Christopher Bell – Winner: “Wow, what a race, everyone! I was really nervous at the start. I knew if we put on the red tires, we had to avoid cautions. But of course, we got a yellow after 20 laps and then another one shortly after. The key was to get clear on the restarts. It was tough out there. In the end, we were battling hard to the finish line. It’s awesome that Joe Gibbs Racing finished first and second!”
Denny Hamlin – Second: “I’m proud of our team. We kept improving throughout the race. Even after a rough pit stop, our crew bounced back to help us stay competitive. Finally getting some clean air really made a difference. We had a fast car, and I wished the race would go green because we excelled on long runs with those tires. The 5 car gave me a great push on the restart, and that helped me get into position against the 20. It was a close finish, and I’m happy with how we performed.”
Kyle Larson – Third: “I think we did what we could given the situation. I tried to be patient and hold my line. There were moments I could have tried an aggressive move, but I didn’t want to wreck the field. At the end, it was nice to finish third when I thought we might struggle to stay in the top ten. Our pit crew made solid adjustments which helped us improve. We know we’ll need to be even better for the next race in the fall.”
Shane van Gisbergen – 31st: “The race got a bit crazy, especially when everyone started racing four-wide. I tried to maneuver but lost control. My car was improving, and I was enjoying the feel of the soft tires. They seem better for handling, so I wish we could use them more often. Unfortunately, we didn’t get as much time on the track as we hoped.”
Justin Haley – 34th: “I saw Ty Gibbs coming and tried to back off, but it just turned into a racing incident. It’s unfortunate we damaged two cars. Moving forward, there’s a lot we can learn from this race. I wish I had been on the option tires the entire time since they gave a better feel. I really like how they make the cars drive.”
Chase Briscoe – 35th: “That crash was a tough one. During the restart, everyone was trying to squeeze into a tight space. I accidentally hit Justin Haley’s car. We had a strong start, making our way up to 13th after the first crash. I learned a lesson here and hope to do better in Vegas.”
Carson Hocevar – 36th: “It’s frustrating because we had a good car. After a pit stop, we fell into a tough position and got caught up in someone else’s mess. I know our team can bounce back because we’ve shown speed before.”
Riley Herbst – 37th: “Things happened quickly in front of me. I tried to stay patient and learn as much as I could. When the wreck started off Turn 2, I tried to dodge it but couldn’t avoid the chaos. It’s disappointing, but I’m ready to get back on track next week.”
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