Notes from TNT NASCAR Sprint Cup Summer Series – Sunday, June 8, 2014
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series from Pocono presented by the Dodge Charger
TNT will continue its NASCAR Sprint Cup Summer Series coverage on Sunday, June 15, at 1 p.m. ET with the Quicken Loans 400 from the Michigan International Speedway. TNT’s Countdown to Green served by Sonic will precede race coverage at Noon.
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Countdown to Green served by Sonic
Adam Alexander (host), Kyle Petty (analyst), Wally Dallenbach (analyst) and Larry McReynolds (analyst)
TNT Reporter Ralph Sheheen interviews No. 48 Jimmie Johnson on his approach leading to the Chase: “You have to be aggressive. This garage area is so competitive that what is working now there is no guarantee that it will work in August. You ideally hope you peak when the Chase starts but we all have to keep working hard and see where we end up.”
Sheheen interviews No. 11. Denny Hamlin on his success at Pocono: “Since the repave, we haven’t been quiet as strong but we still had some pretty solid runs. Obviously we haven’t gotten a pole since 2006, when we won the race. Hopefully this is a good sign that things are heading in the right direction for us.”
Dallenbach on Jeff Gordon: “I think the win in Kansas and some of the runs he’s had is refreshing for him. A lot of people are saying he’s going to retire because of his back. He’s having as much fun now as he had for a long time. He gets around this place pretty good.”
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TNT NASCAR Sprint Cup Racing — Nascar Sprint Cup Series from Pocono presented by the Dodge Charger
Adam Alexander (host), Wally Dallenbach (analyst), Kyle Petty (analyst), pit reporters Chris Neville, Ralph Sheheen, Marty Snider, Matt Yocum
Petty on the strategy to attack the track at Pocono: “It is incredible smooth. The last time I was here you had the rough surface. It is a very technical race track and you have to hit your marks and, from a driver’s point of view, that’s all you can do – hit your marks and do the best you can. Pit strategy will play out.”
Dallenbach on the advantage to win at Pocono: “Pocono is a horsepower race track. I think you need a lot of engine here. The Hendrick Motorsports have an edge over everyone else. I think when it comes down to the end of the race, the horsepower is going to shine.”
Petty on Pocono on the fifth lap: “Track position is so important here. It is really hard to make ground early in a race. This is not a Charlotte or a Texas, a place where you visually see someone making massive progress. Pick them off one at a time, run your lap times and get position to pass them…that’s more important at this point in the race.”
Petty on Kasey Kahne and his car not being where he wants it to be: “I felt bad for him the other day. During an interview he did during qualifying, he seemed lost. They’ve struggled and they have been lost finding speed. As they go through this race, he’s at least been able to maintain and climb to the front.”
Petty on No. 48 Jimmie Johnson and Hendrick Motorsports: “You have got to be impressed with Chad and what those guys have done on Pit Road with 48. That’s why they are a championship team.”
Petty on hitting walls at high speeds after the Kasey Kahne crash: “The first hit knocks the breath out of you. The second hit is the one that hurts…the most.”
Petty on the surprises at Pocono: “This race had a little bit of everything. Pretty good racing on the race track, six or seven strategies on pit road. No one knew what it was going to shake out to be.”
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TNT NASCAR Summer Series – Post-race Remarks
TNT reporter Marty Snider interviewed No. 88 Dale Earnhardt, Jr, winner of Nascar Sprint Cup Series from Pocono presented by the Dodge Charger:
Earnhardt on not letting Brad Keselowski get close to blow debris off his grill in the final five laps: “He knew I wasn’t going to do that. I was trying to win a race. We had temperature on our car too. Brad had a better car, I’m owning up to that, but we won the race. It goes in the books and helps us towards the Chase.”
Earnhardt on winning for the first time at Pocono: “I’ve never won here. I’ve never been here (Victory Lane). I can mark this one off.”
TNT reporter Chris Neville interviews No. 22 Brad Kewlowski on his team hitting their stride:
“We are hitting the summer stretch with a lot of momentum. I’m really proud of team. I wish I could have executed better and get the win. Dale and I were pretty equal but he just made the right move at the end.”
TNT reporter Ralph Sheheen interviews Jimmie Johnson on fighting through adversity on the track at Pocono:
“We started deep in the field and then got ourselves up towards the front. We made contact. I don’t know who it is on the 51 car but God was looking out for him today. My car pivoted around him and didn’t hit anyone. I was scared to death I was going to hurt someone. I couldn’t get it done with my Cobalt car but I’m so stoked for my teammate Dale Earnhardt, Jr., to be in Victory Lane.”
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