GM Racing - Chevrolet Silverado Daytona Post Race Notes and Quotes
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES CHEVROLET SILVERADO NOTES AND QUOTES NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY POST RACE QUOTES FEBRUARY 18, 2005 JACK SPRAGUE, NO. 16 CHEVY TRUCKS CHEVROLET SILVERADO – QUALIFIED 15TH, FINISHED 13th: NOTE: Sprague was involved in a lap 97 multi-truck incident while running in the lead pack. “Man, I tell ya, that was the smartest race we have ever run. We just rode around in our Chevy Trucks Silverado all night in the back with a group of trucks I knew we could draft well with when it was time to go to the front. We were all set to get the best finish we’ve ever had at Daytona. Chris (Showalter, crew chief) and this entire Chevy Trucks crew worked so hard and we had the best truck a driver could ask for here. Man I hate it for everyone on our team and all the people at Chevrolet that give us such great support for this program. We were headed to the front and had something for them there at the end. “We will just take this back to the shop and head for California. We aren’ t starting as far back in the points as we did last season so we have something to work with.�?? TRACY HINES, NO. 13 THORSPORT CHEVROLET SILVERADO-QUALIFIED 4TH, FINISHED 22nd: NOTE: After running near the front of the field most of the race, Hines had a tire blow with ten laps to go damaging the front end beyond repair. “Our ThorSport Silverado was awesome tonight. We have been good all week. We were running smart, staying in sight of the leaders and really felt like we were a strong contender for the win. I am so disappointed for my guys, they worked so hard. But we made a statement that this team is going to be a solid runner all season. There was just nothing I could do when the tire let go.�?? KELLY SUTTON, NO. 02 TEAM COPAXONE CHEVROLET SILVERADO-QUALIFIED 22ND, FINISHED 17th: “I am so happy about our run tonight. We ran with the lead pack all night, and clearly had a top-ten truck. Our team showed what we're capable of, and what better place to post a career best finish than at Daytona?�?? RON HORNADAY, NO. 6 GM GOODWRENCH CHEVROLET SILVERADO-QUALIFIED 28TH, FINISHED 26th: NOTE: Hornaday was involved in a multi-truck incident on lap 64. The crew made repairs and Hornaday returned to competition. ““We had a good truck. I am so disappointed. I was having such a good time racing tonight I hated the way it ended. I am so proud of the GM Goodwrench team tonight. Their hard work gained us at least five positions by getting us back on the track. That is the kind of thing that wins championships, which is our primary goal.�?? REGAN SMITH, NO. 19 XPRESS MOTORSPORTS SILVERADO – QUALIFIED 8TH, FINISHED 33rd: NOTE: Smith was involved in a multi-truck incident on lap 48 and damaged was too severe to return to competition. "We had an awesome truck. My No. 19 Silverado was so stout. We were able to run up front with the leaders without any problems. We draft really well. We lost a lap on that yellow but weren't pushing too hard to get our lap back because you are pretty sure there are going to be more cautions and we should have been able to get back on the lead lap without any problems. "There was a group of us that were in that lap down bunch but I am not sure exactly what happened but the track just got blocked with wrecking trucks and I had no where to go. So here we are in the garage. "I sure was having a great time until this happened. Doug (George, crew chief) and the guys gave me just an awesome Silverado. It was definitely the right truck tonight. We just go on to California." MATT CRAFTON, NO. 88 MENARDS SILVERADO – QUALIFIED 25TH, FINISHED 22ND: NOTE: Crafton was involved in the multi-truck incident on lap 97. “We had a strong truck tonight. Our Menards Silverado was in the lead pack there near the end and we had a serious chance to contend for the win. I don’ t know what happened exactly, I got hit and shoved across in front of the field as we were thundering for the white flag. I am disappointed for all the guys at ThorSports. Our truck has drafted good since we unloaded. “Next week we are home in California so we will have lots of friends and family to cheer us on. We will just shake this off and go for a solid run out there.�?? KERRY EARNHARDT, NO. 15 KRAFT FOODS/ALBERTSON SILVERADO – QUALIFIED 1ST, FINISHED 35TH: NOTE: Earnhardt was involved in a multi-truck accident on lap 48 and damaged beyond repair. “I had a good run going there. I was just trying to stay out of trouble up there and just stay in the lead pack, but for some reason ended up running out of gas. That put us two laps down and we got one lap back before that caution and came in and got fuel and everything. We were just trying to get our lap back and having to race harder than we wanted to at the beginning of the race. We just got the air taken off of our rear spoiler and around I went.�?? (HOW FRUSTRATING HAS THIS BEEN FOR YOU? “It’s frustrating for me, but it’s really frustrating for these guys. They worked really hard and put a lot of hours in getting these trucks together and I tore up two of them this weekend. �?? DENNIS SETZER, NO. 46 CHEVROLET SILVERADO – QUALIFIED 2ND, FINISHED 16th: NOTE: Due to an engine change following practice, Setzer will drop to the back of the field following the parade laps prior to the start of Friday night’s race. Setzer was involved in a multi-truck incident on lap 98 after running in the front of the field the majority of the race. “Tough night for you guys after a good run? "I am really disappointed, but this is what happens sometimes at Daytona. We really had a great truck tonight. I don't know how many times we drove from the back to the front, but our little Silverado was pretty strong." You guys were involved in a few mishaps including a hard hit on the last lap, what happened? "On the first deal there with the thirty truck, someone got into the back of me and I got into him. I think he backed off when I got into him and we both spun. Our Silverado was still good enough to finish well in this race after going through the grass there. (Crew Chief) Eric Phillips and I decided not to gamble and we came in and changed tires in case we picked up some debris." "On the deal there at the end, I felt that I had cleared most of the wrecked trucks, but there was a lot of smoke. I saw a truck in the middle of the track at the last minute and tried to get slowed up, but I got hit again in the back and we hit the four cars a ton. I am glad Casey (Atwood) is all right, because it was a hard hit. My truck is torn up pretty bad and I know his was too. It’s a shame because this has been a really good truck at this place over the past two years. We just haven't gotten the finishes that the truck or the team is capable of at this track." DAVID STARR, NO. 75 SPEARS MANUFACTURING CHEVROLET SILVERADO – QUALIFIED 25TH, FINISHED 8th: “My Chevrolet Silverado was the right truck tonight. Dave McCarty and the guys did a great job getting our race truck up front. We were working real hard there at the end with my teammate Dennis Setzer when it started getting crazy up front with less then ten laps to go. We wanted to hold on to the fifth place spot when the caution came out for another accident. I knew I was a sitting duck because green/white/checkers breed further cautions. With a few laps to go there was a crash right up front and I had no place to go. When the yellow was thrown I was in fifth but they have me listed as eighth. I am sure that NASCAR will review the tapes. Overall we had a great top-10 finish to start off the season right. We are looking forward to taking the Spears Manufacturing Silverado to Fontana and hopefully to Victory Lane.�??