NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
FOLDS OF HONOR QUIKTRIP 500
ATLANTA MOTOR SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY DRIVER PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT
FEBRUARY 26, 2016
CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 24 NAPA AUTO PARTS CHEVROLET SS, met with members of the media at Atlanta Motor Speedway and discussed the pressure of performing in front of the hometown crowd, rebounding from Daytona and many other topics. Full transcript:
THIS IS YOUR FIRST NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES RACE AT YOUR HOME TRACK. TALK ABOUT BEING HERE THIS WEEKEND AND RACING IN FRONT OF YOUR HOME CROWD.
“I’m excited, first off. We want to try and get things going and have a little better week than last week. We’re all excited about it. I know Alan (Gustafson, crew chief) and everybody has been working hard in the offseason to improve our mile-and-a-half program. I think they feel really confident in it with some things they’ve been working on. I’m excited to get out there today in practice and see how we stack up.”
ANY THOUGHTS ON THE NEWS OF STEWART-HAAS RACING SWITCHING MANUFACTURERS?
“For them, it’s a business decision, as they said. I can’t really say a lot of them because I’m not part of that organization. I’m excited to be a part of Hendrick Motorsports and part of Chevrolet. Chevy has had a long, long history with Mr. (Rick) Hendrick and Hendrick Motorsports. We’re excited about that and we’re exciting about continuing that relationship with them for a long time. So I can’t really speak for them. I have nothing to do with their deal or any of the inner workings that went on there.”
AFTER CRASHING OUT IN THE DAYTONA 500, HOW ARE YOU PLANNING TO BOUNCE BACK?
“Not wrecking on Lap 20 would be a good start. To get going this weekend and see how things are today. I’m excited, like I said. Daytona is Week One but it’s such an animal of its own and a unique race. Everybody I think realizes that Atlanta is that first week of the places you’re going to see the majority of the rest of the season. We recognize that. Daytona counts, too, so that’s disappointing to have a disappointing day last Sunday. But we’re already here at Atlanta so getting drowned in last week isn’t going to do any good. We realize that and will try to move forward. Having a good weekend would be great. We just want to do our jobs and do the best we can.”
YOU HEAR ATHLETES TALK ABOUT WHEN THEY GO TO THEIR HOMETOWNS THEY GET LOTS OF TICKET REQUESTS. HOW HAS IT BEEN FOR YOU?
“It hasn’t been too bad. I’ve gotten a couple of requests from two friends that I graduated high school with – probably two of my better friends. They’re going to try to come and bring a couple of groups with them. Other than that, I haven’t had a lot of requests personally. I’ve invited some other people and some things. But those two guys expressed interest in coming, and I’m excited to have them.”
WHAT YOUR EXPECTATIONS FOR THIS WEEKEND AS FAR AS THE RULES PACKAGE? OBVIOUSLY NO ONE IS VERY FAMILIAR WITH IT.
“I think they’re more familiar with it than you think. There have been a lot of tests over the offseason that a lot of guys have taken part in. There were some tests going on throughout last season with this package where I was part of them at Michigan and here at Atlanta, and at Homestead after the season was over. So people are more familiar with it than you think. I don’t know if it’s going to be a game-changer. I don’t think the faces of who runs good is going to change. The same groups of guys and the same teams who have run well the past couple of years will continue to run well and continue to be the ones to beat. I do hope it opens doors for better racing and being around cars a little easier. Atlanta puts on good races anyway with the way the surface is and having multiple grooves. Hopefully it takes a race that’s always been good and makes it a little better. I’ve only raced it once at Darlington last year, and unfortunately I wasn’t part of that race for a long time either. This will be a good judge for me to see how it stacks up. Plus I don’t have a ton of experience with the old package either. For me, it’s going to be all be new and it’s still part of a learning curve where I hadn’t gotten used to the old deal yet.”
NOW THAT SPEEDWEEKS IS OVER, WHAT WAS THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING IN THE 24 LIKE?
“It was such a cool experience. It’s such a special week, and for me getting used to it– just like everybody else – was fun and a new experience. I’m excited about it. I’ve had a lot of great support from inside our team and outside our team. Jeff has been very supportive, so that’s all been great. A lot of friends and a lot of fans have been very supportive and that makes that transition a lot easier for me. So I’m very thankful for that. We’re excited to move forward and try to do the best job we can behind the wheel and go from there.”
A LOT OF ATHLETES TALK ABOUT GOING AND COMPETING IN THEIR “HOMETOWN” AND IT ADDS A LITTLE PRESSURE. DO YOU HAVE TO GUARD AGAINST THAT THIS WEEKEND, AND DO YOU FEEL ANY EXTRA PRESSURE?
“I really don’t. The way racing is for me, I want to do well here just as much as I do anywhere else. I don’t really like to put anything above anything else as far as racetracks go. I don’t pick favorites. Obviously Atlanta is a special place to me because I’ve raced Bandoleros and Legends cars here on the front straightaway. So it’s a special place but I don’t think it adds any extra pressure really. I do think it would be very cool if we could have a good run here with friends and family around. But I want to do here just as much as I want to do well anywhere else.”