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Monday, September 7th, 2015

NOTES AND QUOTES FROM SPRINT CUP SERIES RACE COVERAGE FROM DARLINGTON RACEWAY ON NBC — PART TWO

Race winner Carl Edwards in Victory Lane: “This is what it’s about— we’re sliding cars, tires are falling off— this is the style of racing that I love.” 

Kyle Petty: “We can call it a Darlington Southern 500 throwback, but this was an old-fashioned Darlington Southern 500 throw down.”

Darlington, N.C. — September 6, 2015 — NBC presented NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racing in prime time from Darlington Raceway this evening. Race winner Carl Edwards, who will enter the NBCSN broadcast booth on Friday as a guest analyst for the NASCAR XFINITY Series race alongside Dale Jarrett and Leigh Diffey, took his second checkered flag of the year and his first Southern 500 victory.

Sunday’s #NASCARthrowback broadcast day began with NASCAR America Sunday on NBCSN, hosted by Krista Voda alongside analysts Kyle Petty and Hall of Fame driver Dale Jarrett.  At 7PM ET, coverage shifted to NBC, where lead race announcer Rick Allen, 21-time NASCAR Sprint Cup winner Jeff Burton and Daytona 500-winning crew chief Steve Letarte handled the action.  Reporters Nate Ryan, Rutledge Wood, Marty Snider, Kelli Stavast, Mike Massaro and Dave Burns contributed throughout the broadcast, as did special guests Ken Squier and Ned Jarrett.

The following are highlights from tonight’s Sprint Cup race and post-race coverage.

With 62 laps to go, Burton offered the following after the 16th restart of the night: “Track position gained at this point could win you the race.  We’ve seen a lot of cautions tonight, but we’ve also seen a lot of races here at Darlington end under long green flags.  All of these drivers have got to assume that it’s time to go hard.”

With 49 laps to go, Allen on Harvick: “Kevin Harvick is tired of being the bride’s maid. There have been eight runner-up finishes since his last win, and 10 total this season to go along with his two wins.”

Letarte adds: “Not only does a win punch your ticket to the Chase, every win also gives you three bonus points for round one.  A few extra bonus points makes those first three races of the playoffs much easier.”

Burton with 44 laps to go: “These drivers have been in these cars for about four hours now.  Four hours is a long time, especially on a track like Darlington that is so demanding. Who can maintain focus on this tough race track?  Who is the one that is physically and mentally ready?”

With 14 laps to go, Burton sizes up the action prior to a record 18th caution flag for the Southern 500: “With this aerodynamic package, it’s very easy to over drive your car.  Right now it’s about momentum, it’s about pace, and it’s about rhythm. If you try too hard, you’re actually going to hurt yourself.”

Letarte on pit strategy after the late caution flag with 10 laps to go: “We know we have a short run coming up and less than 10 laps coming up on this set of tires.  All you need is a balanced set-up in the car for these last 10 laps— we’re not worried about a 50-lap run anymore.”

Race winner Carl Edwards to Krista Voda in Victory Lane: “Our guys never quit— JGR is just unbelievable, everyone has been working so hard… This is as good as it gets…This is what it’s about— we’re sliding cars, tires are falling off, this is the style of racing that I love.  If there is any chance that we can run this [aero package] in the Chase, I hope we can do it.  Just an awesome day.”

Kyle Petty: “We can call it a Darlington Southern 500 throwback, but this was an old-fashioned Darlington Southern 500 throw down.”

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–NBC SPORTS GROUP–