dodge cup quotes from watkins glen

Sunday, Aug. 15, 2004
Watkins Glen International.
Sirius at The Glen.
 

CASEY MEARS (No. 41 Target Dodge) - Finished Fourth, Career Best, 16th
in standings, 204 points out of 10th

"I ran out of fuel coming out of turn three and Mark Martin got by me. I
started wiggling it and got crossed the start-finish line. I'm just real
proud of (crew chief) Jimmy Elledge and the Target Dodge team today.
They got us a top-five finish today. I think experience has been the
difference for this team. We've adapted to things since the beginning of
the year. We had a great car today.

 

"It would have been nice to have another caution, but we didn't. I cut
the motor off a couple of times trying to save fuel under caution. We
almost saved enough to make it home. I've always liked road racing. I
grew up road racing. This car is totally different than anything I've
ever driven on a road course before. I really like Watkins Glen. I've
got a lot to learn at Sonoma.

 

"Jimmy Elledge really did a good job today. That's what got us the top
five. We thought we had a shot to win. We had a couple of close calls.
The 8 car spun me out once and I did a complete 360 and stood on the gas
and keep going. He didn't mean to get into me, but it was a great day.

 

"I think if we can put together a streak of top fives and maybe a win at
Michigan, we've still got a shot at the top 10. It felt great running up
front today. That's my first top-five finish and my best Cup finish, so
we're just going to keep working hard and do the best we can and see
where we end up."

 

JEREMY MAYFIELD (No. 19 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge) - Finished Seventh,
moved to 10th in standings, 58 points out of ninth

"We were real good all day. We had different pit strategies going on.
Everybody was doing a good job. We really had a good car. We really
didn't change anything. We made good calls in the pits, we stayed on the
track and didn't wreck and we had real good pit strategy. We were
worried about New Hampshire, Indy and here. We didn't run good at Indy,
but we went back there last week and ran good. We ran decent at New
Hampshire and here. That's what we've got to do to stay in the top 10.
We're 10th now, and we've got to maintain that. We're not going to look
behind us. We're just going to look ahead. I think we can get up to
sixth, but we're just going to keep doing what we're doing and not worry
about spots."

 

STERLING MARLIN (No. 40 Coors Light Dodge) - Finished 36th

"Biffle drove in there like an idiot and turned us around. It hurt the
lower control arm and mounts and steering box and it sheered off some
stuff. I was helping the guys work on it to try to get back out. I
didn't have anything else to do"

 

 

KASEY KAHNE (No. 9 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge) - Finished 14th, Stays 11th
in standings. 24 points out of 10th 

"I think 14th was an awesome run for us. We just need to keep working
and trying to get better. I think this was a real good run for us
point-wise. We came out of here with a top 15 and that was our goal.
We're going out smiling so that's a good day. It's awesome for Jeremy
(to move up to 10th) and his whole Dodge Dealers team. It's great to get
in the top 10. We're still 11th, and we're going to keep working on it.
I had lots of fun today, and I learned a lot out there."

 

RYAN NEWMAN (No. 12 ALLTEL Dodge) - Finished 26th, dropped to 12th in
standings, 29 points out of 10th

"We ran out of brakes. The team did a good job to fight back, and we
stayed on the lead lap as long as we could. We just didn't have any
brakes. The 80 car checked up and the 2 didn't go because he only had
fourth gear. I had to check up with what little brakes I had, and I
still hit him. We lost a bunch of points today, but I know we can fight
back. We didn't have a good excuse for today, but we'll come back in the
next four races."