RCR Post Race Report – Bojangles’ Southern 500

“What a race! We fell behind early with a drive-through penalty for speeding on pit road during a pit stop. I guess there is an elevation change leading into our pit box but I can’t really make any excuse. It happens. I made a mistake and we dug ourselves out. Then, on a green-flag stop I overshot the pit stall a little bit. There were a lot of green flag runs tonight, which was good because our American Ethanol Chevy was good on long runs. All-in-all we just have to have a clean race at Richmond International Raceway next weekend in order to make it into the Chase for the Sprint Cup. We’ve put ourselves into position to have a shot. Whatever happens at Richmond happens there. I have confidence in this team.“

“We had a number of setbacks tonight, but to come back and finish 16th says a lot about this team. We started at the rear of the field, but passed a lot of cars on the track and in the pits. The pit crew was fast all night and gained spots every stop. I hate that I got into Kurt Busch, but we had a left rear tire go down and I just got into him. The team was able to get the No. 27 Valvoline/Menards Chevrolet repaired and kept us on the lead lap. Thanks again to Al Unser Jr. for coming out for the throwback weekend here at Darlington Raceway. To have his colors on the car this weekend was really cool.” 

“Tonight wasn’t what we wanted. We had a lot to overcome. We had a lot better car than our result and that’s hard. We were forced to drop to the back of the field at the start of the race and then got up to 16th before a caution put us two laps down during a pit sequence. Despite all that, we made it back on the lead lap to lead laps. Our Cat Chevy was fast from the get go and that’s certainly a positive. It gives us hope going into Richmond. We go there like we always do, to win. I’ve been in this situation before. We’ll go and do everything we can to win and make the transfer.”