HAMLIN: THERE DOESN’T APPEAR TO BE A SCRATCH ON YOUR CAR. “We didn’t put a scratch on it. Our car was perfect. It was good to come away with really no damage at a racetrack like this. We stayed in the top-10 and that’s the key to keeping the car clean, just make sure that you are in good track position. If you can do that you can come home with a good run.” DID YOU THINK THE 10 AND 24 WOULD GET TOGETHER AND YOU MIGHT PICK UP A COUPLE OF POSITIONS AT THE END OF THE RACE? “I nearly got that 24 at the line. It was really, really close. It’s just one of those things. We would love to have a top-five but a sixth-place finish is great for us.” THIS IS YOUR SIXTH CONSECUTIVE TOP-10 FINISH. THIS TEAM SEEMS TO BE GETTING BETTER AND BETTER AS THE SEASON GOES ON. “I really think so. This team is gelling. When you talk about this Chase and everything, we’re not backing our way in there. We’re doing this because we’re running well and that’s the most important thing. I’m just so proud of this team. I’m not happier being anywhere else.” YOU RAN IN THE TOP-10 FROM THE FIRST PRACTICE SESSION THROUGH THE RACE. “It was really good. We’ve just got to make sure that we keep doing the things we’ve got to do to stay in this top-10. And running top-10 every week is going to do it. We’ve just got to stay focused and make sure we stay focused on the job at hand.”

KEVIN MANION, CREW CHIEF, No. 1 BASS PRO SHOPS/TRACKER BOATS CHEVROLET: “We had a really good car and we made one mistake. Martin keeps saying he made a mistake but we made one mistake. We were getting around some lap cars running 10th going around some lap cars on the outside on one of them restarts, just about had them cleared, and just got freight trained. We went from 10th to 18th in a matter of four laps. Unfortunately, he got back there with the cars that had newer tires and got freight trained out of the lead group that we were in. We salvaged an 18th out of it but it’s better than the spring race.”

J.J. YELEY, No. 18 INTERSTATE BATTERIES CHEVROLET: “The 19 got together with somebody and they were sliding along the fence there. I saw the whole thing happening. I tried to turn down to the bottom. My car was real tight anyway and thought I had everything cleared. I guess Elliott was trying to stay on the gas and keep out of the fence what shot him down the racetrack in a hurry and I didn’t quite clear him. So he caught me in the right-rear corner and bent the rear end, bent the truck arms, bent a bunch of stuff up. It drove like it was possessed. I had a heck of a time holding on to it the last 100 laps. I guess this is par for the course. We didn’t have a great race car. I was planning on running around and staying out of trouble and hope for a top-15, top-20 and just didn’t get it.”

MIKE FORD, CREW CHIEF, No. 11 FEDEX FREIGHT CHEVROLET: “The objective today was just stay calm. If we stay calm, that means everything went well [laughs]. No one got excited. We probably could have forced the issue and got a top-five but keeping the big picture in mind, didn’t want to force anything that wasn’t there. It was a good solid day. We’ll take it and go to Fontana. We’re really, really happy with the guys.” THE CAR DIDN’T APPEAR TO HAVE A SCRATCH ON IT. “No. On the racetrack it was spotless. Denny did a good job. He was very patient and worked the lapped traffic well and really there weren’t too many hairy moments other than the end with the 10 and the 24 racing each other in front of us. He did an excellent job. I think he was the only Raybestos Rookie on the lead lap and I think that speaks highly of his patience and knowledge of what he needs to do.” IS THIS THE LAST BIG BULLET YOU HAVE TO DODGE BEFORE RICHMOND? “Shoot, there all big bullets [laughs]. Fontana is a tough place on engines and you don’t want to go there and have something happen. We’re going to go there and try to have another solid run. I think we’ve got a really strong race car going back and try and get a top-five next week, if not a win. We’re really looking forward to going to Fontana.” YOU CAN’T GO CONSERVATIVE. “No, no you can’t go conservative at any point. What that does is if you do go conservative, that stops your learning for a period of time and you do get behind, whether it be a week or two weeks. You have to run hard. You have to be smart and know when to run but at no point can you be conservative at this level.”

REED SORENSON, No. 41 TARGET DODGE: “The first half of the race was pretty good. The car was a little loose in and tight off, but we were able to hold our own in the top-20. I cut a left rear tire about midway through and ended up wrecking before I could get to pit road. I was trying to get around to fast and couldn't use the brakes or turn left without wrecking. I was just trying to do too much with what I had. It's unfortunate because I think we were good enough for a top 15 finish, maybe better if we hadn't wrecked."

HAMLIN PRESS CONFERENCE

HOW MUCH OF A RELIEF IS IT TO COME OUT OF HERE STILL IN PRETTY GOOD POSITION? “For me, I think all of us are pretty much racing one car and that’s probably the 9 car. Basically, we just keep ourselves within reaching distance of the 9 car. You know, even when I think he passed me in the mid point of the race, as long as I could keep touch with him there really wasn’t nothing to worry about. We had a good car and luckily we were able to pick up some spots there at the end. I’m pretty happy about it.”