I got into some situations last year, and I just felt in my heart that maybe I was being too aggressive. [This year] I really just stayed cautious. I didn't want to be aggressive. I didn't want to block anybody. And then at the end, [I] got really aggressive and raced for the win. |
I had no idea how hectic this week would be. It's been great, but really exhausting. |
I had trouble on restarts all day, spinning the rear tires. And Kyle was all over me. I knew I was going to have my hands full. |
I hate it for the fans and anyone else watching and listening to think that this stuff puts a black cloud over (the) No. 48 team at times. |
I have to admit, I was a little timid with it up there. I knew it was there and it was softer, but I am really trying not to bump draft. I've gotten myself into more trouble at plate tracks than I care to, so I'm just going to keep my bumper to myself. |
I hope it's us. If anybody can make it clean, they'll probably be the champion. |
I just kind of used up my stuff there at the end. |
I just really slowed down the pace of the race in my eyes from what I was doing, made sure that I made smart moves that wouldn't have hung me out of the draft. I didn't try as hard to be the guy that led the most laps, made the most aggressive moves. I worked on the handling of our race car so at the end of the race we had the best driving car. |
I just want to be a champion. I feel like I've had some really good chances that we didn't cash in on. I want to be a champion. It's my life. It's everything I've done since I was 5 or 6 years old. |
I kind of view it as jealously, and he doesn't have a crew chief in there working hard enough to make his cars as good. |
I kind of view it as jealousy, and he doesn't have a crew chief in there working hard enough to make his cars as good. This team has worked too hard to even have those kind of comments thrown at them, and I'm going to be very defensive over it. |
I knew deep down inside my heart that this team could still win. |
I knew I needed to get a good, clean start. I also knew Ryan (Newman) was going to get a run on me and when he went to the top I stayed committed to the bottom. One of my friends from the off-road ranks Casey Mears was behind me and I knew I was in good shape. |
I knew I wanted me or one of my teammates to win. We helped each other all day, and then I got a great run on the last lap to get by Brian. I don't really know where it came from. |
I knew Ryan was going to try to get a run on me. When he went up to the top [of the track], I stayed committed to the bottom and then I saw one of my friends from off-road racing, Casey Mears, behind me. And I knew at that point I was in good shape. |