KASEY KAHNE (No. 9 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge Charger)

WHAT’S THE PLAN TO STAY OUT OF TROUBLE IN THE 600? “You just try to run by yourself early on and be smart. You definitely conserve. You don’t want to run side by side. If you catch a car pass him when you get there and be by yourself again. You don’t want to run side-by-side. I wasn’t trying to get by anybody (Saturday night). I was leading the race. He (Mark Martin) was trying to get by me, and we just got too close and my car took off.”

CAN YOU FEEL THE TIRES GETTING ON THE EDGE? “Last week at times in practice, I’d get loose and save it and go on like a normal deal. It’s such a hard tire that you lose it, too. You lose all grip real quick, and that’s what happened Saturday night. It just lost it like that. There was no save in it. We were both going for it. Everybody was going for it. It won’t be like that this Sunday until late in the race.”

WHY WON’T IT BE LIKE THAT? “Because people don’t want to crash. It’s just a hard tire on a fast track. You get cars beside you and air gets off you and it all happens at once. It’s the position you’re in. As long as you’re out there by yourself you’re just racing.”

WAS LAST WEEKEND A DIFFERENT MINDSET? “I think it is. You’re going for it. You’re putting a show on for the fans and you want to win. I don’t know what Mark Martin was talking about when he said let off the gas. That’s not something you’d even think about in that situation. My car was fine and then it just snapped and it was gone. You let off the gas when you run over somebody from behind like he did to McMurray. We haven’t (talked about it), but I imagine we’ll run into each other today. No, not on the track. I’ve got a lot of respect for Mark Martin. I’d never want to run into him on the racetrack.”

COMMENT ON SMALLER FUEL CELLS “I think they’re good because you don’t have quite the rear weight and you don’t swing around as much when you’ve got a full fuel load. I think it’s a good thing. I’m fine with it. I like the smaller fuel cells. We’ll have more pit stops, but it’s not for tires. It’s just for fuel, so you can leave the same tires on or put on older tires. You can do basically whatever you want.”

IS JIMMIE JOHNSON THE GUY TO BEAT AGAIN SUNDAY? “Jimmie is definitely the guy to beat here. There’s no question. He may not be there until 20 laps to go, but he’ll be there at the end of the 600. That’s just the way it is. You don’t really get frustrated. You get frustrated if you think you had a car that could have beat him and you just don’t make it as far as he did. That’s when you get frustrated, and that’s where I’m at right now. I think we’ll have just as good a car. We just have to do all the right things and be there at the end of the race, whereas Jimmie has great cars and he knows this track as good as anybody. He’s there at the end of the race and he’s winning these races. He just gets it done every time he comes here.”

HOW MUCH OF IT IS DRIVER AND HOW MUCH IS CAR? “You need a good car to go fast for sure, but Jimmie Johnson understands this racetrack. The track is smoother, but it still drives the same and you do the same things to get your car where you want it. He’s the one to tell them where he wants his racecar. If he says keep going here, then you’re going keep going there. He knows where he wants it at the end of the race, and that’s what wins the race – communication and what the driver is looking for if he gets it at the end of the race and he always gets it at the end of the race. It’s definitely got a lot to do with the driver here.”

WHAT MAKES LMS DIFFERENT THAN OTHER 1.5-MILE TRACKS? “I don’t know. Really this track drives a little bit different, where you put your car on the track, the way you get it pointed in certain spots in the corner from front to back. It drives similar to the way it always has here. It’s just faster and smoother. It’s different from other racetracks. Why that is I don’t know. It has to do with the banking and the straightaways going into the banking.”

WHAT DO YOU DO MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY TO PREPARE FOR THE 600? “I just sleep a lot. It’s going to be nice out and you’ve got to drink a lot. I’ve been drinking a lot of fluid all week. It’s the same type of deal you do each week. It’s a longer race, but most of the time when 500 miles is over we’re not done. We could go some more. In 2004, I thought it was a really long race. Last year I don’t remember the results or anything here. I remember in 2004, we started in the sun and I was sweating before it got dark and then you go for three hours after that. It’s fun. I enjoy the track changing and the way things change all through the night and trying to keep up with it.”

HOW MUCH DOES THE TRACK CHANGE FROM DAYLIGHT TO MOONLIGHT? “It’s a lot different, and I think it’ll be even more different now with the new surface. Last week we practiced in the sun and the way we raced, the track was completely different and we had to make a lot of changes. I think that should be a benefit for some of the guys who raced in that race and if they race the Busch car and the 600 on Sunday because we kind of understand how the track changes.”

THE SMALLER FUEL CELLS SHOULD RESULT IN MORE PIT STOPS. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT? “I think more pit stops will just give us more time to keep making our car better when the sun goes down. Everybody was still bunched together in the all-star race. It was the first lap when they started pitting. I was told to pit that time, and I told them I wasn’t pitting. I could feel a wreck from behind. It just didn’t feel right. Two by two seven or eight rows deep, it was just too many cars. If somebody didn’t see you throw your hand up then there was going to be a wreck, and that’s what happened. In the race, if you’re pitting under green it’s going to be about 30 laps or 35 laps and there won’t be 15 cars behind you. It’s going to be spread out, so you throw up your hand and it should be like any other race. There shouldn’t be any contact getting into the pit.”

COMMENT ON YOUR DIRT TRACK TEAM “That’s what I enjoy the most, that kind of racing, at least being a part of owning the team and Joey Saldana driving it. I think they’re doing a good job. They just need to keep working to make it better. I’m happy with it. They just need to keep it up. I’m a big part of it. I really enjoy that stuff. I want to get in that car myself soon. After watching it last night, I’ve got to get back in it.”

LAST YEAR’S 600 HAD 22 CAUTIONS FOR 103 LAPS AND LASTED MORE THAN FIVE HOURS. IS THAT FRUSTRATING? “I think everybody was frustrated, but it won’t be like that this year I don’t think. The track is definitely better and the tire is better than it was last year. I don’t think we’ll have that problem this year. You’re going to see some caution flags. You’re going to see some wrecks and spins and things that you see in any race. It’s just going to be a longer race.”

HOW CRITICAL WILL SETUP BE? “I don’t see it going three pit stops in a row under green or anything like that. I think it’s going to stay bunched up. It seems like to me in this race early on in the sun, people can get lapped and then a lot of guys will get those laps back later in the race when you get a couple of cautions and the sun goes down. I think with more pit stops you’ve got more chances to work on your car and make it better to catch the guy in front of you. If you make the wrong decisions, you can lose it, too. I think the pit stops are fine. I’m fine with coming down pit road 40 times. In ’04 I think we got lapped early in the race and then we just about won the race. You can definitely come back. The track is so much different early. If you’re really loose early and you keep your car together, when the sun goes down you’re going to be all right. All you’ve got to do is get the Lucky Dog or pass the leader, and at a track like this you can do that if your car is good.”

COMMENT ON NEW MANUFACTURER ENTERING SPORT NEXT SEASON “I think Dodge is going to step up, and I think they’re going to do a great job to make our Dodge Chargers as good as anything out there. Our engine programs get better each week. I’m excited to race against Toyota. I want to beat ‘em.”

WHAT’S IT BEEN LIKE RACING AGAINST JIMMIE JOHNSON HERE? “In the late stages of the race we’ve had no chance. I haven’t got us to the late stages of the race. He’s just always there. It doesn’t matter if you don’t see him for the first 500 miles, you can count on him being there with 30 or 40 to go. That’s just Jimmie and that team. They know what they’re looking for and they get it every race here. I think we’ve had cars that can race with them or beat ‘em at times. We just haven’t put ourselves in position to win those races and Jimmie has.”

DOES THE 48 TEAM INTIMIDATE DRIVERS AT LMS? “I don’t feel it. It may be that way. I remember when DEI was that strong at those places (Daytona and Talladega). I went there knowing I had no chance. That’s just the way it was. It’s not like that (now). I feel like we have just as good a chance as anyone. We just have to do the right thing and be there at the end.”

DO YOU THINK YOU CAN KNOCK OFF JIMMIE? “We definitely can do it. Other guys can do it, too. The car we have this weekend is the Atlanta and Texas car, and it’s definitely fast as these types of racetracks. I’m looking forward to it. I think we have a good shot. I’ve wanted to race Jimmie at the end of the race for three years here and haven’t had the opportunity yet. Hopefully Sunday night we’ll have that chance.”

CAN YOU LEARN ANYTHING FROM WATCHING JIMMIE JOHNSON HERE? “You can watch him and not really pick up much on what he’s doing. What you know is Jimmie Johnson knows what he’s looking for late in the race. Him and Chad work together and he gets that feeling in every race. He knows where to go. He’s won here so many times he knows what he’s looking for. The track is different now, but it still drives the same and you’re still looking for the same kind of feeling. Jimmie knows it, and he gets it. Maybe you can look at his line and see where he goes on the racetrack, but you can only go where your car is fast.”

JEREMY MAYFIELD (No. 19 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge Charger)

YOU TURN 37 ON SATURDAY. ANY BIRTHDAY PLANS? “Yeah, I’m going to be busy figuring out a way to get that Coca-Cola 600 trophy home Sunday night. It’d be a day late, but that would be a great birthday.”

HOW MUCH LONGER WOULD YOU LIKE TO RACE? “It’s a grind. I’m racing because I want to race. I don’t want to get to where I have to race because I’ve got a big airplane to pay for or something like that. I want to race because it’s fun. When you can do it because you want to do it makes it fun. When it comes the time when you don’t want to do it, no matter what age you are, you shouldn’t do it. I’ve got something to prove right now. I want to get this deal back running good, and I’d like to run 10 more years. That would make me 47, but we’ll have to play it by ear and see what happens. I definitely want to get it where we’re real competitive again and win races and get up there where we need to be. You’re always searching for that. You’re always hoping next week. When it gets to the point where I’m not hoping anymore, I’ll do something different.”

ANY SHORT TERM FUTURE PLANS? “I’m driving for Ray Evernham Motorsports. Speculation starts when you’re not running good. Things happen and you end up in the rumor mill. You’re not only running bad, trying to get out of the hole you’re in, but then that stuff starts. That’s normal. It happens. It’s a good thing it does happen sometimes. Sometimes it’s not. That’s the way it goes. We’ve got our heads down trying to figure out what we need to do to get better week in and week out. I feel like last week was a good week for us. Even though we didn’t finish good we ran good. We made a huge step last week believe it or not. We had been trying to find the feel I’d been looking for and what I like in the car and we found it. Once you find that, you’ve got something to work off of. That’s where we’re at right now.”

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE IN THE 9 AND 19? “It’s hard to tell. He ran bad last year and we ran good. You can’t pinpoint it. I hope he was answering the same question I’m answering now a year ago. That’s part of it. It’s about chemistry and people. You get the best stuff out of your car and understand what everybody is trying to say to each other.”

COMMENT ON RUNNING A 600-MILE RACE “It’s hard on you. Just the heat, mainly just the heat. You lose five or 10 pounds, and I’m sure it’s not good for you. You’ve got to stay hydrated. That’s probably the biggest thing. Everybody thinks you’re worn out when you get through running here, but I try to pace myself and realize it’s 600 miles. Every lap I’m trying to save energy. We run 600 miles and the pit crew gets a few more pit stops. Everybody thinks they’re going to be out of shape, but our guys are in great shape. They’re going to be good. I think it’s going to be a benefit for us.”

IS THE GOAL JUST FINISHING THE RACE? “That’s our goal for sure -- to be there at the end and have a shot to get in the top 10 or top five and maybe have a shot to win. You have to see how the night goes. You play it as it goes. The track is going to be changing. The car is going to be changing. There are a lot of unknowns right now that we don’t know about. You just feel it out and see what you’ve got toward the end. This is a long race and a lot more things that we don’t know about are going to happen. The more pit stops, the harder tires, the new pavement, blah, blah, blah, on and on and on, things are going to be changing here.”

CAN YOU AFFORD TO BE AGGRESSIVE? “Right now we’ve got to be patient. We’ve got to play defense a little bit and come home with a solid finish and build on our points for next week. We’re in a hole right now, and we’ve got to dig out of it. We can go out there and show off all we want to and find ourselves in a little trouble. Then we’re going to really be in a hole. We’ve got to play it smart here. That’s where experience comes in. I remember a long time ago I thought I was going to lap the field and would end up breaking and tearing everything up. If you’ve got a top 10 car and try to win with it and end up in a wreck, that’s a good way to lose your job. Right now we’ve got to play it safe.”

COMMENT ON DRIVER CONTRACTS “When you’re not running good everybody is sure something is going to happen. Good solid teams that can handle bad seasons when they stick together, those are the ones that build championship teams. If this was the last year on my contract, I’d really understand, but it’s not. It’s already kind of started a little bit, but we know what’s going on and we know whatever happens in the future will happen.”

ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT RESTARTS IN THE 600? “Sometimes you’ll pick up with the tires and sometimes you won’t. It seems like the other night some guys wanted tires and some guys didn’t. Again, that’s one of those things we don’t know about right now. Early in the race you’ll see a lot of different strategies going on.”

COMMENT ON UPCOMING RACES “I love Dover. That’s probably my favorite place. I like this place and then we go to Dover. I’ve won at Pocono and Michigan. I think it’s going to be good for us. I’m always optimistic. I know at Dover the racetrack is good and the gambling is awesome.”

WHY DO YOU HAVE SUCH A GOOD ATTITUDE? “I’m not saying I don’t get mad. Last week I was (upset) after the race, but it wasn’t your fault. Why take it out on you? We’re pretty blessed to be able to do what we do. I want to win more than anybody out here. After the race it’s over. It kills me every day that we’re running like this, but what are you going to do about it? I’ve heard a lot of things like let time heal itself. Ray knows what’s going on. He’s on top of everything here. He knows the 9 car is running good and he knows we’re not, but he also knows it’s not one person’s fault. He understands, and that’s a good thing about having an owner like that. He’s not going to underestimate anybody. He knows we’ve got good people and good resources and he knows it’ll all work out. Kasey was basically in the same situation last year. We’re basically starting over, and I’m probably the best person in our organization that could start over and make it work out. Scott was the new guy on the block, and he couldn’t come in and start off brand new. They might have really lost confidence then. Kasey went through it last year and really couldn’t get out of the hole he was in. It kinda fixed the 9 car’s deal, and it’s going to fix the 19 car. I promise you it’s going to fix it one way or the other and we’re going to be back where we were. Then we’ll have the 9, 10 and 19 running good instead of just the two cars. We will be back, and I’ll make sure of that.”

WHAT’S THE TIMETABLE FOR THE 19 TURNAROUND? “This week. I’m telling you, it’s this week. You watch from here on out. The 19 car will haul the mail from here on out. I’m confident of that. Last week we had the best car we had in two years. If they give me what we had last week every week, we’ll probably win a lot of races. I’ve got the same car this week. The balance is like I like. It’s not what Kasey likes or what Scott likes. It’s what Jeremy likes. You can take the same cars and they can all be different. The bodies are the same and the chassis are the same. It’s what we do to it, the front end settings and the balance and once you find that…..”