ON ATLANTA:
“The asphalt they have used is older technology and it is real abrasive and chews the tires up. Handling is a premium. The pace slows down so you can run side by side and you can look for other lanes to race in. That really makes for good racing. I think the new tracks, and Charlotte is a good example of it, they almost did too good of a job. The asphalt is so smooth and tightly compacted we have to run an extremely hard tire, the tire never gives up and we run qualifying laps all night long. We run side by side and it is hard to pass. Atlanta is a great track. Some day they are going to have to resurface it and we will be faced with issues of a new surface there. But right now it has aged perfectly. It is probably is one of the best places to challenge drivers.”

WAS THE WIN AT MARTINSVILLE A SPARK TO KEEP THE TEAM GOING?
“I don’t think the win was necessary as far as the spark for the team. We’ve had the spark and speed and excitement and desire. The fire’s been lit. We’ve just unfortunately had some bad luck. And now everything has balanced out and we’re back in the middle of it (the Chase). So I look at the Chase and think at New Hampshire, we were competitive and in the top five and had bad luck. At Dover it was the same; we had bad luck. At Kansas we were leading the most laps but didn’t win the race because of that crazy deal at the end. Talladega we should have won. Charlotte, we were competitive and finished where we should have. And then (we won) last weekend (at Martinsville). So I really think we’ve had a lot of strength in the Chase and we are excited to be back in the middle of it.”

WHAT WAS IT LIKE WHEN WE GOT HOME AFTER THE WIN AT MARTINSVILLE?
“It was great. We were very proud for a lot of reasons. To be back in the points battle is a great situation, but to also win at Martinsville — under the circumstances with the plane going down there a couple of years ago — it was just a very proud evening at home.”

IS IT GOOD THAT THERE ARE SO MANY DRIVERS WITH A CHANCE?
“I think it’s great for our sport. It’s real tough on the teams and drivers, but it’s great for the sport.”