FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sunday, October 18th, 2015
NOTES AND QUOTES FROM NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES RACE COVERAGE FROM KANSAS SPEEDWAY ON NBC
“I have always been one of his (Joey Logano) biggest fans. I’m certainly not anymore.” – Matt Kenseth to Mike Massaro after his on track duel with Logano
“The fact that we are the only team that can relax right now is going to pay big dividends.” – Race winner Joey Logano to Dave Burns
“They are the best drivers in the world. Matt Kenseth knew what he was doing when he blocked and Joey Logano knew what he was doing when he chose not to let up and run into Matt Kenseth.” – Steve Letarte on Logano-Kenseth duel
“I wouldn’t rather be going anywhere else, especially if it is a win and you’re in type of deal.” – Dale Earnhardt Jr. to Marty Snider looking ahead to Talladega
Kansas City, Kan. — Oct. 18, 2015 – NBC presented 269 laps of white-knuckle racing from Kansas Speedway. The suspense-filled afternoon culminated with Joey Logano capturing his second consecutive win in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Playoff Round of 12. In the final laps Matt Kenseth worked to block Logano, but ended up spinning out and finishing fourteenth.
Inside the NBC broadcast booth, race announcer Rick Allen and analysts Jeff Burton and Steve Letarte called the action. Working the pits were NBC reporters Marty Snider, Kelli Stavast, Mike Massaro and Dave Burns.
RACE RESULTS
| Position | Driver | Car # |
| 1 | Joey Logano | 22 |
| 2 | Denny Hamlin | 11 |
| 3 | Jimmie Johnson | 48 |
| 4 | Kasey Kahne | 5 |
| 5 | Kyle Busch | 18 |
CHASE PLAYOFF STANDINGS
| Position | Driver |
| 1 | Joey Logano |
| 2 | Denny Hamlin |
| 3 | Kurt Busch |
| 4 | Carl Edwards |
| 5 | Brad Keselowski |
| 6 | Jeff Gordon |
| 7 | Kevin Harvick |
| 8 | Martin Truex Jr. |
| 9 | Kyle Busch |
| 10 | Ryan Newman |
| 11 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. |
| 12 | Matt Kenseth |
The following are highlights from afternoon’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race coverage on NBC.
Burton on non-Chase drivers affecting Championship contention: “Matt Kenseth is in a hole and he needs to win a race, most likely, to advance…If you get eliminated in the playoffs in football, you are done. Unlike other sports, in NASCAR, you are still racing. You can impact what happens in the next round.”
Burton on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Playoffs: “This is the type of racing we have had the last couple months. This is not over until it is over. So many things happen at the end of these races, and it is happening again today.”
Letarte on Logano’s strategy to beat Kenseth with 12 laps to go: “Joey Logano knows how tough of a competitor Matt Kenseth is. He had to race against him all year long. He knows Kenseth was one of the favorites going into this for the Championship. Joey Logano’s goal right now is not to let the No. 20 advance.”
Burton on Kenseth blocking Logano: “Matt Kenseth had to do everything he could to block him. He is racing for his Championship. You can’t blame Matt Kenseth for trying to block.”
Letarte on Kenseth’s spin out: “When you drive defensively, you give the guy behind you the opportunity to make that decision. Right or wrong that is racing. These two can disagree about it.”
Burton on Logano’s strategy: “There is no question that Joey Logano could have lifted and cut Kenseth some slack. But I’m sure Joey felt like Kenseth blocked him and that is why he didn’t.”
Kenseth to Massaro after the race: “It is hard to drive a car with your tires in the air… I’ve always raced him (Logano) with a ton of respect. I have always been one of his biggest fans. I’m certainly not anymore.”
Race winner Logano to Burns: “The fact that we are the only team that can relax right now is going to pay big dividends.”
Letarte on the Logano-Kenseth duel: “This is what racing is built on. These are two drivers that didn’t make excuses. Matt Kenseth doesn’t claim he didn’t block Joey Logano. Joey Logano is not going to claim that he didn’t push Kenseth into the corner, causing him to spin out…They are the best drivers in the world. Matt Kenseth knew what he was doing when he blocked and Joey Logano knew what he was doing when he chose not to let up and run into Matt Kenseth.”
Runner-up Denny Hamlin to Massaro: “One short, I have never been so disappointed to be second in Kansas. I would have taken second and ran with it before this weekend.”
Dale Earnhardt Jr. to Snider on the next race in Talladega: “I wouldn’t rather be going anywhere else, especially if it is a win and you’re in type of deal.”
– NBC SPORTS GROUP –
