FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Saturday, July 4th, 2015
NOTES & QUOTES FROM XFINITY SERIES PRE-RACE COVERAGE ON NBCSN
“I used to think that racing here was just a crap shoot. Then you start to realize that it’s the same guys that finish up front all the time.” – Joey Logano on restrictor plate racing at Daytona International Speedway
“It is always going to be a dangerous sport, and if you are going to choose to be a NASCAR driver, you have to choose to accept that.” — Brendan Gaughan on Daytona’s safety
“I was sitting in the pit watching the entire thing happen, and wasn’t able to run over and check on him and see if he was okay. It’s a scary feeling.” – Krissie Newman, wife of Ryan Newman, on watching her husband crash at Daytona
DAYTONA, Fla. – July 4, 2015 – NBC Sports Group hit the ignition switch on its 10-year partnership with NASCAR earlier today with live coverage of the Subway Firecracker 250 XFINITY Series race on NBCSN.
Following are notes and quotes from tonight’s pre-race coverage:
Kyle Busch joined the XFINITY pre-race set to discuss his recent return to racing after being injured in a crash at Daytona in February: “No matter how hard you work and how much time you have for the fans in this business, obviously they are what drives our sport, and what we appreciate the most, along with my many partners and sponsors. Those people have not only supported me through the years, but especially this year. Through all the tragedy that I had here in Daytona earlier this year, it’s definitely meant a lot to have the relationships with those people behind me.
NBCSN’s XFINITY pre-race show presented a feature on the intense emotions that the wives, fiancés and girlfriends of NASCAR drivers experience while watching races each week.
Lorra Bowyer, wife of Clint Bowyer: “I’ll never forget, it was at Dover, and [Clint] was going for the lead. And all of a sudden, he wrecked and was flipping right towards the pit box. And so to see your husband in the air, flipping towards you… it was probably the most scared I’ve ever been at a race track.”
Krissie Newman, wife of Ryan Newman: “The flip in Daytona, I think was probably one of the hardest wrecks to watch, just because I was sitting in the pit watching the entire thing happen, and wasn’t able to run over and check on him and see if he was okay. It’s a scary feeling.”
Amy Reimann, fiancé of Dale Earnhardt, Jr.: “I really didn’t know what I was getting myself into. I had watched one NASCAR race. I had been to the 500, the February before I had started to date [Dale]. It has been quite a learning experience, to say the very least. And I’m still learning.”
Back at the pre-race set, Kyle Petty reacts: “That was a piece on wives and girlfriends. How about Dale’s Mom? How about my grandmother, my mom? Watching your husband, and your son and your grandson? Those are the ones that I always used to think about and say, ‘What am I putting these people through?’”
Joey Logano on racing at Daytona: “I used to think that racing here was just a crap shoot. Then you start to realize that it’s the same guys that finish up front all the time. So you say, ‘it’s not a crapshoot anymore.’ There’s a lot of strategy and a lot of discipline on how to be a good speedway racer.”
Brian Scott, on the rain delay: “Right now I’m just looking forward to this rain getting out of here. I want to put on a good show for the fans, everyone that is sticking around here on the 4th of July. Kick this deal off for NBC the right way.”
Elliott Sadler on racing on the 4th of July: “Happy July 4th to everybody and thanks to all the men and women who have protected our country on this birthday that gives us a reason to be here tonight.”
Daniel Suarez on pole position: “I’m really proud of everyone in Joe Gibbs racing. They have built an amazing car…they showed we have the speed, now I have to do my part and keep it in the front.”
Brendan Gaughan on Daytona’s safety: “It is always going to be a dangerous sport, and if we are going to choose to be NASCAR drivers, we have to choose to accept that…you can’t wrap us in bubble wrap.”
–NBC SPORTS GROUP–
