NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
BANK OF AMERICA 500
CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY PRACTICE NOTES AND QUOTES
OCTOBER 10, 2014

JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE’S CHEVROLET SS – MADE CONTACT WITH THE WALL IN THE FINAL MINUTES OF FINAL PRACTICE

ON WHAT HAPPENED WHEN HE SCRAPED THE WALL:
“Just ran out of race track, I was trying to get comfortable at the wall and get my car balance set-up so I could run up there. The car is really fast, especially the run prior to our last outing. We feel really good about things. The good news is it’s just a big scratch on the side of the car. The guys are going to take it down to tech and make sure that everything checks out for the second time. We set it up on the scales and nothing looks bent, so just a little drama and new paint job on the right side before the start of the race and we will have this Lowe’s Chevrolet ready to go.”

WHAT HAPPENED?
“Ran out of race track. Just got in there too hot and slipped up and scratched the right side of the car. The good news is it doesn’t look like there is any big damage. It didn’t feel like I hit hard it just kind of scratched the paint. Unfortunately a little bit of extra work for the guys, but prior to that our car has been really strong this second session. We hit on some stuff over the break and it was just feeling good. I’m much more optimistic now than I was the last two or three practice sessions. Things are good.”

WAS THAT A SIGN THEY WERE LOOSENING THE CAR UP?
“No, actually it went the other way. Actually got too tight and drove off in the corner hopeful it would turn sharp enough and I could see it coming. It wasn’t turning sharp enough when I got into the outside wall into (turn) three.”

HOW HAS THE REST OF THE NIGHT BEEN FOR YOU? WHERE DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE GOING INTO TOMORROW?
“We were awesome the last two or three runs. The car was really good. So we are very optimistic, especially now that things look okay with the car and there isn’t any suspension or chassis damage it looks like it’s just cosmetic.”

WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES OF COMING UP FROM 21ST AND HAVING TO FIGHT THROUGH TRAFFIC:
“That is why I’m hanging on the wall, got to find a different lane. If I sit there and try to run the bottom with everybody I’m going to junk and just kind of trapped. I have been working bottom, middle, top just making sure that my car has got a nice balance between all three lanes and have been able to produce lap times doing so. Trying to cover all my bases I’ve got to go forward tomorrow night.”

NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
BANK OF AMERICA 500
CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY POST QUALIFYING
OCTOBER 9, 2014

Gordon Leads Team Chevy Contingent in Charlotte Qualifying
Chevrolet SS Drivers Capture Seven of Top-12 in Final Order

CONCORD, N.C. (October 9, 2014) – Jeff Gordon led the Team Chevy contingent in qualifying for the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion will start the No. 24 Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet SS second in Saturday night’s 334-lap/501-mile race. It is the seventh front row starting position this season for Gordon, and will be the 14th time he has started on the front row at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Charlotte–Jeff Gordon →

NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
BANK OF AMERICA 500
CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY POST QUALIFYING NOTES AND QUOTES
OCTOBER 9, 2014

JEFF GORDON, NO. 24 DRIVE TO END HUNGER CHEVROLET SS – QUALIFIED 2ND
ON THE SPEEDS:
“Oh my gosh. It’s so fast; so much grip and so much commitment. Luckily our Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet had a lot of grip, too. In (Turns) 1 and 2, the last two runs, I just nailed 1 and 2. But the run before that last one, I got into (Turn) 3 a little bit too hard. Tried to get a little too aggressive through there and washed out the front. So, the guys made an adjustment and I drove in there and I just was a little bit too much. I should have been a little bit more committed because the front end finally, it cut; and I was like ‘No!’ That’s all right. That’s a great effort. Practicing here during the day and qualifying and racing at night is tough. We struggled through a few things today but I’m so proud of this team. That’s certainly a good place to start this race. Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Charlotte–Qualifying Notes →

NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
BANK OF AMERICA 500
CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY DRIVER PRESS CONFERENCE TRANSCRIPT
OCTOBER 9, 2014

KASEY KAHNE, NO. 5 PEPSI CHEVROLET SS, met with members of the media at Charlotte Motor Speedway and discussed his chances this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway, his thoughts on Danica Patrick’s progress this season and many other topics. Full Transcript:

TALK ABOUT YOUR ANNUAL 5K THAT IS THIS WEEKEND:
“10:00 AM Sunday morning we are doing the fifth annual 5K. Excited about it, it has grown each year. Last year was a great turn out with not just fans and people supporting the foundation, but also drivers and crew members here at the track showed up Sunday morning as well. It’s pretty neat you can come and enjoy yourself and have some fun. I’m looking forward to it. Hopefully it will grow a little bit from last year or even be the same that would be really nice. It was a neat event last year. Had fun and looking forward to it again on Sunday.” Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Charlotte–Kasey Kahne →

NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
BANK OF AMERICA 500
CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY DRIVER PRESS CONFERENCE TRANSCRIPT
OCTOBER 9, 2014

RYAN NEWMAN, NO. 31 CATERPILLAR CHEVROLET SS, met with members of the media today at Charlotte Motor Speedway to discuss the Chase for the Sprint Cup, thoughts on next week’s race at Talladega, the challenges of Charlotte Motor Speedway and other topics. FULL TRANSCRIPT:

YOU’VE BEEN ADAMANTLY SAYING YOU NEED AN EIGHTH-PLACE FINISH. ARE YOU STICKING TO THAT, OR DO YOU THINK YOU NEED TO WIN?
Everybody needs to win. But you do the math… there’s eight slots that are open and three races. So that means three winners potentially at most. But there will be five guys who get in on points. Consistency needs to be there. I think it’s the next bracket that will be the most challenging where wins will be most important. Then obviously there’s Homestead.” Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Charlotte–Ryan Newman →

NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
BANK OF AMERICA 500
CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY DRIVER PRESS CONFERENCE TRANSCRIPT
OCTOBER 9, 2014

DALE EARNHARDT, JR., NO. 88 DIET MOUNTAIN DEW CHEVROLET SS, met with members of the media at Charlotte Motor Speedway and discussed his outlook for this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway, his surprise birthday party and many other topics. Full Transcript:

TALK ABOUT YOUR MINDSET COMING INTO CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY, OBVIOUSLY A BIG WEEKEND FOR YOU AND THE RACE TEAM:
“I’m really excited actually. I was thrilled with how we ran last weekend. Super-fast car, this place is a bit similar. I feel like as a team – the last time we raced at Chicago was a while ago and everybody in the sport has learned a tremendous amount since that race. You can’t come into this race going ‘alright, well we ran good last time we were here, so we should be good this time.’ You kind of got to look a little shorter down the road and that was our best opportunity to really look at a track that compares is last week. I feel like we should be competitive this weekend. We obviously know what the situation is with the points and how important it is for us to come in here and win the race. I have been winless at Charlotte in a points paying race since I started my career, so it’s bound to happen sooner or later. I always win at the weirdest times in the oddest circumstances. So I feel like everything is lining up and feel real good about this weekend.” Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Charlotte– Dale Earnhardt Jr. →

NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
BANK OF AMERICA 500
CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY DRIVER PRESS CONFERENCE TRANSCRIPT
OCTOBER 9, 2014

JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE’S CHEVROLET SS, met with members of the media at Charlotte Motor Speedway and discussed racing at Charlotte, past success here, season to-date, performance in the Chase, Jeff Gordon and other topics. Full transcript:

TALK ABOUT YOUR MINDSET AS YOU HEAD INTO CHARLOTTE, A TRACK WHERE YOU HAVE HAD A TON OF SUCCESS: “We are ready to go racing. I love competing at this race track. I look forward to a great race Saturday night. The mindset is really to come in and try to take a trophy out of here. That really solves our problem in the points that we have right now. If we can’t, we still need to focus on finishing as high as we can. And, the reason that leaves a little bit of hope is that if you miss the big ones in Talladega, you could assume that some of the Chasers will be involved in one or two of those, and you might have another chance. It is a fading chance, in the position I’m in I believe, but it is still an opportunity and it is something for us to consider. We’re here to try and win the race, but if we can’t, we still need to finish well, and hope we have some luck down in Talladega.” Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Charlotte- Jimmie Johnson →

KYLE LARSON, NO. 42 TARGET CHEVROLET SS, WAS THE GUEST ON THIS WEEK’S NASCAR TELECONFERENCE.

TRANSCRIPT BELOW:

JENNIE LONG: We’re joined by Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 42 Target Chevrolet for Chip Ganassi Racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Kyle, thanks for joining us.

KYLE LARSON: Hey, no problem.

JENNIE LONG: You’ve scored three top‑three finishes in your last four starts, including a runner‑up finish last week at Kansas Speedway. With the Chase battle heating up and so many drivers hungry for wins, what’s it going to take for you to make it to victory lane before the end of the season? Continue reading Chevy Racing–Tuesday Teleconference–Kyle Larson →

NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
HOLLYWOOD CASINO 400
KANSAS SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY DRIVER PRESS CONFERENCE TRANSCRIPT
OCTOBER 5, 2014

CHEVROLET ROOKIE-OF-THE-YEAR CONTENDER KYLE LARSON FINISHES SECOND AT KANSAS
Richard Childress Racing Places All Three Cars in Top-10, Ryan Newman leads Team Chevy Chasers

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (October 5, 2014) – Chevrolet Rookie of the Year challenger, Kyle Larson, continued his impressive ways with a second-place finish at that Hollywood Casino 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Kansas Speedway, the first race in the ‘Contender’ segment in the new 2014 playoff format. The run was Larson’s eighth top-five finish of the season. The 22-year old driver of the No. 42 Target Chevrolet continues leads the Rookie of the Year battle over fellow Chevrolet competitor Austin Dillon. Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Kansas–Post Race →

NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
HOLLYWOOD CASINO 400
KANSAS SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY RACE NOTES AND QUOTES
OCTOBER 5, 2014

JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE’S CHEVROLET SS – INVOLVED IN A MULTI-CAR CRASH ON LAP 85
“We’re going to try to get the car back out on the track and run some laps and get a few points if we can, and then this just puts a premium on next weekend and the weekend after.”

DESCRIBE WHAT THIS DOES IN THE CONTENDER ROUND GOING FORWARD
‘Well, it just means we’ve got to be on our game at Charlotte and Talladega. There is still a lot of racing left. Stuff can happen. We’ll see how the other Chasers fare. If I can get taken out today, somebody else can later in this event or at Charlotte. We’ll do our best to get on track and then certainly need W’s, I would assume, going forward.” Continue reading Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Kansas–Post Race Notes →