Ford 300 - Rookie Qualifying Quotes

DAMON LUSK, NO. 33 OUTDOOR CHANNEL CHEVROLET:

"We went slower than we practiced but I can't drive any harder. That's all I got. The car wasn't superb. The track is just slick and by the way it looks, it's slowed down. I definitely think we picked up the car, I don't know how much. According to the speeds we might not be bad." HOW DID THIS OPPORTUNITY WITH BACE MOTORSPORTS COME ABOUT? "Last Thursday they called me and said 'Do you want to got to Homestead Monday? I said sure.' We're working on a deal for next year and it looks like I'm going to be in this car full time so I can hardly wait. The whole reason to come here was to start working with crew chief Mark Tutor. I don't know where we're going to shake out but if we'll be in the top-20 I'll be happy with that. The guys have done a great job. We've got some great sponsors lined up for next year. I'm looking forward to some big things and hopefully we can win us a couple of races next year." DID THE TRACK CHANGE A LOT FROM PRACTICE TO QUALIFYING? "Loose. Loose, loose, loose. Hang on."

CHAD BLOUNT, NO. 26 MILLER HIGH LIFE DODGE:

"That wasn't a bad lap. We should have had the car a lot freer. We were tight getting in and jumped back in the throttle and just about knocked the wall down. The nose just took off. We gave up a lot there by not being able to show the steam under the hood because with a tight racecar you can't show that. If we had been a little freer we probably could have ran about a .90 or a .80 or so, I really believe so. We've had our hands full this week but hopefully we'll get things turned around and get a good run in for Miller and all the guys back in Wisconsin. I'd like to finish out the year of their 100th anniversary with a good solid finish for them and that's what we're going to work to do." WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR? "If I knew I'd sure be telling you (laughs) but really I don't know right now. We're trying to put some stuff together. Hopefully we can get Miller on board next year. We've kind of struggled this year. We need to build some new racecars. The guys here are working their butts off doing what they can do with what we've got to work with. Not taking anything away from what we've got here, but if we get that deal we'll be a good, solid contender next year for the championship."

DAVID STREMME, NO. 30 SPORTCLIPS DODGE:

Note: David Stremme was the top Raybestos Rookie qualifier at Homestead. He will start seventh in Saturday's race.

POST QUALIFYING PRESS CONFERENCE

"I actually got to run on the old track in a NASCAR All Pro car. Either track I like. This one seems to be where you are going to be able to move around a little bit if your car is not right on the long run. Overall, coming into this weekend I didn't have any experience here and neither did anybody else and I've been doing that all year at tracks we go to. Maybe that will be a little advantage but then again I'm working with a new team, last week and this week, Braun Racing to try and finish the year out and just getting experience for next year to run the number one Yellow Dodge. I told Jamie (McMurray) 'Make sure you get that thing just right because I'll make sure to use your notes next year' (smiles). Our teamwork is paying off last week and even this week. I went down to Casey (Mears) and Jamie. They qualified before me and they said they were a little tight so we made some adjustments. I've got to thank Sportclips for coming on this week. We weren't going to be able to do it without them and Braun Racing, they have definitely helped out and everybody at the Chip Ganassi organization. I got to run Sterling's car a little bit and I think that helped with the track changing throughout the weekend. To stay on top is going to be a bit key." WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS GOING INTO NEXT SEASON? "I'm definitely looking forward to getting to run with James Finch and his organization and like Bobby (Hamilton Jr.) said, we're kind of in the same process. We moved the shop from Panama City, Florida to Spartanburg, South Carolina and kind of changed some guys around. Jon Wolfe (crew chief) and I are getting along better and I'm getting some more seat time in the cars. It's something that we're building for next year, to get experience this year. We really didn't set out at the beginning of the year to run for Raybestos Rookie of the Year, but we're run well enough to gain enough points. A lot of the things that we've been doing, even though I'm not in the number one car this weekend or last weekend, we were still testing stuff and trading information, doing things that we need to. Same way with running Rockingham last weekend and Homestead this weekend, these are places that hopefully we won't have to test at next year and I can go to Darlington, a place that I haven't been. I'm really looking forward to it. I learn on my teammates a lot. They've been helping me quite a bit. A lot of the things that I'm going through they've been through already. I wish we could just race year-round."

REGAN SMITH, NO. 56 COX COMMUNICATIONS/TNT CHEVROLET:

"It wasn't bad. The car was pretty close. I think we could have found a little bit more here and there. I think we missed it a little bit on gear. The car was stuck to the track pretty good. I know a lot of guys were complaining and we were listening to what they were saying and made a few adjustments. I really appreciate the opportunity to get back out here. It's been a while and I've missed the track here. If I prove to this people enough times that I can actually drive a racecar eventually I'll get a full time deal. That's what we're trying to do." ARE YOU CLOSE TO SOMETHING FOR NEXT YEAR? "I thought that I had a couple of deals that were real close and they are not playing out quite like I hoped they would. It looked like I was going to get a truck deal, a good truck deal, and it didn't quite happen like I wanted it to. We're working hard, still beating the bushes so to speak and got a lot of people with their ear to the ground for me, trying to help me out. We're going to turn something up, just don't know where or when."

CHASE MONTGOMERY, NO. 27 TRIMSPA PONTIAC:

"If we have some more laps this thing is going to be pretty awesome race day. When a car gets in your way and you tear up your primary car, it's kind of tough to do. Your first lap in there and the steering box is not exactly what we needed. I learned a lot going into turn one, let's put it that way. We've got an hour tomorrow to get that thing going. It's going to be a good car." WHAT HAPPENED IN PRACTICE? "One of these guys who shows up ever now and then decides that they are going to move up right in the way. It's just a shame that some of these slow cars don't pay more attention."

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