FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sunday, September 13th, 2015

NOTES AND QUOTES FROM NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES RACE COVERAGE FROM RICHMOND INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY ON NBCSN

Race Winner Matt Kenseth to Kelli Stavast: “As a company, we are on a roll.”

Jeff Gordon on his 11th Chase in 12 years to Dave Burns: “I’m excited. There was a lot of pressure in this final season to make the Chase. I’m glad we finally got that done.”

Clint Bowyer to Kelli Stavast after securing his spot in the Chase: “Pressure is off, let’s go have some fun.”

Richmond, Va. — September 12, 2015 — NBCSN presented NASCAR Sprint Cup Racing from Richmond International Raceway this evening. The pivotal twilight race at “America’s Premier Short Track” culminated with Matt Kenseth securing the checkered flag for the third time in the last six weeks. Kenseth dominated the race, leading 352 of the 400 laps under the lights. Inside the NBCSN broadcast booth, race announcer Rick Allen and analysts Jeff Burton and Steve Letarte called the action. Working the pits were NBCSN reporters Marty Snider, Kelli Stavast, Mike Massaro and Dave Burns.

Race Results
Position Driver Car #
1 Matt Kenseth 20
2 Kyle Busch 18
3 Joey Logano 22
4 Aric Almirola 43
5 Dale Earnhardt Jr. 88

 

Sixteen drivers punched their ticket to the Chase and will compete in NASCAR’s playoffs beginning on September 20th from Chicagoland Speedway. Tonight’s fourth place finisher, Aric Almirola, fell one spot short missing the Chase.

 

2015 Chase Drivers
Jimmie Johnson Brad Keselowski
Kyle Busch Martin Truex Jr.
Matt Kenseth Denny Hamlin
Joey Logano Jamie McMurray
Kevin Harvick Jeff Gordon
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Ryan Newman
Kurt Busch Paul Menard
Carl Edwards Clint Bowyer

 

The following are highlights from tonight’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race coverage on NBCSN.

Letarte on the importance of restarts: “Restarts have been a hot topic of discussion in all the drivers meetings the last few weeks. It is something that many drivers are being very vocal about, because that is where positions are either gained or lost.”

Burton on Denny Hamlin’s impressive performance after this week’s ACL injury: “I think a lot of people thought he didn’t qualify well because he had a knee injury. Denny Hamlin is saying ‘My knee hurts, but that is not going to interfere with our performance.’ I think his performance here tonight is showing people that.”

Letarte on what ultimately matters in racing: “There is a reason this is a 400 lap race. They don’t give out trophies for leading the most laps. They don’t give out trophies for leading practice. They give out trophies for the 400th lap, you must lead that one. No one cares how well you ran the whole race, we all talk about the winner.”

Kenseth’s crew chief, Jason Ratcliff, to Burns: “I believe a 100 percent in momentum and right now I would say we have a lot going into the Chase next week.”

Race Winner Kenseth to Stavast: “As a company, we are on a roll, they have given me some fast cars here the last couple months.”

Letarte on points in the Chase: “With the first round of the Chase only being three races before we eliminate cars, bonus points could be huge. We saw tonight how close it can get in one night.”

Burton on the pressure set for Chase drivers: “It is going to be interesting to see who can step up. The pressure is going to get ratcheted up all throughout out this entire Chase.”

Aric Almirola to Massaro on just missing the Chase: “I drove my heart out tonight, all year long really.”

Paul Menard to Burns on securing his position in the Chase: “I don’t know whether to be happy or sad. It was such a bad race for us tonight, but obviously very excited to be in the Chase.”

Clint Bowyer to Stavast after securing his spot in the Chase: “Pressure is off, let’s go have some fun.”

Jeff Gordon on his 11th Chase in 12 years to Burns: “I’m excited. There was a lot of pressure in this final season to make the Chase. I’m glad we finally got that done.”

Tonight’s runner up Kyle Busch to Stavast: “I had fun running with Matt, or trying to run with Matt. I could only do it for about 10 or 20 laps, and then he started running away.”

– NBC SPORTS GROUP –