Dodge Cup Qualifying from Phoenix. Newman Wins Fourth Straight Pole.

Friday, Nov. 5, 2004
Phoenix International Raceway
Checker Auto Parts 500 Qualifying.

KASEY KAHNE (No. 9 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge)

"We adjusted air pressures from practice, and we were a little bit
freer. Hopefully that will end up somewhere in the top 15. It wasn't
that great of a lap. I think the track might have slowed down a little
bit, but it was still pretty good. We backed up what we ran in practice.
It wasn't the lap we wanted, but hopefully it'll end up in the top 15."

 

JEFF GREEN (No. 43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge)

"We're pretty happy with that. We picked up three tenths. We had two
sets of tires to pick from for qualifying, and I think we picked the
right set. We had good grip, and I don't think going out early here is a
bad thing. The cloud cover probably didn't make any difference. I'm
proud of my Cheerios guys. We're getting better racing, and one of these
days we're going to be up there in the top five consistently. That's
what we're after. I think we're going to be pretty close to the front to
start on Sunday, so that's good. We're just going to try to be around at
the finish. We'll get the car handling good. Three and four are probably
the toughest corners for everybody. If you can get three and four
figured out, I think you can get through one and two and have a pretty
good race."

 

STERLING MARLIN (No. 40 Coors Light Dodge)

"We just needed a little bit more. We were pretty good in one and two,
but we were off about three tenths in three and four. We needed some
grip. We ran race runs all day in practice and thought we were in good
shape, but we just didn't pick it up for qualifying. I've sat on the
pole here and we've got some top fives and top 10s. We're ready to win
one Sunday. About everything has to be perfect to win these days. Look
at Mark Martin last week in Atlanta. He dominated the race and the way
it shook out at the end he was a sitting duck."

 

JEREMY MAYFIELD (No. 19 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge)

"It wasn't our day for qualifying I don't guess. We just haven't got
hold of the racetrack yet. It's a little slick, but we just haven't got
it going yet. I hope we know what to do to make it better. We'll soon
find out."

 

RUSTY WALLACE (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge)

"It was just a little too loose getting into turn three. Other than that
turn one was really good. Turn three just wasn't where I needed it. The
last three or four runs we made it was a little free. We put some air
pressure in the tires and put a little wedge in it to try to fix it, but
we just didn't go far enough. It was a good, solid run. I feel good
about Sunday. We'll see what happens."

 

 

 

 

 

RYAN NEWMAN (No. 12 ALLTEL/Mobil 1 Dodge) - Newman captures fourth
straight pole, third season-long pole award with ninth pole in '04.

 

"It was just a fast lap. I have no other explanation other than a lot of
hard work went into it. We've got a new paint scheme on it this week,
and evidently the paint was pretty slick because that was a pretty fast
lap (track record). I've never been to victory lane here, but we always
run well here. We enjoy being back. It's a nice racetrack, a lot of good
fans out here, and we enjoy it. My opinion on racing twice at the same
track is that we shouldn't do it, but it's not a bad track to come to
twice. I wish we'd race once at every racetrack. I had a great lap. I'm
standing here hoping nobody beats it.

 

"I was a little worried about Harvick and Nemechek, but we just did the
best we could and that's all you can do. For sure it's going to be a top
five run. This track is not tricky. There are some places on the track
you can hit and you might move around a little bit. One and two are
obviously different than three and four. We'll have to adapt the same
patters we had in qualifying setup for the race.

 

"The car was pretty close to perfect today. The guys have done an
awesome job. If it holds up and we get four in a row, that's a feather
in my cap. It's nice to be out here in Phoenix. We didn't come out here
to test. We came out here to test once before and struggled all weekend.
It seems like we quit testing out here and started running better.

 

"We've got the Bud Pole Award locked up today, and that's something I'm
very proud of. I know the team is proud of it too. It's spectacular to
win four poles in a row. The next thing after that is five I guess. We
can finish up with 11 poles again if we do it right. We can improve on
that. We had a rocket at the second Loudon race and we got rained out.
People can say the same thing, but we've had some cars capable of
getting the pole. We had three seconds in a row back in May. We've been
close, and we know we can do better. We'll continue to strive to do
that.

 

"I like qualifying. It's me against the racetrack. It's the only
opportunity I have all weekend to compete against what I'm racing with
and that's the racetrack. To go out there and just be me in the clean
air, that's something I enjoy. I enjoy racing against other cars, but
you can focus more on what's going on when you're the only car on the
track.

 

"We've always found that qualifying helps with the attitude on Thursday
and Friday if you do well. It helps the entire weekend to start off on
the right foot. You get a good pit selection and five bonus points if
you can lead a lap. I've always liked to be No. 1 no matter what I do."

 

 

 

 

 

JAMIE McMURRAY (No. 42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge)

"We made a lot of adjustments before qualifying and just didn't go far
enough. It was a good lap for us. We had more in the car, but it was
just a little bit too free. We couldn't hustle it like we needed to.
We'll take it and get ready to race.

 

CASEY MEARS (No. 41 Target Dodge)

"We picked up about a tenth and a half from practice. I really wanted to
run a .90. That was my goal going into qualifying. We've got a good,
sold car. We ran some race trim stuff in the morning. I felt like the
car was real strong. I've still got a lot to learn here. Jamie did a
real good job coming here and testing. We basically put his setup on and
the car was running real good.

 

"Ryan Newman is fast, but it never looks like he's out of control at
all. He does an excellent job. He's by far the best qualifier in here. I
know I'm driving as hard as I can and my car is running all over the
place and I end up seventh. His car never looks like it bobbles or
moves, and he does an excellent job. There's definitely a technique for
being a good qualifier, and Ryan's got it handled. It's not like he just
qualifies well on the big tracks. He goes to Martinsville and wins the
pole, too. He's well-rounded as far as that goes. He's got everybody
covered when it comes to qualifying. You've got to have a special
mindset for qualifying. You've got to think your car is better than it
is and go out there and hope it sticks and make something happen."

 

RYAN NEWMAN (No. 12 ALLTEL/Mobil 1 Dodge) - Pole winner

"In the grand scheme of things, not really (not winning from the pole in
2004). We won from the pole last year at Dover and once or twice, but we
can prove it happens. The fact I believe my first win at Loudon was from
the pole. You win some, you lose some. Whether it's on Friday or Sunday,
it's just stats. It's not necessarily disappointing. We wish we could
have capitalized on having the fastest racecar.

 

"I don't ever not want to get along with anybody. In saying that, I'm
not happy sitting here under the circumstances we've had this year. We
haven't taken the time to discuss and we're going to ride things out and
see what happens. That's the smooth part of it. I've always said this is
one of the toughest if not the toughest team sport there is. Your
teammates are also you competitors versus football or basketball where
your teammates are someone who can assist you in scoring points. That
happens in Nextel Cup also, but not in the way we like it to.

 

"I don't think there's a specific weakness or weaknesses. I think some
of it is just variables. We've had some bad luck. Looking back at
Charlotte when these last four 

 

 

 

 

poles started, the first of the poles we had a car capable of winning
and got caught up in a wreck with Brendan and Jimmy Spencer, me and Mark
Martin did. That was the first race. The second race we were running
third and got beat out of the way for second and had the deal with Rusty
at Martinsville. At Atlanta, we struggled with the balance a little bit
and had to come in with a tire that was out of balance. Outside
variables that you can't eliminate. Hopefully we don't run into those
things this time.

 

"We know nobody is going to finish two minutes ahead of the closest
competitor provided the track doesn't fall apart or something. A lot of
it is just variables in respect to that. As far as the competition goes
with poles and stuff and things like that, talking about the eight wins
and 11 poles last year, there's no coincidence with that. It's just hard
work and the way the timing of events. Sometimes you're on and sometimes
you're not. The last four Fridays we've been on.

 

"Yes, we're definitely in The Chase. As long as we have a mathematical
chance, consider us in. Is it a longshot? I wouldn't say it's a
longshot, but we're not out of it. I won't say we're in it, but we still
have a chance and that's all I ask for.

 

"I need to work out and watch my diet. Just getting great equipment and
tuning everything around the new rules as far as the spoiler. Nothing
any different or spectacular compared to what we've done in the past.
Just applying the right ideas to the right situations, whether it's pit
stops, the new body styles, the new engine package and gear rule, just
getting everything where it matches up right so we can have performances
like we did today."