On new surface of LVMS:
“The new surface is pretty nice, yes it has a few bumps in it going in to one which are going to be a challenge, but all-in-all, I am really happy with the surface. Obviously none of us are going to be happy with the grip level out there right now because Goodyear had to change a tire up to keep from blowing tires. It has been a real challenge to slow us down over a second from where we were here at testing. It has been one of those things where everybody is pretty frustrated with trying to get some grip and get some comfort back in the car. “
On variable banking being alot like Homestead:
“Yes very much so and I love it, I think it is great. I look at Homestead now that has had its surface for a few years, it is worn out and the way it has aged, it is great. We have a lot of different grooves there to race on, kind of the way this track was. But any time you put a new surface on, it is going to take time. It is going to be a pain for all of us and you hope it doesn’t affect the racing too much and there in no guarantee it is going to affect the racing in any way. It iust affecting the drivers and the teams and how they get the grip into the car to make the drivers happy. “
On having a committee made up of drivers, team owners, NASCAR officials, etc., to get input from everyone when a track is redesigned:
“Yup, but that would be too smart wouldn’t it? That would make too much sense; I don’t know why we would want to do that. I will say, I give a lot of credit to Bruton Smith’s folks, they have come to me and I think they have come to a lot of drivers every time every time they have talked about redoing or building race tracks. This is not the track’s fault. Would it have helped if they didn’t put quite as much banking? Yes. Maybe, but the track is not the problem here. We gotta to be able to figure out how to either come back on the car so we don’t abuse the tire so much or they have to be able to figure out a left side tire that will work. The only reason they brought this tire was to slow us down - period. Because we were just killing the right front tire and the right rear. So would a little less banking and keeping variable banking be a better solution? Yes, maybe. We are saying that now, but who knew that before. But I will say, they have come to me and I know the have come to other drivers, and I am not saying I should be on that committee, I am just saying drivers input, somebody from a team that is like a crew chief, somebody from NASCAR, somebody from the track, here is no doubt about that. We don’t have a lot of time. We are trying to build race cars and do sponsor commitments and everything else. I remember when they came to me for some stuff about Bristol and I had an hour to give them and that is unfortunate. I do think that we have to get more people involved just to get as many thoughts out there as possible. When need Goodyear involved when these things are happening. “
On new fan area at LVMS:
“Anything you can do to get the fans more interaction get them more involved, let them see more of the action is good. It is always that fine line between entertaining and racing and we always seem to push the limits but over time, you get used to it. I will admit that it is challenging for the team to have that many hands and faces glued to the glass watching every moment, At the same time, this is a sport of accessibility and based on their commitment and their involvement is something we all have to understand and really balance out. You want to entertain the fans but you always want to concentrate and focus on your job. ”
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