NASCAR Cup

Toyota quotes, notes 2009-04-16

Joe Gibbs Racing Trio Likes Phoenix Papis Auctions Helmet for Earthquake Victims NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) NEWS, NOTES NUMBERS: Toyota Camry drivers have combined for two wins (Kyle Busch -- Las Vegas and Bristol), seven top- fives and ...

Published: Jun 19, 2009, 7:50 PM

Copy link

Share on Viber

Add as a preferred source

Joe Gibbs Racing Trio Likes Phoenix
Papis Auctions Helmet for Earthquake Victims

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS)

NEWS, NOTES

NUMBERS: Toyota Camry drivers have combined for two wins (Kyle Busch -- Las Vegas and Bristol), seven top- fives and 12 top-10 finishes through seven 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) races ... In addition, Camry drivers have led 883 laps and earned three poles ... Red Bull Racing Team's Brett Nenaber (catch-can, No. 83 Red Bull Camry) is a 2007 Arizona State University graduate and played safety on the Sun Devils football team ... The No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Camry will forgo its familiar FedEx colors this weekend as it sports a March of Dimes paint scheme ... Several Toyota NSCS drivers will visit the Toyota Arizona Proving Grounds in Wittmann, Ariz., on Thursday.

DENNY HAMLIN, No. 11 FedEx/March of Dimes Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing

What are your thoughts on racing at Phoenix? "I look forward to Phoenix. It's one of my favorite race tracks to go to. Obviously, it has a great atmosphere outside the race track, but it reminds me of old South Boston (Va.) Speedway that I used to race at for years and I think that's why I run well there. Phoenix is tough because the two corners are totally different. It seems like turns three and four are so much more sweeping than flat that it's hard to get a balance between there and turns one and two because one and two are so short. But, Phoenix has been good because it's starting to widen out and become a multi-groove race track which is good for us because it seems like the flatter the race track, the harder it is to pass."

KYLE BUSCH, No. 18 MM's Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing

What does it take to be successful at Phoenix? "Phoenix is a pretty neat place. For some reason, I've always run well there. The track has two distinctly different corners. Turns one and two are different than three and four, and there's also a kink in the backstretch. Being able to run well there depends on how well you can turn in the center of turns one and two, and yet still have a good drive up off the back straightaway because it's long and fast. Getting into turn three, you really need to rotate. Just past the center of turns three and four, you have a little bit of a kink on the apron where you need to be able to turn and get a good drive off the corner. There are plenty of tricks to that place that you need to know to be successful."

JOEY LOGANO, No. 20 Home Depot Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing

Do you like racing at Phoenix? "I love Phoenix. It could be one of my favorite tracks, if not the favorite. There's just something about it -- I took to that place great. I ran the Camping World West race there and won. I should have won the Nationwide race there last year as we've been fast every time we've been there. I did the tire test there and it's just a place that I seem to take to real good. It's got two different ends -- one is real sharp and you have to keep working on your forward drive off that one, and the other is sweeping, more like a New Hampshire corner. It's cool and it wears out your tires quite a bit and you have to be smart out there with your tires. I enjoy that place a lot."

MARCOS AMBROSE, No. 47 Clorox/Kingsford Toyota Camry, JTG-Daugherty Racing

What will you be doing at the Toyota Arizona Proving Grounds on Thursday? "We tested at TAPG (Toyota Arizona Proving Grounds) in January and now before this weekend's race at Phoenix, I'll have the opportunity to go back and meet all the associates at the facility along with David (Reutimann) and Michael (Waltrip). On Thursday, we are making a special trip there and we'll be able to tour the grounds and hopefully take a lap around the 10-mile oval. We don't think they will turn us loose though. We've been told it is a guided tour, which means we won't be driving."

MAX PAPIS, No. 13 GEICO Toyota Camry, Germain Racing

How have you been affected by the earthquakes in your native Italy? "My thoughts and prayers are with all the people in Italy during this tragedy. It's a beautiful region of Italy and I hope with the help of all the Italian people around the world that they'll be able to recover quickly from this disaster. In moments like this you can really feel the national pride and I hope that everyone will do whatever they can to help the people who have been affected. I am personally pledging my support to help raise money to get much needed assistance to the region. I posted my helmet and other items on EBay to raise money to help them rebuild their city (L'Aquila)."

-credit: toyota motorsports

We want your opinion!

What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?

Take our 5 minute survey.

- The Motorsport.com Team

Read and post comments

Share Or Save This Story

Copy link

Share on Viber

Previous article Phoenix: Robby Gordon preview

Next article TRG Motorsports signs primary sponsor

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

View More & Comment

Latest news

Jesse Love barely holds off Sam Mayer for NASCAR O'Reilly win at Phoenix

NASCAR O'Reilly

NOAP NASCAR O'Reilly

Phoenix II

1 h

Jesse Love barely holds off Sam Mayer for NASCAR O'Reilly win at Phoenix

Lando Norris faces anxious wait as F2 prepares to decide future of his racing team

Formula 1

F1 Formula 1

Singapore GP

4 h

Lando Norris faces anxious wait as F2 prepares to decide future of his racing team

NASCAR Cup Phoenix starting lineup: Blaney earns pole as Larson struggles

NASCAR Cup

NAS NASCAR Cup

Phoenix II

5 h

NASCAR Cup Phoenix starting lineup: Blaney earns pole as Larson struggles

Ryan Blaney kind of faces a must-win scenario this weekend at Phoenix

NASCAR Cup

NAS NASCAR Cup

Phoenix II

6 h

Ryan Blaney kind of faces a must-win scenario this weekend at Phoenix

Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.

From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.

You have 2 options:

Become a subscriber.
Disable your adblocker.

Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here

Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page

Manage Alerts