NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
GEICO 500
TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY DRIVER PRESS CONFERENCE TRANSCRIPT
OCTOBER 18, 2014
JUSTIN ALEXANDER, CREW CHIEF, NO. 27 MOEN/MENARDS CHEVROLET SS met with media and discussed moving from his current race engineering role to the crew chief position for Paul Menard and the No. 27 Chevrolet SS team. Full Transcript:
ARE YOU EXCITED ABOUT THIS WEEKEND?
“Oh, very excited. I’ve been looking forward to this for a long time. It’s a special opportunity. I’d like to thank RCR and Menards and all for giving me this opportunity.”
IS THIS ROLE SOMETHING YOU’VE BEEN BUILDING UP FOR YOUR WHOLE LIFE OR SINCE YOU WERE A LITTLE BOY?
“Yeah, it’s something I’ve always wanted to do since I’ve been in racing and to be at this level. And now that I’m here, it’s very special, and I’m looking forward to it.”
DO YOU HAVE MUCH OF A HISTORY WITH PAUL MENARD?
“We have a good relationship. We just started working together this year; but we get along very well. We see eye to eye on a lot of things, and we’re a similar age. It’s been very good so far.”
YOU’VE GOTTEN SOME EXPERIENCE AT HENDRICK AND THEN YOU MOVED OVER TO RCR THIS YEAR. WAS THERE A TRANSITION POINT IN MOVING FROM RACE ENGINEER TO CREW CHIEF?
“It’s all the same; just different organizations. But, I learned a lot at Hendrick and that prepared me a lot for what I’m doing right now. It’s just a really good preparation. But really, the same things apply. Nothing is really that different. It’s just organizational stuff.”
YOU’VE WORKED UNDER CREW CHIEFS FOR SEVERAL SEASONS. WHAT’S IT LIKE TO FINALLY GET TO THAT ROLE WHERE YOU CAN SAY THIS IS HOW YOU’RE GOING TO RUN THINGS?
“I’ve worked with Chad (Knaus) and Steve Letarte and I’ve learned a lot from those guys. They both have different styles in doing things. And honestly, you don’t really know until you get to this position to how you’re going to run things. But I have my own way and it’s not like anybody else’s. But I’m learning as I go a little bit and so I’m looking forward to it.”
IS THERE A BETTER OR WORSE PLACE TO MAKE YOUR START ATOP THE PIT BOX THAN AT TALLADEGA?
“No, I think this is a good place. Talladega is not too terribly intensive on the set-ups of the cars, so to speak, and changes on pit road. From that standpoint, it makes it a little bit easier. But really, anywhere, I think I’d be fine. But Talladega is a good place to start.”