4th, Joe Nemechek 9th, Casey Mears 13th, Jeff Fuller 16th, Kasey Kahne 17th, Denny Hamlin 18th, Martin Truex Jr. 20th, Michael Waltrip 21st, David Reutimann 25th, Joey Logano 29th, Scott Speed 32nd, Kyle Busch 35th, Marcos Ambrose 42nd, Robby Gordon DNQ, Landon Cassill DNQ, Johnny Sauter
JOE NEMECHEK Starting Position: 4th How was your qualifying lap? “I think we did four qualifying runs and strictly worked on that. I’m proud of the whole team. We take a lot of pride in our speedway stuff and normally run really well when we come to the restrictor-plate tracks. Our engines come from Triad – have to give those guys all the credit because what’s underneath that hood is mainly how fast you go. John Dysinger (head engine builder, Triad Racing Technologies) and all those guys work really hard. We’re going to run the whole race and hopefully we can be around at the end and we can make a difference.”
CASEY MEARS Starting Position: 9th
JEFF FULLER Starting Position: 13th
KASEY KAHNE Starting Position: 16th How did your can handle in qualifying? “It was good – it felt really good. The car just felt like it cut through the air pretty good. I was happy. It was smooth and we will have a good starting spot for Sunday. The car felt real good in the draft. We had a little issue with a little shake or vibration, but I think we got that figured out and fixed in final practice. Myself and Scott (Speed) were doing some drafting together just to make sure both of our cars were fixed as far as the vibrations went. Mine was smooth and his was smooth so it should be a good day for Red Bull.”
DENNY HAMLIN Starting Position: 17th How was your qualifying lap? “It was good. Everything was smooth. That was one of the better qualifying efforts we’ve had at this race track thus far. Pretty happy about what we’ve got.” What were your thoughts on the team meeting you had yesterday? “I think it was important that we get everyone together, especially to realize that Toyota has been a big part of NASCAR racing for the last 10 years. Everyone has spent a lot of time, money and effort over the last 10 years trying to get to this point to where Toyota has an opportunity to win a championship. It was important that everyone get on the same page as far as that’s concerned. I think not just us, but everyone in the Toyota camp to ensure that we don’t do anything stupid and take each other out.” Do you feel like other Toyota teams are willing to help Joe Gibbs Racing with the championship? “I think so. I think that was a big topic. No matter what – we’re extended family. If one of our teams – the 18 (Kyle Busch) or 11 can win a championship, it will benefit Michael Waltrip Racing and the financial parts. Toyota has a plan to be in this sport for 100 years and so we’re just breaking the ice for hopefully what their potential is. I definitely feel like I’ve had the support of the MWR (Michael Waltrip Racing) guys and the Red Bull guys. Everyone has raced me extremely clean and given me a lot these last few Chase races. I think everyone gets the grand scheme of things.”
MARTIN TRUEX JR Starting Position: 18th Do you enjoy racing at Talladega? “You never know what to expect here. Our car showed a lot more speed than we did here last time. I was real happy with it yesterday in practice. That was a good lap for us compared to where we were in Daytona and here in the spring – speed wise.”
MICHAEL WALTRIP, No. 55 Aaron’s 55th Anniversary Toyota Camry, PRISM Motorsports Starting Position: 20th Are you pleased with your qualifying effort? “This was a great effort to get this car prepared. We don’t run very often so to have a group of guys that can throw together a car that can qualify top-20 and be ready to go racing. There’s no tricks – no belts or hoses off – just straight up ready to race. I love Talladega – it’s a place that I’ve had success at before and I feel like I know how to do it as much as anybody. I feel like I have a car here that I can win in. Obviously that makes you feel pretty good.”
DAVID REUTIMANN, No. 00 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing Starting Position: 21st
JOEY LOGANO, No. 20 Home Depot Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing Starting Position: 25th How did you feel about your car in qualifying? “I think we’re okay. I think we’re not too bad. The car drives pretty decent – drafting, sucking up and all that seem to be pretty close. I feel like we’re not as good as the last time we were here. Maybe we’ll be better tomorrow. I know we made some changes last night. I don’t think we expected to go out there and be really fast. We will take that lap and get going tomorrow.”
SCOTT SPEED, No. 82 Red Bull Toyota Camry, Red Bull Racing Team Starting Position: 29th How was your qualifying lap? “It was pretty good. Whenever you’re fast here in qualifying at Talladega, it’s just kind of a bonus. I don’t think anyone really works too hard at it. It’s one of those things where you go out and qualify and just see what you’ve got. I’m not going to complain as long as we have a reasonable starting spot.”
KYLE BUSCH, No. 18 M&M’s Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing Starting Position: 32nd How did you feel about your car in qualifying? “Thought we had a lot more than that in our M&M’s Camry, but evidently not. Real disappointed in that, but no different than any other effort at a restrictor-plate track – always disappointed.”
MARCOS AMBROSE, No. 47 Kleenex/Clorox Toyota Camry, JTG-Daugherty Racing Starting Position: 35th How did your car handle on your qualifying lap? “Smooth – my grandmother could have done it. It’s a great track in the race, but qualifying, it’s just about technology really. It’s about getting the least amount of drag in the car and getting the most horsepower to the ground. We’ve got a good piece and I’m excited about the developments that Toyota and TRD have done here. Our plate program has gotten substantially better here over the last 12 months. Large part because we have a lot more power coming out of the Toyota engines and we’re really working with the tools we’ve got to make our bodies better too.” Do you enjoy racing at Talladega? “It’s such a wide race track and yet you get out there on lap one of the race and it’s as narrow as anything because you’re running four or five wide the whole day. It’s a great track. One of those races that you just love to get through and you enjoy it when it’s all over with. At the time it’s a little daunting. I’ve been practicing holding my breath in the swimming pool. I’ve made it to about 55 seconds so I am going to have to breathe sometime during the race.”
ROBBY GORDON, No. 7 Speed Toyota Camry, Robby Gordon Motorsports Starting Position: 42nd
LANDON CASSILL, No. 64 Little Joe’s Auto Toyota Camry, Gunselman Motorsports Starting Position: DNQ
JOHNNY SAUTER, No. 66 Toyota Camry, PRISM Motorsports Starting Position: DNQ
