The Frontstretch: They Said What?!? by Nikki Krone -- Monday February 21, 2005

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They Said What?!?

Nikki Krone · Monday February 21, 2005

 

NEXTEL Cup Series – Daytona 500

“This is just an awesome win. I think everybody at Hendrick Motorsports has been motivated by, you know, trying to honor those that were lost. That’s the way we like to keep them in our memories and know that, you know, they’re looking down smiling. It doesn’t get any better than that.” – Jeff Gordon on winning the Daytona 500 following the tragedy at Martinsville.

“I love Rusty. I’ve raced with him for 30 years, and we fought for the same turf for 30 years and we never once had a problem, and that says a lot.” – Mark Martin’s response when asked if it meant extra to race at the end with Rusty Wallace.

“It ain’t no big deal right now, I’m telling you. I don’t have any major love for this place. Check with me at Charlotte. I’ll have a tear in my eye there.”—On ending his NEXTEL Cup career without a Daytona 500 win.

“Hopefully this entire season we’ll be a million miles away from the luck we had last year. Right now, we have this ball of momentum rolling toward us and it’s getting bigger and bigger. This is the first time we’ve gotten the chance to show just how big it is and now it’s rolling even faster heading into next week. This is going to be a fun year for us.” —Scott Riggs following his fourth place finish at Daytona.

Pete Rondeau (crew chief): “Nice job, nice save on that last pit stop.”
Dale Earnhardt Jr.: “Yeah, I’m sorry about that. I tried to avoid the 31 car (Jeff Burton). He thought I was trying to crap on him. It was my fault.” – No. 8 radio chatter following a miscue with Jeff Burton on a lap-62 pit stop sent Earnhardt Jr. into his pit stall sideways.

“I had to use the restroom beyond belief. Yes, it did (hurt me). We were out there for five hours in the car. I think we sat out there for 45 minutes after driver intro with nothing to do except watch everybody walk by and enjoy the atmosphere.” – Kurt Busch following the race, when asked if the late cautions hurt him.

“It’s a blast. You’re racing out there for a million-and-a-half dollars to win and you’re racing the nicest race cars in the world in front of 200,000 people live. My crew worked really hard and we overcame some really bad luck. I just had a good time. I really enjoyed it.” – Carl Edwards on his first Daytona 500.

“We pulled the wrong gear. They were running over me. Junior knocked me off the race track early in the race because it wouldn’t run at the end of the straightaway. We finally got it to where I could drive, but it was just so frustrating because it wouldn’t go. On restarts and stuff they would just run over me. They worked their tails off to get us where we got to and we came out with a reasonable finish.” – Dale Jarrett on his 15th place finish, after earning the pole.

Busch Series – Hershey’s Take 5 300

“I was going to the inside of him and he turned down to block me and I’m not lifting for the lead at Daytona. He wouldn’t lift either, so that’s just racing. He’s the man, though, because that was a good comeback.” – Carl Edwards on the bump that sent eventual winner Tony Stewart through the grass.

Reed Sorenson: “Well, he (Kevin Harvick) made me nervous quite a few times there near the end (laughter). He was hitting me pretty hard.

Kevin Harvick: “I was trying to lower your spoiler. Every time I’d hit you, it would come down about a quarter inch.” – Reed Sorenson and Kevin Harvick in the post race press conference, discussing the final laps, as Harvick ran closely behind Sorenson.

 

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