TEAM REPORTS (DAYTONA, FLA.) - TOYOTA/NCTS POST-RACE NOTES

TODD BODINE, No. 30 Lumber Liquidators Toyota Tundra, Germain Racing Finished: 1st

How big of a relief is it to finally make it to Victory Lane at Daytona?

"This is my 20th year coming to this speedway. I came here for three years as a crew member, and 17 years as a driver. I've finished second and third. I've crashed hard and burned a couple times. Finally, after 17 years driving here, we're finally here (in victory lane)."

How does it feel to win at a track so special to your family?

This is incredible. I had my first seven birthdays over in turn three. This has been a huge part of my family. To finally get here (victory lane) is unbelievable. I owe it to this team. The Lumber Liquidators team is great. This Toyota Tundra was a fantastic 'piece.' This is the same truck that sat on the pole and won the race at Talladega -- it won the race here. I can't say enough about the team on how they put together this truck."

Were you worried that Kyle Busch would get by you at the end with fresher tires?

"I was worried because we were really loose. I was fighting it pretty hard the last few laps. Kyle (Busch) is known for driving hard. Kyle and I have become pretty good friends. I knew he wasn't going to turn me. If he couldn't get a run to the outside and have Johnny (Benson) go with him, I knew I was going to be okay. It turned out great." KYLE BUSCH, No. 51 NOS Energy Drink Toyota Tundra, Billy Ballew Motorsports Finished: 2nd Did you have a chance to catch Todd Bodine tonight? “It was pretty cool. It was a lot of fun out there. We wished we would have been able to win the thing but I let Todd (Bodine) get out a little bit too far through turns three and four -- I was trying to slow down and let him get out. Then I wanted to build up a run and get back on his inside or outside -- I didn’t care where I was going to go. Johnny (Benson) was pushing me there for a second and then he pulled out to try and get second-place. Luckily, we were still able to capitalize on that. Overall, it was a good run. We’ll take it. We’re going to run for points this year, so that’s all we need.”

KYLE BUSCH, No. 51 NOS Energy Drink Toyota Tundra, Billy Ballew Motorsports Finished:2nd

Did you have a chance to catch Todd Bodine tonight?

“It was pretty cool. It was a lot of fun out there. We wished we would have been able to win the thing but I let Todd (Bodine) get out a little bit too far through turns three and four -- I was trying to slow down and let him get out. Then I wanted to build up a run and get back on his inside or outside -- I didn’t care where I was going to go. Johnny (Benson) was pushing me there for a second and then he pulled out to try and get second-place. Luckily, we were still able to capitalize on that. Overall, it was a good run. We’ll take it. We’re going to run for points this year, so that’s all we need.”

What happened about halfway through the race when you lost several positions?

“I just got real, real tight off turn two. I lost the bottom line and those guys were right there. They took advantage of that and got by me. I just had to fall back and bide my time and let everybody go and then fall back in when I could -- and that was at the end of the line. No big deal -- no harm, no foul.”

What happened between you and Mike Skinner?

“I was running the top side and bouncing all over the place on these springs here. I tried turning down the race track just a little bit to try to get underneath the 8 (Chad McCumbee) truck and when I did my front end really bit and turned down the track. If I turned right I probably would have spun myself out or wrecked the 8 (Chad McCumbee), and I didn’t know if anyone was still on my inside. I was kind of clear, but I wasn’t quite exactly sure. Unfortunately, Mike (Skinner) was there and it caused a big pile-up and I apologize for that to those guys and everybody else whose season got hurt here in Daytona.”

JOHNNY BENSON, No. 23 Toyota Certified Used Vehicles Tundra, Bill Davis Racing Finished:3rd

How was your truck tonight?

“Trip (Bruce, crew chief) and all the guys did a tremendous job on my Toyota. We didn’t get it perfect because it was a little too tight. All in all, I’m not going to complain about this day. We missed a couple of big wrecks. Our spotter did a tremendous job getting us through.”

Did you think you had a truck to win?

“I was kind of hoping it was going to be today. I saw Kyle (Busch) had his problem coming off of (turn) four there and I knew he wanted to get that little bit of run. He was looking to see where I was and I tried to get on the outside. He came up pretty quick. Then I didn’t have enough to do anything with it. If you had told me we would come out of this race with a top-five finish I’d be the happiest guy in the world -- so I’m pretty proud of that.”

TED MUSGRAVE, No. 59 Team ASE/Harris Trucking Toyota Tundra, HT Motorsports Finished:28th

What happened that took you out of tonight’s race?

“Give and take -- there was a lot of giving and everybody was just taking advantage of everybody out there. I was just trying to ride it out. I had my Toyota running decent and I was just trying to bide my time up there. It was the wrong place at the wrong time. All of the sudden everything gets smoky and there’s fire. I had a few opportunities to make progress. I was just trying to give everyone a break. I never have seen so many trucks out of control, too. Maybe the rules package or the tires need to be changed on the trucks.”

MIKE SKINNER, No. 5 Toyota Tundra, Bill Davis Racing Finished:29th

What took you out of tonight’s race?

“I was just riding along. Our Tundra was awfully strong. Us and the No. 99 (Erik Darnell) were just clicking along -- and I don’t know what happened on his pit stop, he kind of got messed up in the pits. I was just riding along and I guess somebody got a little anxious or something -- I don’t really know. I haven’t looked at the replay. Everything was just fine and next thing you know I was spinning.” “I guess some people were just getting anxious and ping-ponging around there. I was just riding along there. Our truck was awfully strong. My spotter was giving me good information. A couple of them were ricocheting off of us over there and I really don’t know exactly what happened. Next thing you know I was spun -- and sliding and slipping. I think it was a little early for all that -- maybe with five or six laps to go you take those kind of chances. It is what it is.”

How do you feel about what happened?

“I’m angry inside. We had a great truck that could beat this field today and win this race. Here we are with our nice Tundra wadded up in a ball over there because somebody wanted to be an idiot. It’s a tough day, but we’ll rebound and go to California and have a good day in California. We had a lot of luck last year in our No. 5 and Daytona is just one of 25 races.”

Do you know who hit you?

“I don’t think Brendan (Gaughan) hit us. I never felt Brendan (Gaughan) hit us. I just felt the 51 (Kyle Busch) hit us. It was kind of a tough deal. It was awful early in the race to be making those moves all over the race track with 19 laps on the board.”