NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
SPRINT UNLIMITED
DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY DRIVER QUALIFYING NOTES & QUOTES
FEBRUARY 14, 2016
CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 24 NAPA AUTO PARTS CHEVROLET SS – DAYTONA 500 POLE WINNER
“This is a very, very cool day. I don’t know that this opportunity has sunk in yet, much less sitting on the pole for the Daytona 500. So this is very cool. I think the big thing is just the team and the Daytona 500 qualifying is about the team guys and the effort they put into these cars and it’s nothing special I did, it’s really what kind of work they did this off-season to make it happen. Jeff (Gordon) knows all about that and I just wanted to give a big thanks to NAPA Auto Parts and all of our partners at HMS on this No. 24 car. This is very special and a great way to start the season.”
HEY CHASE, THIS IS JEFF GORDON. WELCOME TO THE 2016 SPRINT CUP SERIES AND THE DAYTONA 500. WHAT AN INCREDIBLE WAY TO GET IT ALL STARTED. I KNOW YOU’RE GOING TO GIVE A LOT OF CREDIT TO THE TEAM FOR TODAY. FOR FROM HERE ON OUT, THE DRIVER IS GOING TO PLAY A HUGE ROLE. HOW DO YOU GET PREPARED TO TAKE THIS MOMENTUM INTO THE DUELS ON THURSDAY AND INTO THE DAYTONA 500? HOW DO YOU BECOME THE YOUNGEST DAYTONA 500 WINNER IN HISTORY?
“Well, I think you know how special this group of guys is and they do such a good job at all their jobs, and I’m very fortunate to have the kind of group we do. But, yeah, I think fro here, it started last night in paying attention to that Sprint Unlimited and I was watching to see what went on there and trying to learn a couple of things. I was able to watch from the Spotters’ Stand, so I think that was a good thing I had a chance to go do and just kind of watch from up there and kind of get an idea of what (spotter) Eddie (Dhondt) is going to be looking at when he’s making calls over the radio. I think from here is to just try to understand the draft a little bit more. The Duels I think will be a big eye-opener for me to try and learn this Cup-side a little bit on the drafting and hopefully we can go from there.”
HEY CHASE, THIS IS DW. YOU’VE GOT TO TAKE IT EASY DOWN THERE. I DON’T KNOW WHO WAS MORE NERVOUS, JEFF GORDON OR YOU! HE SAID YOU WERE GOING TO WIN THE POLE AND AFTER THAT FIRST RUN, HE WAS GETTING A LITTLE NERVOUS. BUT YOU CAME THROUGH FOR HIM. GREAT JOB BY YOU AND THE TEAM. I KNOW THAT YOU’RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE DAYTONA 500. WHAT A GREAT HONOR TO START FROM THE POLE.
“It is. And I’m just so thankful for this opportunity. Opportunities like this don’t come twice and I certainly want to make the most of this. It’s very special and a very cool way to start our 2016 season with HMS and the No. 24 car and like I said, I’m just very honored and blessed to be with the group of guys that we have. I think it’s a special group. This entire team did such a good job on this car during this off-season. We certainly would like to have it to race on Sunday. It’s awfully fast. So, hopefully we can get through those Duels and be smart.”