FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sunday, October 9th, 2016

NOTES AND QUOTES FROM NBC’S NASCAR SPRINT CUP COVERAGE FROM CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY

Jeff Burton on race winner Jimmie Johnson: “He is one of the top four or five drivers in NASCAR’s history. Period. End of story.”

 

Jimmie Johnson to Marty Snider in Victory Lane: “We knew we would get back (to victory lane). Yes, it was slower than we wanted it to be… but this is something really special for our team.”    

 

90-minute Editions of NASCAR America on NBCSN Shift to 5:30 p.m. ET Starting Tomorrow and Continuing Through The Championship

 

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — October 9, 2016 – NBC presented the first race of the Round of 12 this afternoon from Charlotte Motor Speedway as the 2016 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup playoffs continue to heat up.  After two days of heavy rain created a twin-bill of NASCAR racing this afternoon on the home track for most of NASCAR’s race teams, the action-packed day led off with the Bank of America 500 Sprint Cup event.  After almost four hours of hard-fought racing, six-time champion Jimmie Johnson snapped a 24-race winless streak, took the checkered flag and punched his ticket to the Round of Eight.

 

RACE RESULTS 

 

Position Driver Car Number
1 Jimmie Johnson 48
2 Matt Kenseth 20
3 Kyle Busch 18
4 Brad Keselowski 2
5 Kurt Busch 41

 

ROUND OF 12 CHASE STANDINGS

 

1.     Jimmie Johnson
2.     Matt Kenseth
3.     Kyle Busch
4.     Brad Keselowski
5.     Kurt Busch
6.     Carl Edwards
7.     Martin Truex Jr.
8.     Denny Hamlin
9.     Austin Dillon
10.  Chase Elliott
11.  Joey Logano
12.  Kevin Harvick

 

Inside the NASCAR on NBC broadcast booth, race announcer Rick Allen and analysts Jeff Burton and Steve Letarte called the action. Working the pits were reporters Marty Snider, Kelli Stavast, Mike Massaro and Dave Burns.

 

The following are highlights from this afternoon’s Sprint Cup racing coverage on NBC.

 

Prior to the green flag, Letarte sized up the challenge facing each of the race teams: “If the pressure surrounding this playoff race wasn’t high enough, the weekend schedule has really been a struggle.  While the teams were on the track Thursday for practice and qualifying, that was followed by two straight days of washouts, so it has been nearly 72 hours since these race teams have been on the race track.  Some prepared for a night race, and now we’ve got a day race, so it will be interesting to see which teams guessed right on the set-ups needed in these cars.”

 

Lap 187 – After a series of miscues and equipment problems plagued several race teams throughout the first portion of the race, Burton offered: “You think it’s easy to go out there and not make mistakes, but it is difficult to be competitive over the course of 500 miles.  As we’re seeing today, several championship-caliber teams are experiencing issues… One of the marks of a championship team is an ability to claw that finish out when things aren’t going well. There are a lot of laps left in this race. After something goes wrong, can you find a way to get back in contention and be in position for a win by the time this race is over?”

 

Lap 259 – After a multi-car crash ended the afternoons of Chase drivers Austin Dillon and Chase Elliott, Letarte on a closing strategy for Kurt Busch: “Kurt Busch hasn’t had the best day, but he hasn’t had an awful day. Now look at who was involved in that wreck and the guys who are experiencing other issues, like Kevin Harvick and Joey Logano. Now Chase Elliott and Austin Dillon join those two in the garage—those are four drivers who have advanced to the Round of 12. It’s time for Kurt Busch to understand the opportunity that is ahead of him. He just needs to get his tires moving and avoid stubbing his toe, now that the door of opportunity has opened with these other Chase drivers out of the way.”

 

With 50 Laps to go, Allen on race leader Jimmie Johnson: “Jimmie Johnson out in front with 77 Sprint Cup wins under his belt, but he has never advanced past the Round of 12, so a victory here could be one of the biggest wins of his career.”

 

With 26 Laps to go, Chase driver Denny Hamlin, who was racing in second place, suffered an engine failure.  Letarte said: “Emotionally, this is the most difficult thing for a race team, for a driver, for a crew chief to handle. You’re out there, running in the Top 3, set to contend for the win, and then suffer a catastrophic mechanical failure.”

 

Burton added: “One thing that they can feel a little better about is that they are one of five Chase drivers now out of this race. One of those five is going to advance to the next round, so you still have an opportunity.”

 

After Jimmie Johnson secured his 78th career victory, Burton offered:  “Without question, Jimmie Johnson is one of the all-time best.  Records don’t lie, they speak for themselves, and he is one of the top four or five drivers in NASCAR’s history. Period. End of story.”

 

As race-winner Jimmie Johnson performed his victory burnouts after snapping a 24-race winless streak, NBC Sports picked up his crew chief, Chad Knaus, over the radio, saying: “I didn’t know you still knew how to do that!”

 

Jimmie Johnson to Marty Snider in Victory Lane: “We knew we would get back (to victory lane). Yes, it was slower than we wanted it to be… but this is something really special for our team.”

 

PROGRAMMING NOTE: 90-MINUTE EDITIONS OF NASCAR AMERICA ON NBCSN SHIFT TO 5:30 P.M. STARTING TOMORROW

Beginning tomorrow evening and continuing through the conclusion of the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship, NBCSN will present 90-minute editions of NASCAR America each weekday at 5:30 p.m. ET.