whole year that way. Certainly working super hard and kind of trying to do everything that I possibly can. But I feel like sometimes you do that and almost get worse. Just have to go do my thing and go from there.”

What’s a saying you hear from Blake (Harris, crew chief) that you hear often?

“I don’t really have a saying like that from him. But for me, things were tough at the start of the year. Talking to him, he’s like – you and I are the only two that can fix it. He said that, and then he brought it up again this week. So, I think just him and I are responsible for how the team is going to execute for the next 10 weeks. We need those guys to lock in and be all in for the next 10 weeks, for sure.”

Some might view you guys as an underdog or a potential Cinderella. Is that a way that you look at it, or is that the wrong way to look at it from your vantage point?

“Yeah, I mean I think that we need to improve where we’re at, for sure. We haven’t been where we need to be for the last little bit. Our season has kind of been broken up into streaks of really good runs, and then streaks of really bad runs. So, I think if we can get the streak of really good runs to fall well for the next 10 weeks, I think we can be in a really good spot. Yeah, I mean I think there’s no reason why we’re not capable of doing that. We just need things to go our way and we need to put our best foot forward.”

Are there any races you’re worried about in the playoffs?

“I think the superspeedway races, obviously, can be a big wild card. Watkins Glen has been pretty hard on us over the years, so we’re super focused on being better there. But beyond that, if we get rolling in the right direction, we can be good anywhere.”

What are the odds of you getting to Phoenix and compete for the championship?

“Yeah, I mean we need to improve what we’ve been doing and how we’ve been executing to make that happen. I think we’re capable and have the resources that we need to do that, it’s just a matter of going and doing it. Mr. H gives us the tools we need, so we have to go make it happen.”

When you’re breaking down the playoff rounds, the Round of 16 has a lot of drivers concerned. It seems to be one of the toughest rounds. Is that what you think or is there another round that you’re worried about?

“Honestly, I’m so week-to-week that I don’t even know what the next tracks are after the first round. Super focused on the Round of 16. And obviously, yeah – I think Atlanta, Watkins Glen and Bristol; there’s so many things that could happen. It’s pretty easy to have someone else ruin your day at two of those three. Yeah, just need to go execute at a high level, and go week-to-week from there.”

Mrs. H said she wanted all four cars in the Championship Four..

“Yeah, she wants that every year, but she made it very clear that we better make it happen. I think she said she ‘really, really, really, really, wants that’. Yeah, when she speaks, we listen, for sure.”

How would you characterize your regular season?

“Yeah, it’s been up-and-down. We’ve had streaks of really good runs. The last month, we’ve kind of been repeatedly kicked in the teeth. Excited to get the playoffs started. We’re a plenty capable race team, we just need to go out and do it.”

Do you look at it as a blank slate?

“A little bit. It would have been nice to carry some positive momentum into the playoffs. I feel like the first half of the summer, we had a better summer than normal. And then the second half of the summer, the wheels fell off. Definitely a little bit of a blank slate, but we’ll see what happens.”

Have you seen progression ramped up?

“Yeah, I mean it’s gotten crazy over the last couple of years, for sure. I think if we raced 10 years ago how we do now, we’d get out of the car and get our butts kicked. It’s changed a lot, right? There’s been change for everybody. I feel like I’m not the overly-aggressive, dirty racecar driver. The races have played out to really benefit the overly-aggressive, dirty racecar drivers. I’m trying to get myself there, for sure. Yeah, it’s definitely changed.”

Is that because of the current car?

“Yeah, I think passing has just become so ridiculously difficult that you have to get what you can; ruining someone else’s day to do it or whatever you need to do has just become part of it. Yeah, it’s just changed.”

You and Blake (Harris, crew chief) have had stretches of really, really good races. Are you feeling confident that you guys are going to hit that when you get to the playoffs?

“We better, right? The last month has been frustrating. We’re a plenty capable race team, so we need to go run well for the next 10 weeks. I feel like we’re plenty capable of doing that.”

Is there anything in particular that you’ve done behind the wheel the last month that has led to it, or do you think it’s just a rough stretch?

“Yeah, I mean really – I sped on pit road at Richmond and that hurt us a little bit, but we weren’t any good before that. Got loose and smoked the fence on that restart at Michigan, which cost us a top-eight finish. But other than that, we just haven’t been very good, honestly. Super frustrating to not be better than we’ve been, but we’ll keep digging at it.”

You said after Darlington that you guys just need to run better in the playoffs. How can you guys do that? Is it just getting the finishes, or is there some execution in there, as well, about bringing better cars?

“Both, for sure. We haven’t been very good lately. We need to qualify better. We need to execute better. I need to do everything on my end better. We need to be better on pit road. Like across the board, we need to be better. Yeah, I’ve made a couple mistakes over the last couple of weeks; sped on pit road at Richmond, crashed at Michigan. And then we’ve had some cars that we’ve struggled with and some things on pit road happened. Across the board, we need to be better. We’ve got 10 weeks to go and prove we can be better.”

The first round, everyone says it’s going to be wild. Is that a realistic expectation? You have Atlanta, which can go any which way. And then it seems like tires might be the story at Watkins Glen and Bristol.

“Yeah, the Watkins Glen thing is interesting because they said it was six seconds, and then they tested again last week and I heard two seconds. Yeah, I heard much less than we thought, but it’ll be interesting to see what actually happens. I feel like we always kind of never know. And then at Bristol, is the same thing going to happen or is it not going to happen? Yeah, it’s going to be interesting. Atlanta, it’s its own thing, so we’ll what happens.”

How have you and your crew chief discussed getting through the first round?

“Go execute at a high level every week. That’s really all we can do. Obviously at Atlanta, there’s a lot of things outside of our control that can happen. But we need to do our job at a high level; bring fast racecars, run up front, score stage points and make the right decisions on the race track.”

Do you expect 54 lead changes again at Bristol? It was the unknown there that was absolutely crazy and it wasn’t what anyone was expecting. Crew chiefs and engineers, they look at numbers and when it baffles their minds, everything is up in the air..

“Yeah, it’ll be interesting to see if the tire wear is like that again, right? It’s going to be a lot hotter. The race track will probably rubber up a lot more. We don’t really know until we go do it, especially with a concrete race track. It can change. The weather can change. It can go one way or another; not having the sun on it because it’s going to be a night race. It could be warm, but no sun. So yeah, it’s hard to say what it’s going to do. It has the potential to be absolutely as wild as it was the first time. And it also has the potential to be a completely normal Bristol race. I’m sure we’ll find out within the first 100 laps of the race, but until then, I don’t think we’re going to know.”

What makes Hendrick Motorsports so good at Watkins Glen?

“Yeah, I feel like I’ve been terrible there, so it’s hard to say. I feel like that’s one road course that I still have to kind of get ahold of a little bit. I think it started with – obviously Hendrick Motorsports on road courses has been really good for a long time. But Chase (Elliott) really got ahold of Watkins Glen and kind of developed all of our stuff to be really good there, kind of right off the bat. Yeah, trying to play catchup a little bit, but I’m excited to get back.”

Did the confidence you got from winning the street course at Chicago give you confidence in those styles of tracks where you do turn left and right?

“Yeah, I mean we’ve been really good on road courses the last couple of years. Obviously COTA and the ROVAL have probably been the two best. Sonoma, we’ve had good runs. We’ve never had a good finish. We’ve had a lot of stuff happen to us there. Watkins Glen has always been the one that I’ve just struggled to make pure pace at. Trying to really focus on getting better there. I wasn’t good at COTA the first year, and I wasn’t great at Chicago the first year. I focused on them and got better. So, there’s no reason we can’t do that at Watkins Glen, too.”

How did being the wheelforce guy for awhile help you become a better driver?

“I would be a better racecar driver right now if I raced full-time for those two years than if I didn’t, for sure. I think two years basically sitting on the couch is not beneficial for anybody, but staying in the car in 2017 a little bit and doing all those tests was better than sitting on the couch. Racing would have been better, but we didn’t race, so that was the next best thing.”

But did you learn something from working with the engineers and seeing it from that side of the sport that could help you down the road?

“A little bit.. like I spent a lot of time in the simulator and developed a lot of good relationships with those guys. But the wheelforce stuff is really more about just driving the car in a really consistent way to give those guys the best data that you can. Way different than just going out and running ten-tenths and trying to make the best pace you can. But at the same time, I’m sure there were a couple of things that I learned.”

 

About Chevrolet

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

Toyota Racing – Ty Gibbs
NASCAR Cup Series Quotes

CHARLOTTE (September 4, 2024) – Joe Gibbs Racing driver Ty Gibbs was made available to the media on Wednesday as part of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Media Day.

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

What are the odds of you making the finals and what are the challenges along the way?

“I don’t know odds to be honest with you. I don’t know numbers to much, but I feel like we are very strong at the upcoming tracks besides Atlanta and Talladega, because they are really out of our control. I think Bristol, we were really solid – last year and this year, and Watkins Glen, we were great last year – finished fifth. We were really fast. I would really love to go and make it as deep as we can, maybe make the final four. I’m going to go try and win every race that I get into and do the best I can with I have.”

Do you think the first round is the toughest with the track alignment?

“I would say that I agree with that. I think it is the most track position race round in the Playoffs. Atlanta, the top four are basically the guys that win it. Watkins Glen – you have to be up front. You couldn’t pass last year. I felt like we were so much faster than the guys in front of us and we finished fifth. It takes so much to pass. Bristol, you have to be up front as well. That is another track position race. So, I would say that I agree with that.”

What were your thoughts when you made the Playoff cut?

“I appreciate it. I think it sounds good as well. Glad to make it in here, but it would be nice to be Champion one day.”

A lot of drivers have mentioned that you are someone they think will go far. How does that make you feel?

“I really appreciate that, and I would love to and hopefully we can get the best of what our deal is. I feel like we were really strong at the upcoming tracks, just have to get through Atlanta. 16th through eighth is separated by four points. It is really tight.”

What do you feel like you have learned over the last year that has prepared you the most for this Playoff run?

“I think just looking at the big picture. I’ve learned a lot of things and experience is the biggest thing, but big picture is important too. You have to finish these races.”

You have picked up incrementally everywhere you go. What is the reason for that?

“I appreciate that. I think that the experience is so big, especially for somebody like me that is so young and doesn’t have a lot of experience. It is so important and good to have. I’m sure that everyone here that is interviewing me would say the same thing with their interviewing careers, and their first years of experience in it. You just learn so much as you keep going.”

With not many Playoff points to fall back on, will the emphasis be on finishing races?

“I would say – especially at Atlanta – you have to finish. We are separated by four points from 16th to eighth. I’m the last seed, I think. We are separated by four points. You could win both stages and not finish the race, and not make as many points as a guy that does finish. You have to finish these races, especially Atlanta.”

I know you are a big sports fan, do you look at it as I’m the 16 seed, let’s go upset some folks?

“Yeah, it’s cool. I don’t really – I feel like I would look at it the same if I was in first as well. Just try to go win every race, but it is cool being an underdog for sure. It’s cool being last.”

Do you think the first win will come in the Playoffs?

“I would love for it to happen then. We are very strong at the upcoming tracks that we are going to, and we will see. We are solid, and we will try to make it happen, but I try to win every race and anything that comes.”

How much can you fall back on your Xfinity Playoff experience?

“I think it is somewhat similar from the way the point system works, but I think it is also different.”

What has been the biggest change from Xfinity to Cup?

“I think – you could say this is all the top sports and motorsports in the world – I think with football, talking to some of my friends that made the jump from college to pro – it is just a huge jump, and everyone is so much better. It is a whole different environment. It is all different. It is all part of going from semi-pro to pro – you have to make that jump and that is hard.”

Do you get motivated by watching other sports?

“I don’t really know. I feel like I try to go win everything I can try to do the best that I can, so I would say Tiger Woods had some of the same type of comments that I have. I really appreciate him and being a Monster Energy athlete, teammate – same as him. I feel like go win it all. Winning takes care of everything in life, or most things.”

Do you consider your regular season a success?

“I want to win a race, but we were really fast, and we’ve been in contention to win a good bit of times. If we were not fast enough and our cars were not handling as good, I would probably be not too happy, but we were fast. We are almost ready to win.”

What do you think about these next few races?

“I would say I would agree – especially the first couple, especially Bristol. It’s really a track position round. You have to be good. You have to qualify good and be up front the whole time, especially finishing the race – that is the most important part. I would say I agree with that.”

How do you enjoy racing on the road courses?

“I really like the road courses. They’ve always been really fun. I think this car is built for road courses. It is a lot of fun. I love going to Watkins Glen and the ROVAL. We will see what happens.”

Is there more in a drivers hand this first round?

“It is a good question. Atlanta is definitely not in our control. There is a lot with missing wrecks, and making it and finishing the race, but Watkins Glen and Bristol – I don’t know too much about the tire. Bristol was pretty treacherous. I think it is going to be an interesting round. I think it is probably the hardest round, honestly. I mean – I’m the last seed in the Playoffs – so myself to eighth place is like four points. If you win both stages, and you don’t finish the race, you are still losing at the end of the race. You have to finish the race. I might be wrong in that, but I’m pretty sure if you don’t finish the race, you are in trouble. A lot relies on being consistent and missing those wrecks.”

With where you are in points, it is easy for people to look at you as a Cinderella. Is that a role you relish?

“To be honest with you, I don’t really care too much. I try to win every race that I’m in and try to make the best of it. I enjoy what I do. I don’t really know. Cinderella story sounds cool, to go on and win a championship – I could retire after. (laughter) Just kidding. I don’t really know. I don’t really look at social media all that much, so I wouldn’t know. I feel like we are better. We outran most of the guys right in front of us.”

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for more than 65 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 more than 63,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 47 million cars and trucks at our 12 manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 13th 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 29 electrified options.

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

Toyota Racing – Martin Truex Jr.
NASCAR Cup Series Quotes

CHARLOTTE (September 4, 2024) – Joe Gibbs Racing driver Martin Truex Jr. was made available to the media on Wednesday as part of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Media Day.

MARTIN TRUEX JR., No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry XSE, Joe Gibbs Racing

What were the round of emotions last week in Darlington?

“It was pretty wild, honestly. I wanted to leave Darlington, dig a hole and crawl into it for a few days. It was a terrible feeling. I felt like it was the biggest mistake I’ve made in my entire racing career, which was pretty bad given what the day was and what was on the line. Obviously, glad we made it. We have a lot of work to do, so ready to get after it.”

You didn’t want to go out (of the race) like that, obviously?

“Yeah, I was thinking that I just ruined our whole season and the next ten weeks would stink. Now, we have a chance for the next ten not to stink and it’s going to be fun.”

How did you overcome mistakes like that, mistakes that almost every driver has?

“For sure. Yeah, we’ve all done stupid things, certainly, and that one was at the top of my list. Yeah, the key is to learn from those things and not just lock and forget about them. Kind of a reminder of how delicate things can be and how quickly they can change and go away. With this format and the way it is, and not having any bonus points per se, it’s a reminder you have to be on it. No mistakes. One mistake and you’re probably done. Yeah, we’ll see.”

Where did you watch the end of the Darlington race?

“I did leave, I couldn’t sit there anymore. I took a shower and calmed down for about ten minutes, but I couldn’t watch, so I got out of there. As soon as I landed, I found out (that I made the Playoffs) so it was good to get out of there and think about something else. And I didn’t have to get into Tyler (Reddick)’s car either as I was gone. Sounded like it wouldn’t have been fun (laughs).”

Could you have fit in Tyler Reddick’s car?

“No, there’s no way. Would’ve taken us 15-20 minutes to get me in there, so by that time, what’s the point? Yeah, no way I was fitting in there.”

Winning the championship in 2017, how did it impact you the following season once the Playoffs came around?

“I think it makes it easier, I really do. I don’t know if the other guys who have won it before feel the same, but you just feel less pressure. It’s so hard to win in this format. You can have a perfect season but run second at the last race and don’t win it. And that’s a lot. If you’ve never won a championship and you want to, you understand just how difficult that is at this sport, at this level. Everybody knows how hard it is to do. I think you’re just looser, more confident after you’ve done it as you’re like, ‘okay, at least I have one.’ It’s a different mindset. We were there five times in the final four, and just got one of them. Three of those times, we ran second. Two of those times, we dominated the race. Dominating doesn’t mean anything. (Kyle) Larson dominated Darlington the other night and finished fourth. And that’s the reality. You can dominate nine races, and you can be beat in the 10th and not be the champion. That’s it, it’s really hard to deal with and think about. So, once you have one, it’s a lot easier.”

Ryan Blaney won the championship from the No. 12 seed last year. Does that give confidence your team can do the same from the No. 16 seed this year?

“It’s definitely possible. You win one race in the first two rounds, that’s a good chunk of points. You know, the confidence and momentum that come with it, it’s totally doable. We’re going to have to win. I don’t think we’ll be able to point our way into the final four from where we’re at. We’re going to have to win some races.”

You’ve been on both sides of being the No. 1 seed and now the No. 16 seed. What’s the difference there?

“Yeah, not optimal, but happy to be there. Certainly, better than being out so we’ll give it our best shot.”

How are you and your team approaching the first round of the Playoffs?

“Yeah, approach is the same as always, right? Prepare as best we can and go try to execute. Yeah, Atlanta’s going to be tough. Daytime race there, track’s getting older, cars won’t handle as well. It’s going to be a lot tougher than the spring. And the potential for chaos is higher. So, I don’t know, the approach is to out and do the best we can do.”

If tire wear is a factor again at Bristol, how confident are you in your tire management skills to manage that?

“Yeah, I’m certainly looking forward to it more than in past years. Bristol has been in the past, just ‘hammer it’ as hard as you can all day. Track position was huge. Tires didn’t really wear out and it was all about pit stops, restarts and track position. Now, in the spring, it was like old school racing. I enjoyed that more and had better success at it than I did in previous years at Bristol, so excited for that and I think it’s a good opportunity for us.

If tire degradation is as serious as we think for Watkins Glen, how much does that affect strategy?

“It seems that way (flipping the stage) and can be a good thing for me, personally. And it’d be a good thing for passing. Watkins Glen is so fast, and we’ve gone there the last few years with no tire fall off, so you can’t get close enough to a guy to make a pass. It’s simple as physics, right? You go up through the esses and lose five-to-six car lengths, it’s over. So, it’s going to help us be able to make passes if our car is good and that’s what we need at those kinds of places.”

What is your perspective on the overall first round of the Playoffs?

“I mean, as crazy as it can be certain places and has been in the past, whatever you do, just race one at a time. Take one at a time and hopefully, you have a good race and go home and say you made it through one and let’s focus on the next one. That’s all you can really do.”

Hendrick Motorsports has won the last five races at Watkins Glen. How do you stop them?

“We’ve been fast (there, Watkins Glen) for sure. Not as much in the Next Gen car. But it’s going to be a lot different this time around, so open minded and we’ll prepare as hard as we can and see what shakes out.”

Do you think you’re in an advantageous position coming into the Playoffs?

“I mean, I’d certainly like to be the guy on top with the most points, right? That’s the best place to be, so I don’t think we’re in a great spot, by any means. I think we have a good opportunity ahead of us, though. Great team and we’ve been really fast lately. Just need to execute, clean up a lot of mistakes, and a lot of that is on my end as well. We know what we need to do, we’ve done it before, and we’re excited to get going.”

How much do you lean on being a past champion?

“Yeah, quite a lot, I guess. It’s easier to deal with the emotions when you’ve been through it before and you’re not scared to death thinking your career is going to be over you’re not going to win a championship, as you already have. It helps keeping you calm and focused and hopefully it’ll help us.”

What lessons did you learn from last year’s Playoffs to take into this year?

“Last year, we had a great regular season and then, the Playoffs started, and it went a lot like how it’s been going here lately. I’m hoping for the opposite this season, crappy regular season and stout Playoffs. We’ll see.”

For a potential Daytona 500 run and other part-time races next year, have you picked out a number you’d like to run?

“Yeah, it’s either going to be 56 or 78. 78 being our championship number, which is a special one. And 56 was always my number, so we’ll see.”

Is there one word to sum up your career?

“Stressful? (Laughs). I don’t know, I’m not sure there’s one word. There’s so many different emotions and things I’ve been through over the years. It’s been a roller coaster, there’s no question.”

Do you view your career in two different parts?

“Yeah, I think certainly if you’re just looking at my Cup career, then yes. There was certainly a first half and a second half somewhere around the same number of years. But if you look at the rest of it, then no. If you look at my Xfinity years, growing up and running my dad’s cars and all of that, it’s all one. It’s all the same, so you have to take the good with the bad, I guess. Definitely had a lot of reality checks along the way.”

Did you ever think you’d accomplished all you have?

“I always dreamed I could. Always thought I could. But you know, in this sport and in life in general, that’s all just talk. So, it’s been fun to get it done a few times.”

What does it mean to be in the Playoffs in your final full-time year and what do you think your odds are to make the Championship 4?

“I’m happy to be here and excited about it, obviously. I think when the year started, our goal was to go be a champion. Last year, we had a great year and then the Playoffs got a little rocky for us and didn’t go as well as we hoped. We’re hoping to do better this season and was looking good during the first half of the season, and then we’ve hit a slide here recently. Just looking forward to getting back to what we know how to do, what we know we’re capable of. At the end of the day, you want to do a good job and reach your potential. We’ve certainly had a lot of potential lately and not much to show for it. So that’s been the most frustrating part, but our odds are decent, not the greatest. You know, look at history, all the guys with the points and won the most races this year, they have the lead and better odds. But you never know what’s going to happen, so have to get to work and see what we can do.”

Where do you feel most confident winning in this round?

“I feel (we can win) at any given track, on any given weekend right now. I know people probably think I’m crazy saying that because of how things have gone for us lately, but we’ve had the speed to win a lot of races this year and if we can do all the little things right, all the hard things to do right, we’ll have the speed to win.”

What do you see as the toughest round in the Playoffs?

“I mean, honestly, they’re all tough. One bad race can jeopardize anyone’s chances. That’s the scary part about this format. As bad as the first round seems, you only need to beat four guys. People lost sight of that, sometimes. They get all crazy and a ‘oh my gosh, I have to get this one spot at the end of the race,’ and then you get yourself in trouble and next thing you know, someone’s out. All you need to do is beat four guys, and there’s four guys you need to consistently beat to get to the next one.”

Do you worry about “point stealers?”

“Yeah, that’s always a concern, right? But you have to race everyone. Big picture in mind, if you can’t win, get all you can.”

Is your Daytona 500 deal done?

“I think so (laughs). I mean, we’re doing it, so I don’t know exactly the details of it, but it’s all but done.”

You said Cole Pearn will be your crew chief?

“Yeah, he said he’d do it. Should be fun.”

Would it just be a one-off or multiple?

“I don’t know. For now, just one. We’ll see how that one goes.”

Is winning the Daytona 500 bigger than winning a championship or vice versa?

“It’s definitely not bigger than a championship, no question. Depends on who you ask. You know, people in the sport, drivers especially I think unanimously will say championships are more important. People who don’t know the sport as well may think the Daytona 500 is that big. It’s huge, but it’s not a championship. A championship is what we all race for.”

Would you say winning the Southern 500 is bigger than the Daytona 500?

“Yeah, I think if you poll all the drivers, they would probably say that. But, you know, nobody else would. For me, it’s more special. I wouldn’t say bigger, but more special. You’d want to win it more as a driver. Does it (a Southern 500 win) mean more? Probably not, but it means more.”

Is it still possible to win a bunch or even half of the Playoff races in this era?

“I think it’s definitely harder to do than it was. It’s all because of the car. Definitely. You used to be able to find advantages easier with cars and builds than you can now.”

If you’d win the championship this year and the Daytona 500 in February, would that be the end of your career then?

“I’ll still race still. I don’t know when and in what, but I’ll still try to have some fun. I still love racing and driving cars, just ready to not travel 40 weekends a year. That’s the only thing, just the travel and every week, having to pick up and go again.”

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for more than 65 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 more than 63,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 47 million cars and trucks at our 12 manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 13th 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 29 electrified options.

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

NASCAR CUP SERIES
PLAYOFF MEDIA DAY
SEPTEMBER 4, 2024

William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Camaro ZL1 – 4th in Playoff Standings

Victories: 3
Top-Fives: 8
Top-10s: 12
Laps Led: 259
Average Finish: 14.6
Stage Wins: 1

Of Note:

• The 2024 season marks Byron’s sixth consecutive appearance in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.
• Bryon’s career-best finish in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs came last season during his first career appearance in the Championship 4 – finishing the season third in the final points standings.
• Byron has scored 11 of his 13 career NASCAR Cup Series victories during the Next Gen era.
• Byron has at least one victory at six of the 10 tracks on the playoff schedule: Atlanta Motor Speedway (two wins), Martinsville Speedway (two), Homestead-Miami Speedway (one), Las Vegas Motor Speedway (one), Phoenix Raceway (one), Watkins Glen (one).  
  WILLIAM BYRON, NO. 24 HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS CAMARO ZL1 – 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Media Day Quotes: You’re one of the guys the competitors are most concerned with this year. Are you optimistic?

“I just think we’ve been trying to… we’ve been waiting for this for a while. As you soon as you win early in the season, your goals shift to what can we do to get bonus points and what can we do to get ready for the fall. That’s really what has been it’s about. Now we get to put that to the test and take it one race at a time.”

How do you feel about the actual business of running for a championship? Do you feel you see it every year, the progress, and now you’re doing it?

“I love it. I think it puts value to what you do. It’s what you work for as a team. When you’re at Hendrick Motorsports, the goal setting out for the season is to try and win big races and try to win the championship. For us, this is the time of year to do that, so there’s more meaning to it. For driving like a team we are, that’s the goal.”

There are two parts to this, regular season and you’ve got that over with. Going into the Playoffs, do you have a chance to catch your breath a little bit and move into second gear and go to the Playoffs mentally?

“I feel like I’ve built a lot of stamina this year just in the different ways and trying to be ready for this time of year. So, yeah, I’m as ready to go as I’ve ever been. I don’t really need anything to motivate me for that. It’s just trying to put everything you can into the next 10 weeks because that’s what you work so hard for, especially in the off-season. You think about how you can get back to the championship race, and that starts in January and then you just work from there. For us, we had wins early in the season, we had to kind of take a breath, and now it’s how do we work to get to Phoenix.”

How do you make sure your team has stamina because the driver is pretty well taken care of, you have to have a lot of stamina. What about the team?

“I think they’re professionals. I think they’re some of the most talented people in the garage. My pit crew is amazing. My road crew does a great job building fast racecars, and my engineering team and Rudy are some of the most talented engineers in the garage. They don’t need any help getting motivated, I know that. It’s just making the right decisions and hopefully, I can help them with that, give them good feedback, and drive the car the hardest I can.”

But what about the stamina to make it to the end of the year? How do you help your team do that?

“Well, anytime you have two weeks off in the middle of August, that’s a great time to recoup and recover. We knew what the goal was, to try and be ready for this time of year. I feel like they spent those couple of weeks making sure they’re ready.”

A couple of drivers have given the sense that the first round of the Playoffs, it’s all about being conservative and not making mistakes until you ramp up and push hard in the Round of 8. Is that the same sense you get?

“Yeah. I think it’s easy to say conservative, but at a road course, you have to be fast. You can’t just show up and try to ride around there. I think it’s important to not make mistakes, but you have to make sure you’re gathering points. At Atlanta, there’s some things out of your control there, but the thing you can do to be in control is to have some speed and be up towards the front. It takes a lot of effort there to be good and once you get passed that, trying to think about Watkins Glen.”

Is there any sense in trying to get back to Phoenix and get redemption from last year with how good you guys were?

“Yeah, we just didn’t quite have enough last year. I think we’ve pretty much tailored our season around trying to get better in some of those areas. I feel like we’re capable. The summer was very inconsistent, but when we did have speed, we were right up front. I think we just have to get back to that and I know these 10 weeks will take a totally different mindset than in the summer anyways, so it’s not really worth comparing it.”

Is it different going now into another Playoff after you’ve been to Phoenix and felt being that close to competing for a championship?

“I don’t know yet. I think it will just because you have a different lens, different perspective. I’m not really thinking about Phoenix right now. I’m just thinking about how I can get through the Round of 16, how do I get through the Round of 12, and then the Round of 8 you have to be on your game. You have to try and win one of those races, so that’s what I’m thinking about. If I get to Phoenix, I’ll think about how I can execute that weekend better than I did last year.”

What’s the advantage to having everyone at Hendrick Motorsports in the Playoffs?

“It’s just good notes. Obviously, everyone is out for themselves. It’s how the format is and the way the racing is. But you have to share notes and learn from each other to have the best possible result for all of you. I feel like we do that really well. Nothing really changes in the Playoffs, but it’s nice to have everyone pulling the rope in the same direction.”

Is it extra pressure knowing that Mrs. (Hendrick) really, really wants all of you guys to be in the final round?

“I love it. I think we all want it really bad, so I don’t think there’s any needed added motivation, but I love how passionate Mrs. Hendrick is and Mr. H as well, and I’m excited for the Playoffs.”

Does it carry some more weight with (Mrs. H) than him in some regard?

“I love them. They’re great people and I want to make them proud.”

You talked about Watkins Glen and preparing for that race. With the unknowns of tire falloff, do you get the sense that will change the strategy as far as staying out for points or pitting early to flip the stages?

“I don’t know. That’s a great question I really have no idea. I think it depends on pace in practice, how much they fall off. We’re going to have 40 minutes instead of 20, so you’re going to have more time to figure out what that pace drop off is and I think you’ll make your adjustments from there. I’m confident in my group they will go through all those notes and look at the information and make good decisions. Typically at Watkins Glen, it’s a 40 point day max, you’re usually missing out on all of the stage points to win the race. That with stages, obviously. Last year we didn’t have stages. So it’s going to change for sure how that race plays out.”

In the first round, races are at such different tracks – short tracks, mile and a half, road course – do you think that’s really going to help separate the guys that are going to go and the guys who aren’t?

“It might. I don’t know. I think at Atlanta, you could see a new winner that’s outside the top 12 and low in the points. Don’t know what to expect there, but at Watkins Glen, I think you’re going to see legit guys up there running well. It’s going to take everything there. With Bristol, I think the tire, that could be a curveball. I don’t know. I think Bristol is going to be the biggest question mark for me, is to see how that race plays out.”

With you and Rudy, now that you’re in the Playoffs, have you sat down to regroup or rethink to move forward into the Playoffs?

“I mean, we talk every day. We talk about that stuff. I feel like once we got back from the off weeks, we really had a chance to recoup and get ourselves prepared and I feel we’ve done that.”

You’re here in the Playoffs, and you’re not a stranger here. How do you make it to Phoenix and what do you put your odds at to making that final round?

“I’m not an odds person, and I don’t really speculate. I think it’s going to change over the next three months, and you’re going to have guys you didn’t expect to get there, get there in Phoenix. I’ve seen this deal play out a number of times now and I’m not the kind of person to speculate. It seems like every year there is some sort of surprise in the Playoffs and that’s what makes it entertaining, and that’s why I focus on each race.”

Because of the layout with the rounds and different tracks, maybe Round 1 is the scary round compared to where it’s been in the past and Round 2. Do you think anything like that, or have you thought about what round is the toughest to get to?

“I think the Round of 16 is tough, the Round of 12 is tough. I think the Round of 8 is kind of more legitimate tracks but it’s going to take everything. You’re going to have to try and win one of those. I think it kind of depends, but I think depending upon what tracks you’re good at, I think the Round of 16 is probably the toughest.”

Do you have more pressure this year because with Hendrick Motorsports?

“I don’t think so. Not personally. For me, our motivation is internal. I feel like, no it doesn’t feel much different.”

Talking about tires, do you think you’ll see more of the softer tire for race season?

“Definitely not for the Playoffs, because for the Playoffs you should know the rules going in. I think for future years, I think it maybe should change a little bit, but I just want to know the rules and play by them.”

What’s something that Rudy has said over and over that you’ve heard that makes an impact or roll your eyes because you’ve heard it over and over?

“He likes to make it live, so anytime the car is good, he’s afraid it’s going to fall off. So, that’s his nature and I love it.”

But what does that mean?

“He just wants to make sure the car lasts the whole run, to make sure it doesn’t fall off.”

You’ve been in where these Playoffs you were a little lower in the standings, and maybe the underdog, and now more of the favorite. Is there any type of difference going into the Playoffs how you are entering?

“I think there’s a concrete difference with the bonus points. I think when you don’t have bonus points as much as you want to say it doesn’t matter, it does because each round resets. Anytime you have a bad day when you have points on your side, you have an advantage. There is a definite advantage to having bonus points. I don’t look at it as a favorite or not, I look at where I am on the bonus structure. Last year, we were tied for the first seed and this year we’re fourth. I think we’re still in a nice spot, but it would be nice to get a few more bonus points over the next three races.”

For an athlete, there’s a process you go through week after week. With the Playoffs, is there something you look to take from doing in your life or maybe something you’re doing in your life because of the pressure and the stress of what the next 10 weeks are like?

“I just try to stay as balanced as I can. I feel like I stay really in a routine, and I feel like routine is more important in the fall than it ever is. Just making sure I’m doing the things I’ve done all year but making sure I stay balanced and try to manage all that.”

What is the “pressure relief valve” at this point in the year? What do you do that has nothing to do with racing to try to get away?

“It varies, but I think spending time with friends and for me, there are different things. Playing video games, there are lots of little things. For me, just like I said, trying to stay in a rhythm and routine and not get stressed. If there’s lots of time on the road, trying to manage that.”

How do you feel going into these Playoffs?

“I feel good. I think we have prepared a lot for the Playoffs and I feel we’re in a decent spot. I feel good.”

What has made Hendrick Motorsports so dominant at Watkins Glen?

“I don’t know. It’s just a fast place so I feel like there’s a lot of horsepower and speed and downforce, grip, a lot of those things. We typically tend to do well when the challenge is there. I don’t know why we’ve been good there. It seems like they went through a lull there and for the last few, maybe a decade has been really good at Watkins Glen.”

Your teammates had a few victories and then you were able to come up with one. Were you able to learn from them, pick their brain, to make your game a little better at Watkins Glen?

“I don’t know. Chase (Elliott) won twice, and the Kyle’s (Larson) has one there once, and then he won again in 2022. I don’t know. I think it’s just a good notebook probably from those guys.”

There were 54 lead changes in the spring at Bristol. It was nuts. No one knew what to think of that tire. Have you and Rudy got a good handle if that happens again on how do you approach that race?

“I don’t know what to expect yet. I think we have some things to dissect and learn but haven’t really thought much about it. It really depends on how the resin interacts with the track and how the tires wear, or if they rubber in the track and it’s like how it’s been in the past. I’m not sure really. We’ll see.”

(Ryan) Blaney said it would be some generic resin, some kind of compound of resin none of us have ever seen…

“I’m pretty sure it’s the same stuff they sprayed in the spring from what I was told. I think the goal is for it to be similar to the spring. Now, I don’t know if the weather or things will make it different or not. That’s the intrigue that I have.”

For the first round, is there anything you haven’t said about Bristol or Watkins Glen that sticks out in your head?

“I think just try and get through Atlanta. I think once you get through Atlanta, you can kind of control your destiny from there. So, try to get through Atlanta, have a good race there and see what happens.”

You’ve said you’ve wanted to get back to the Championship 4. Did you and Rudy really dissect these next nine races to ensure that happens?

“I think we’re more week to week, but I feel like we’ve looked a little bit ahead and we know these tracks are good for us. We’ve had different conversations randomly throughout the year and try to take notes on those and go from there.”

 

About Chevrolet

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

NASCAR CUP SERIES
PLAYOFF MEDIA DAY
SEPTEMBER 4, 2024

Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Camaro ZL1 – 11th in Playoff Standings
Victories: 1
Top-Fives: 2
Top-10s: 6
Laps Led: 143
Average Finish: 18.3
Stage Wins: 1

Of Note:

• The 2024 season marks Suarez’s second career appearance in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.
• Suarez’s career best finish in the NASCAR Cup Series standings came in 2022 – earning 10th in the final points standings.
• Suarez has two career NASCAR Cup Series victories – both of which were earned in the Next Gen era.
• Suarez earned his playoff berth in the second race of the season at Atlanta Motor Speedway – the track that will open the Round of 16.  
  DANIEL SUAREZ, NO. 99 Trackhouse Racing CAMARO ZL1 – 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Media Day Highlights: How are you preparing for the Playoffs?

“We have to take it one day at a time. It’s very important just to focus on the first round and then the second round. For right now, it’s one race at a time. That’s the main thing. All the energy is for Atlanta and then Watkins Glen and Bristol after that.”

What do you have to do along the way?

“The first two rounds are predictable. You have to execute. If you have good days, you may be good enough, but you cannot have a bad day. We’ll see how things play out.”

Atlanta Motor Speedway’s treadmill picked you this morning to be the champion. Your thoughts?

“Well, good. We’ll take it. Any prediction that is positive, we’ll take it.”

Does it make a difference that Ross (Chastain) is not in the field?

“I wish he was in it. Last year he was in it and I was not and this year it’s the other way around. It’s always better when you have more cars in it. When you only have one of the two, the other car has two goals. One is to win races and two is to help the teammate. Help within the rules as much as possible. So, the (No.) 1 right now has those two goals and that is to help us a little bit whenever he can.”

Can he try other things in practice or qualifying that maybe you can apply?

“Yeah, that’s kind of also what I mean with helping. The crew chiefs always work closely and now they’ll be working extra closely.”

Have you found some performance gains that can help you over these last 10 races?

“We found some stuff in the last couple months. We definitely got in the right direction. With that being said, we are not winning races yet. We still have work to do. Right now, we can compete consistently in the top 10. But we know that to make it to a championship that’s not going to be enough. We have to continue to push and continue to learn.”

What clicked to get you guys to where you are now?

“In the beginning of the year, my crew chief was still learning a lot of the process of things in the team. The system wasn’t made for him to get super involved within the set-up and things like that. So, there have been a lot of things that he has had to adjust to be more of his liking and that takes time. You have a system that has been working one way for years, it takes a little bit of time to readjust that, and he has had to do that for the 99.”

Going back to Atlanta, you’ll be seeing a lot of replays of the finish. What do you think of when you see that finish and what’s it going to be like going back?

“It’s special. Today we saw it in the morning, and I have seen it several times. People have been talking about it. It was a great finish and it’s something that people are going to be talking about for a very long time and it’s in the history books. I’m just happy that I’m the one who won it because if I was Blaney or Busch I would feel very bad about it.”

What kind of year would you say this has been for you. Do you feel like you’ve arrived, you are a NASCAR star?

“I feel very blessed. A lot of amazing things have happened to me this year, and everything started with winning in LA in my 90th NASCAR Mexico race. Just very blessed and fortunate with a lot of amazing things that have happened to myself this year with winning races, in my personal life and professional life. NASCAR going to Mexico City is a dream. That’s been one of my dreams since I came to America. I’m very grateful and I’m very lucky to be in this position. With that being said, on the competition side you always want more. It doesn’t matter if I have five wins or 10 wins or one win, you always want more. And we have to continue to work. The next 10 weeks are the most important weeks of the year and I’m planning on giving everything we got.”

From a big-picture standpoint, is this the best year of your life?

“Probably is one of the best years of my life and I’m not talking racing. I’m talking everything. It’s been an amazing year. (on getting married) I think I overachieved. I definitely have done better than I thought I would.”

Have do you deal with the pressure from your inaugural year in the Playoffs to this year? How have you changed?

“The pressure is the same. I feel fortunate that I have great people around me that have help me a lot, the mental aspect. I love pressure. With that being said, I feel like as a driver I’m much better than two years ago. The team is better than two years ago. We’re smarter, we’re faster. But we still have a lot of work to do. Hopefully, we can execute well and have a good first round and then a second round. One step at a time. We have to put one foot ahead of the next one. We cannot be thinking about the Watkins Glen race. We’re focusing on Atlanta right now.”

How do you even know what to expect at Atlanta?

“You never know. It’s going to be around 20 degrees warmer than last time so we’re going to heva less grip. So, if you were seeing cars moving around you will see it even more. I believe we had a great car last time there and we’re hoping we have even a better one there this time. We just have to continue to push, continue to work hard and focus on one race at a time.”

Do you feel like you know what everyone has right now?

“I think drivers we are very greedy, and I believe we’ve been given pretty much everything we got at least for the last couple months. Maybe there is a little bit more risk that we can take at times in the playoffs, but every round is going to be different, every race is going to be different, every driver is going to be in a different position so it’s pretty important to be aware of the whole situation and just do your thing.”

Do you look at your team as an underdog?

“If you compare Trackhouse this year against the Gibbs teams, the Hendrick teams and things like that, yes. 2022, Trackhouse was actually one of the best teams. This year hasn’t been the same. This year we’ve been working extremely hard, but the results have been slower than what we thought they were going to be. I wouldn’t consider myself one of the favorites for the championship right now, but is that going to change my mentality of who am I as a racecar driver and the potential of the 99 and Trackhouse in the playoffs? Of course not. I know how good we are on road courses; how good we were at Atlanta. I know how good we can be at some of these racetracks and the first two rounds are very critical. I believe if we have good execution days in the first couple of rounds we can get to the Round of 8. And once you are there you have to be perfect. Anything can happen. We’ve seen it time and time again. We just have to continue to push hard, give it everything we got for the next 10 weeks and see where we stand.”

 

About Chevrolet

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

CLUB NOTES

The first race of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs kicks off at Atlanta Motor Speedway during the Quaker State 400 this weekend. With the top 16 playoff drivers in contention for the NASCAR Cup Series championship, the rest of the drivers are looking to play the spoiler. The racing at Atlanta is similar to a Superspeedway with tight packs of cars, and anything can happen – fast.

Atlanta 1 Recap: It was only the second race of the 2024 season when the NASCAR Cup Series visited Atlanta Motor Speedway last. On lap two of the race, the No. 42 of John Hunter Nemechek and the No. 43 of Erik Jones, along with several others, were collected in ‘The Big One’ that resulted in damage to both of the LEGACY MOTOR CLUB entries. Both drivers managed to continue after the accident but fell out of contention early. Nemechek finished in 21st and 25th for Jones.

EJ Stats: Since joining the NASCAR Cup Series full-time in 2017, Jones has managed to earn one top-5, two top-10s, and 4 top-15s at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Over half of those stats coming from the tag team of the driver and crew chief, Dave Elenz.

Elenz Stats: Crew chief veteran, Elenz, has some stats to boast about regarding finishes at the Hampton, Georgia track. In the NASCAR Xfinity Series, during his full-time stint, Elenz led William Byron to a seventh-place finish, Tyler Reddick to a 19th place finish, and Noah Gragson to ninth, second, fourth, and third-place finishes. Since joining with Jones in 2022, the duo has only finished outside of the top-15 once, this past spring.

JHN Stats: Nemechek will be making his third Cup Series start at Atlanta; his second on the new configuration. In the other top series of NASCAR, Nemechek has five NASCAR Xfinity Starts were he tallied three top-10s including a fourth-place (2018) and a victory (2023). In 2016, Nemechek capitalized on a late-race restart where he led the final eight laps to secure his second-career NASCAR Truck Series victory on the old pavement. Last season, he made a thrilling pass with only three laps to go and hung on to win the fifth NASCAR Xfinity Series race of his career.

Beshore Stats: No. 42 LEGACY MOTOR CLUB crew chief, Ben Beshore also has an impressive record at Atlanta with over 66% of his finishes across the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series resulting in a top-10 finish.

Partner Spotlight: OLIPOP, the healthy prebiotic soda makes its debut as the primary sponsor in the NASCAR Cup Series this weekend, as it will dawn the No. 42 OLIPOP Ridge Rush Toyota Camry XSE. The scheme will feature the white and green colors of OLIPOP’s new flavor, Ridge Rush. OLIPOP is renowned for its innovative approach to soda, offers a diverse range of flavors, from nostalgic Vintage Cola and Classic Root Beer to unique Strawberry Vanilla, Watermelon Lime, and more. OLIPOP sales have surpassed major soda brands, illustrating not only the shift in consumers’ evolving preferences towards health-conscious choices, but also the way OLIPOP is changing the traditional soda category on a larger scale. To read more about OLIPOP visit their website: OLIPOP | Healthy Prebiotic Soda (drinkolipop.com)

Going for G.O.L.D.: Partners Dollar Tree and Family Dollar will honor store #5987 this weekend as a part of the company’s “Go for G.O.L.D.” (Grand Opening Look Daily) program. The Dollar Tree and Family Dollar primaries will highlight these stores on the deck lid of all three LEGACY M.C. entries throughout the race season. Store # 5987 is conveniently located in Hampton, Ga., just over mile from the Atlanta Motor Speedway.

PETTY 75TH ANNIVERSARY

ABOUT PETTY 75th: The 2024 season marks a significant milestone in the history of the Petty family as they have helped define stock car racing for 75 years. Their commitment to the sport and the people who make it possible – behind the wheel, under the hood, in the back office, and beyond – has shaped the growth and success of NASCAR. Their LEGACY lives on with the countless fans, drivers, technicians, and team members they touched. Throughout 2024, LEGACY M.C. will celebrate the Petty family and share countless memories with friends and fans at racetracks across the country.

Petty at Atlanta: Atlanta Motor Speedway is the site the of The King’s last NASCAR Cup Series race in 1992.

The King’s Hat: The King’s Hat that was unveiled back in February and is on display in the Fan Zone. Be sure to check out Atlanta Motor Speedway’s social media for exact location and activities planned for race weekend.

CLUB QUOTES

John Hunter Nemechek, Driver of the No. 42 OLIPOP Ridge Rush Toyota Camry XSE:

“This weekend will definitely be different than the race earlier in the year. There are a lot variables with the heat, you probably going to see cars slip and sliding around and we likely won’t be finishing under the lights like in the spring. Hopefully we can avoid ‘The Big One’ and it’s not on Lap 1 or 2 and we can just manage our day. It’s another restrictor plate track where you got to have track position at the end, but you also have to survive to get to the end. It’s harder to run side-by-side or three wide than it is at a place like Daytona or Talladega. I think it’s going to be intense first race of the playoffs and everyone going for broke – it’s going to be intense.

I want to go be a spoiler – you know who is racing for a championship but you’re still racing against them every week to try and go win the race. You probably go and race those [playoff drivers] with a little different mindset, not really much of one. You just don’t want to be the reason they miss the next round cause that could come back to bite you – if we were in their position, we would want that same respect.”

Ben Beshore, Crew chief of the No. 42 OLIPOP Ridge Rush Toyota Camry XSE:

“Atlanta’s new pavement lets the tires last a long time. There are normally a lot of cautions so there are opportunities to try different strategies. If you try to stay out to get track position, you pay the price on the next pit stop since you have to put more fuel in the car, so we’ll be evaluating that throughout the race to try to keep as much track position as possible but not put ourselves in a spot where we risk having to do a green flag pit stop. This is the type of race with a lot of cautions normally, so we’ll be trying to survive to the end to put ourselves in a position for a good finish.”

Erik Jones, Driver of the No. 43 Family Dollar Toyota Camry XSE:

“Atlanta is pretty different than Daytona and Talladega, it’s a mile and a half, it’s been kind of converted to a superspeedway with the banking and the rules package. It makes for handling being way more important than what it is at a place like Daytona or Talladega – it makes for kind of a challenge in balance of how fast you want to make your car and how well you want to drive, kind of a tough balance, it makes it a unique race and a fun race.

Racing in the fall, I think we assume the temperate is going to be a lot cooler, we will see how we get there how the weekend plays out, but that cool temperature definitely adds up to some handling performance. It’s definitely going to drive better than the heat of the spring, so that will be unique in trying to build more speed into the car.

Racing in the playoffs is a bit different when you’re not in it. Early on here, I think you’re still pretty aggressive with these guys. We want to go out and run well. Atlanta is a great chance for us to run well and not only run well but contend for a win. We’re not going to give up on that. Later, as we get into playoffs, there’s a certain level of respect that you have to give to the guys, but early on here I think we still have to go for it.”

Dave Elenz, Crew chief of the No. 43 Family Dollar Toyota Camry XSE:

“Atlanta is a definitely little different than Daytona and Talladega. Wide open throttle is harder to achieve there. We can do it in qualifying, but as soon as you get in the pack, you have to start lifting to make the corners. That presents a challenge – it’s not as easy as it is as Daytona just trimming it out, and Talladega the same way. We must work on handling it while keeping the speed in it.

From race one to race two, it gets harder obviously and the temps make it even more difficult to stay wide open, so we have to put more handling in the car and more downforce in the car which comes at the expense of speed, but we’re just trying to keep on throttle time as much as we can. So, they’re quite a different race from the spring to the fall and it’s quite different than what the other two plate races are even though they are the same rules package for speedways.

As far as racing others in the playoffs, at the start of the playoffs, there are so many people in the playoffs, it’s hard to race people differently – it’s half the field. You’re mindful of what they have going on and when you’re picking pits, you’re respectful of what they have going on, but you still race your race to the best you can. Even when you get into Phoenix, the Champion didn’t win the race last year, there are still people trying to win the race and that’s what we’ll be doing. Obviously, you don’t want to be the one to take a playoff guy out, so we’ll be respectful of it, but we’re still going to run our race, best we can.”

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Erik Jones and Matt Kenseth, both former Southern 500 winners chat following the practice session at Darlington Raceway last weekend. (Photo by: NKP for LEGACY MOTOR CLUB.)

BROADCAST INFO

ATLANTA MOTOR SPEEDWAY

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 8TH @ 3:00 PM ET

ABOUT OUR PARTNERS

ABOUT LEGACY MOTOR CLUB: LEGACY MOTOR CLUB™ is a professional auto racing club owned by businessman and entrepreneur Maurice “Maury” J. Gallagher and seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson. The CLUB competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series fielding the No. 42 Toyota Camry XSE of John Hunter Nemechek, the No. 43 Toyota Camry XSE of Erik Jones, and the No. 84 limited schedule entry for Johnson. LEGACY M.C. also competes in the Extreme E Series. Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty “The King” serves as CLUB Ambassador. With a unique title signifying a nod to car clubs of past eras, LEGACY M.C. is an inclusive club for all motorsport enthusiasts to celebrate the past and future legacies of its members, while competing for wins and championships at NASCAR’s elite level. To keep up-to-date with the latest news, information and exclusive content, follow LEGACY MOTOR CLUB™ on Facebook, X, Instagram and at www.LEGACYMOTORCLUB.com.

ABOUT DOLLAR TREE, INC.: Dollar Tree, a Fortune 200 Company, operated 16,622 stores across 48 states and five Canadian provinces as of October 28, 2023. Stores operate under the brands of Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, and Dollar Tree Canada. To learn more about the Company, visit www.DollarTree.com.

ABOUT OLIPOP: Launched in 2018, OLIPOP created the first healthy alternative to soda with only 2-5 grams of sugar and 9 grams of fiber. OLIPOP, now the fastest growing functional beverage, was formulated by CEO, Ben Goodwin, and a team of leading scientists to capture the nostalgic soda flavors you want, but with the benefits of plant-based fiber, prebiotics, and other botanical ingredients to support digestive health. OLIPOP is available in a variety of flavors including classic options like Vintage Cola, Classic Root Beer and Lemon Lime and innovative flavors like Strawberry Vanilla, Banana Cream, and Tropical Punch. OLIPOP is non-GMO, paleo, vegan, and gluten-free and is available online at www.drinkolipop.com as well as almost 30,000 grocers nationwide, including Target, Walmart, Whole Foods, Kroger and more.

NASCAR CUP SERIES
PLAYOFF MEDIA DAY
SEPTEMBER 4, 2024

Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Camaro ZL1 – 1st in Playoff Standings
2021 NASCAR Cup Series Champion
Victories: 4
Top-Fives: 10
Top-10s: 13
Laps Led: 1,088
Average Finish: 13.6
Stage Wins: 10

Of Note:

• The 2024 season marks Larson’s eighth appearance in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.
• Larson has made it to the Championship 4 twice, including his championship-earning season (2021) and, most recently, in 2023.
• During the playoff era (2004-present); Larson leads the series in multiple playoff race wins in a single season with five in 2021 (Bristol, Charlotte ROVAL, Texas, Kansas, Phoenix).
• Nine of his 27 career NASCAR Cup Series victories have come in the playoffs.
• Larson has at least one victory at eight of the 10 tracks on the playoff schedule: Las Vegas Motor Speedway (three wins), Watkins Glen (two), Kansas Speedway (two), Bristol Motor Speedway (one), Charlotte ROVAL (one), Homestead-Miami Speedway (one), Martinsville Speedway (one), Phoenix Raceway (one).  
  KYLE LARSON, NO. 5 HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS CAMARO ZL1 – 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Media Day Highlights: What is more important – a Daytona 500 or a NASCAR championship?

“I don’t know.. that’s tough to say, right? I would like both.. I would like a Daytona 500 win and another championship. So I don’t really know how to answer that. I think for me, the next opportunity I have to add one of those to my resume would be a championship. So right now, I would say a championship. But I for sure want a Daytona 500. I think that’s the last crown jewel that’s left for me to win for my resume in NASCAR, so I would love to get that.”

Let’s say you make the Championship 4.. who are the three drivers you absolutely want to have with you in Phoenix?

“Alex Bowman, Chase Elliott and William Byron.”

Do you feel like NASCAR needs to change anything with the playoff points system as it is right now for future years?

“I mean, I don’t know. We could easily answer that question, but I just don’t know that they would ever change it like to what we would feel would be more fair, as far as what decides the champion. Like I don’t think that any of us think that you should just go to one track and decide the champion. I think it should be spread across probably three different styles and disciplines of race tracks. But in November, or late October, that’s tough to do. So it would drastically have to change the schedule, I think, to guarantee that we aren’t going to run into any weather or that sort of stuff.”

NASCAR has done that though.. they’ve made strides over the last 10 years..

“Oh for sure, I mean the schedule is a lot nicer and way more compelling. And the format, too, is really compelling, as well. It’s just probably not the fairest, you know when it comes down to the final race.”

How do you feel about this first round?

“Yeah, I don’t love seeing Atlanta (Motor Speedway) in the playoffs at all. And even Watkins Glen (International) for that matter, just because – yes, I like those tracks, but they’re just sketchy places. But if they’re going to be in the playoffs, I would rather them be in the first round than the second or third round. So yeah, I mean I think having the bonus points and playoff points that we’ve earned throughout the regular season is nice. But it still doesn’t guarantee anything. You still have to not run into any trouble, especially in back-to-back weeks, and hopefully you can just make it through.”

Winning a championship in this format, how did that in any way impact how you entered the next time you were in the playoffs in 2022? How does going through that and coming out on top impact your view on the next time you have that opportunity?

“I don’t really remember. I don’t really think it impacted my thought process on the playoffs much at all. I think I’ve always had a good approach to the playoffs; just taking it week-by-week and trying not to put yourself in too big of a hole. But in 2022, I crashed at the ROVAL towards the tail end of the race and missed out in advancing to the next round in the driver’s points. But we made it in the owner’s points, and then went on to the Championship Four that year with the owners. So yeah, I don’t really think it’s changed much, even after winning the championship.”

Do you go into this thinking that it’s going to be a certain couple of guys that you’re going to have to beat, or do you really kind of just focus on yourself?

“Yeah, I mean you definitely have your favorites and guys that are really fast every week. But it’s NASCAR and Next Gen racing, so it’s always crazy. There’s always a couple of heavy guys that get knocked out somewhat early that could very well be deserving champions. So yeah, it’s hard to predict who’s going to be in the Championship Four. But yeah, there’s definitely some good teams that have the best shot currently. But like I said, a lot of stuff can happen. There’s always usually a team or two that turns things up a lot in the playoffs; executes really well and makes it pretty far. Maybe not to the Championship Four every year, but can make it really far.”

You mentioned Watkins Glen could be sketchy, but Hendrick Motorsports has dominated there. Why do you not have more confidence going in there, as good as you run?

“Because it’s a road course.. (laughs). You could totally blow a corner and fall back into the 20’s or worse and never recover from it. But yeah, we have been good there. From what I’ve heard, going back, I think our tires are going to be way softer, so the falloff is supposed to be a lot more. So I don’t think you can totally rely on results from the past either. So I don’t know.. we might not be as dominate as we’ve been there either. Yeah, it’s just a little bit of unknowns going into Watkins Glen.”

I think the No. 1 seed has gone on to win the championship four times. But if you’re saying you keep an open mind in what can happen over these 10 weeks, you don’t care about odds then?

“No.. (laughs). No, I don’t care about odds, really. Yeah, I don’t. I think, like I said – NASCAR, especially in the Next Gen era, is just crazy. There’s so much inconsistency these days that you can easily find yourself in trouble. It doesn’t matter if you have a 35 or 40 point buffer to the cutline currently.”

Back at Pocono, you said that Tyler (Reddick) is a guy that, when you look at the points, you said he was the one that surprised you and said he could be the one that could steal this thing. And then there he was, one point over you on Sunday. It has to kind of make you chuckle a little bit..

“Yeah, I mean it doesn’t make me chuckle at all (laughs). But yeah, no – they were like quietly really good. And then once he strung together like three or whatever seconds, it seemed like, in a row, you’re like – OK, it’s not that quiet anymore.

And then yeah, he’s just done a really good job, as well as that team. It’s been amazing to see a team that fresh and new be at the top of the sport. They’ve done a great job.

So yeah, I wasn’t surprised, by any means. Like I said, he was just quietly doing really good there for a minute. And then yeah, I was like – oh wow, he’s right there. And then we all still continued to be inconsistent after that; Denny (Hamlin), myself and even Chase (Elliott) had a couple rough races.”

Looking back at 2021, when you won half of the playoff races, is that still possible with this car in the current state of tracks?

“I hadn’t really thought about that, but yeah, it’s been done before twice. So yeah, it could totally be done again. But yeah, it’s really tough. You’ve seen guys win back-to-back races; three out of five or something like that. So yeah, it could for sure be done, it’s just tougher it seems like these days.”

Is there a particular strength for this team in the playoffs or are you confident that you guys can be good and get the job done anywhere you need to go over the next 10 weeks?

“Yeah, I think our strengths are our speed. We’re really fast, I feel like, at every race track; road courses, superspeedways, all that. Our execution is – I know it might not seem like it at times, but I think our execution is great. And I think we’ve also overcome a lot of adversity at times, so I think we’re well-rounded as a team. We’ve gone to the final four the last three years, so I think that gives us a lot of confidence, as well.”

Daytona seems like it was one of your best superspeedway races in a long time. Having that speed and execution, does that give you any more confidence heading into Atlanta and Talladega?

“Honestly, I feel like I do have a lot of confidence every time I go to a superspeedway these days because, although it might be easy to forget and Daytona is the most recent race, it’s easy to remember how strong we were. We were that strong at every superspeedway race. We are up front at the ends of the races almost every time and just get caught up in something. Yeah, it has to work out eventually.

I think Denny (Hamlin) said on his podcast or something this week; the law of averages have to change eventually. So that’s kind of how I feel. I feel like we do an amazing job of executing a great superspeedway race, from start to finish.

And yeah, I would agree that Daytona was probably our best one, to date. But like I said, we’ve been up front at almost all of the superspeedway races since I’ve been at Hendrick Motorsports.”

Now that you’re here in the playoffs, where do you put your odds at making the Championship Four? What are the trouble spots along the way to get to that goal?

“I don’t know what our odds would be, but I feel strongly that we can have a great playoffs. I would hope that we’d make the Championship Four. It just gets tougher and tougher each round. But there’s good tracks for us in the first round, too. There’s obviously tracks in each round that are a little bit more worrisome than others, but I think we’re strong at every track. As long as we can execute at a high level, I think we’ll be OK.”

Have you made a decision on Indy yet?

“Have I made a decision?”

Or is it Rick’s (Hendrick) decision?

“I would love to. We’re still working on it.. it’s progressing. So I like that, but obviously things can always change. But yeah, I would love to because I didn’t get to do ‘the double’ this year. So that’s really why I wanted to do it. I obviously wanted to compete in the Indianapolis 500, but more than anything, I wanted to do ‘the double’ and have a chance at winning one of the two, or both, and I felt like I just didn’t get that opportunity.”

Is there more pressure to win the championship with it being Hendrick Motorsports’ 40th anniversary?

“I don’t view it as pressure. I just view it as opportunity. Right now, we have 10 more opportunities to win a race, and then also a championship, which would be great in Rick’s (Hendrick) 40th season. Yeah, just have to try and execute, and hopefully we’ll give ourselves an opportunity to do that.”

With the way your regular season as gone, if you don’t make the Championship Four, do you view your season as a bad season for you?

“I don’t know.. I try not to think about missing the Championship Four. Right now, our plan is to do a good job, and then give ourselves an opportunity at Phoenix. If we happen to miss the Championship Four, then I can try and judge if it’s a bad season or not. But we’ve already got four wins at this point, so I wouldn’t call that a bad season.”

 

About Chevrolet

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Harrison Burton and the No. 21 DEX Imaging team kick off their 2024 Playoff run this weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Sunday’s Quaker State 400 is the opening race of the Round of 16, and Burton, who will be making his 100th career Cup start, enters the event 14th in points thanks to his win in the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway.

The three races in the opening Playoff round are at AMS, followed by Watkins Glen and Bristol Motor Speedway after which the bottom four drivers in the standings will be eliminated from championship contention.

Jeremy Bullins, crew chief of the No. 21 DEX Imaging Mustang Dark Horse, said he’s optimistic about his team’s chances heading into the opening round of the 10-race, season-ending, championship-deciding Playoffs.

“Making the Playoffs is always a team’s goal every season, and fortunately for us our win at Daytona has given us that opportunity,” Bullins said. “Now that the points reset, we feel like we are right back in the mix and have a chance to redeem ourselves from the regular season.

“This first round of tracks should be good for us as we had speed at both Atlanta and Bristol, and Watkins Glen will be a new challenge for everyone with the planned tire change.

“We believe we can go to Atlanta with our DEX Mustang and contend for Stage points and hopefully put ourselves in position for a win at the end.”

Sunday’s race will be Burton’s sixth at AMS in a Cup car, and he has two finishes of 11th or better there.

There will be no practice prior to Sunday’s race, per NASCAR rules for races at drafting tracks, and qualifying is set for Saturday at 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time.

Sunday’s 260-lap, 400-mile race is scheduled to start just after 3 p.m., with Stage breaks at Laps 60 and 160.

USA Network will carry the TV coverage this weekend.

About DEX Imaging
DEX Imaging is the digital document imaging division of Staples, the world’s largest business solutions provider. DEX sells and services the broadest selection of copiers, printers and data management solutions, such as HP, Konica Minolta, Canon, Kyocera and numerous others.

COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES:
Reducing Operating Costs
Reducing Paper Consumption
Increasing Productivity

DEX Imaging has been the recipient of virtually every industry award since the company’s inception, including the JD Power & Associates Award for Best Customer Experience, the prestigious ProTech Service award by Konica Minolta, the Diamond Premier Dealer Award by Kyocera, and the Elite DEALER Award by ‘ENX’ magazine. Other accolades include being named ‘Best Place to Work’ by numerous business journals in the markets DEX serves.

Wood Brothers Racing
Wood Brothers Racing was formed in 1950 in Stuart, Va., by Hall of Famer Glenn Wood. Wood Brothers Racing is the oldest active team and one of the winningest teams in NASCAR history. Since its founding, the team won 99 races (including at least one race in every decade for the last seven decades) and 120 poles in NASCAR’s top-tier series. Fielding only Ford products for its entire history, the Wood Brothers own the longest association of any motorsports team with a single manufacturer. Glenn’s brother, Leonard, is known for inventing the modern pit stop. The team currently runs the Ford Mustang driven by Harrison Burton in the famous No. 21 racer.