Race Weekend Central

Running Their Mouth: 2008 Crown Royal Presents the Dan Lowry 400 at Richmond

Each week, we’ll go through media reports, interviews, PR and all our own stuff to find the best quotes from the Sprint Cup race, capturing the story of how the weekend unfolded. It’s the most original commentary you’ll ever find: the truth, coming straight out of the mouths of the drivers, crew members and the car owners themselves. This week, here’s a sneak peek at what a select few were thinking following the Dan Lowry 400 presented by Crown Royal at Richmond International Raceway:

“They [Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kyle Busch] were just racing so hard there, and you knew [the wreck] was going to happen. I just took advantage of a misfortune right there. This is just awesome; I just love this place. I really messed up in qualifying for these guys… we dug deep and worked hard, and things worked out. I just want to thank everybody. This is awesome.” – Clint Bowyer, race winner

“It was just a bummer deal – we were both just racing there. I apologize that that happened, and I hated that it did. And if I wanted to do it deliberately, I would have waited for the last lap where I probably could have still won the race. [Fans] were going crazy [in the stands] and you see it, but you don’t pay attention to it. I don’t know why they were telling me I was number one, I was in second place.” – Kyle Busch, finished second

See also
Bowles-Eye View: The Good Guy Lost - Why Dale Earnhardt Jr. Could Pay a Long-Term Price for His Win Gone Sour

“Well, you know, just really, really proud of Tony Gibson and the U.S. Army team, and just want to reiterate how much of a privilege it is for me to drive the car, be a part of Dale Earnhardt Inc. I really want to see their faces in victory lane. I mean, they are right there. They are getting it done.” – Mark Martin, finished third

“I’m really proud of Zippy [crew chief Greg Zipadelli] and all these guys on The Home Depot team. We were absolutely terrible for about 300 laps, and then the last two stops we made changes that really brought this car to life. It was a little too late, but with a little help, it got us a top five. Pretty proud of these guys. That’s the whole moral of the story to this team – we never give up.” – Tony Stewart, finished fourth

“That was a great finish for a 15th-place car. We were in the right place at the right time, and capitalized late in the race. I don’t think this new car has been much of a racecar. I’m not at all happy with the racing that we have. I don’t think the fans are enjoying it. The racing itself is poor. The cars aren’t made to be a mobile racecar. They’re made to be versatile and that’s not cool, either.” – Ryan Newman, finished sixth

“We were a lap down at lap 30 or 40. I can’t believe we came and finished on the lead lap. We were just too far off at the start of the race. It’s just unfortunate we started off so bad. If we could start off better, hopefully, we would be better at the end. We never gave up; that’s part of it.” – Bobby Labonte, finished 13th

“It was a long night. I had a really good car. I probably had a top-five car, but I lost my brakes. About halfway through, they started fading, and then the last 50 laps I had no brakes. I just got back off the gas, coasted in the corner, and that’s all I could do. I just ended up where I did and ended up 14th, so I can’t complain.” – Greg Biffle, finished 14th

“I haven’t seen the replay, Tony [Eury] Jr. said it looked like Kyle [Busch] got loose underneath me. That happens. He gave me room off the outside of [turn] 2, so I wouldn’t say that was intentional going into 3. If [Busch] had wanted to, he could have just thrown me in the fence off 2. That’s what happens if he got loose underneath me.” – Dale Earnhardt Jr., finished 15th

“We were smart all night and used our head. I know how races go here, and how dirty they get and how ridiculous they get. Hopefully, we’ve got a little bit more of a gap in the points. You’ve just got to keep building, man, keep fighting, keep getting a gap around that points thing. That’s all we can do right now.” – Regan Smith, Raybestos Rookie of the Race, finished 21st

“It wasn’t meant to be. God didn’t want me to win today, and there’s a better time for us to win, evidently. Today was just not our day. We know we’re capable of winning. Of course, I would have loved to win this one instead of last night. It means more here, for sure. I would have the same reaction at another racetrack, [but] maybe not as much as what I feel right now. It’s still just another win that slipped away from us.” – Denny Hamlin, finished 24th after leading 381 of 410 laps

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