Catchfence

• Kyle Busch (second) was the highest finishing Camry driver in Saturday night’s NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) race at Daytona International Speedway.
• Toyota drivers Joey Logano (fourth), Kasey Kahne (fifth) and Brian Vickers (seventh) also posted top-10 finishes.
• Busch led three times for 14 (of 102) laps in the race and Michael Waltrip led once for four laps.
• Camry drivers Michael Waltrip (11th), Michael McDowell (13th), Scott Lagasse, Jr. (18th), Jason Leffler (19th), and Michael Annett (35th) were also in the field.
• Busch maintained his lead in the unofficial NNS points by 172 points over second-place, Carl Edwards. Other Camry drivers who rank in the top-25 include Leffler (fourth), Logano (fifth), McDowell (11th), Lagasse, Jr. (12th), Annett (15th) and Vickers (21st).

KYLE BUSCH, No. 18 NOS Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 2nd

How was your run tonight?

“It was good. We had a great race car really. It was a lot of fun out there tonight. We got cars that were starting to slide around like lap 9 and we made some adjustments there throughout the pit stops and just little minor things trying to get a little more grip in it. It didn’t really seem to change it much but overall the car was really good on long runs. It seemed to be able to get up through there pretty well. The 29 (Clint Bowyer) was really good on the long runs as well too. He was about the best car and had the most motor. Unfortunately we had to settle for second tonight but it was a hard fought and well battled second so we’ll take it.”

What was your plan on the last lap had it gone all of the way?

“There really wasn’t one. It was all going to depend on what happened with the 20 (Joey Logano) and I getting into turn one through one and two and down the back stretch. If we could’ve got teamed up together and he could’ve pushed me down the back maybe I could’ve done something like in February and got up underneath the 29 (Clint Bowyer) and packed some air underneath his spoiler and try to get him loose and move him up the track. Other than that man, it was pretty much just going to finish down in order. Whatever lane got the best push was going to be the lane that was going to have the overcome. The 20 (Joey Logano) did a great job on that last restart. We talked about that earlier today and he got us a good second-place finish there and knocked Carl (Edwards) back a little bit wherever.”

Was the bottom lane the place to be tonight?

“It was and I expected it to be that way tonight. The inside lane I figured was going to be the way to go because these cars are wide open the whole time almost. I think tomorrow it will be the top. The outside lane carrying the momentum is definitely going to be the better lane.”

Did you think you had a car capable of winning tonight?

“We didn’t have the best car tonight so we’ll take a second place. That car the 29 (Clint Bowyer) had was pretty fast and of course it’s a bowtie and we’re struggling with what we’ve got with Toyota. It was a great race for us. We got a good second place finish out of it instead of being torn up and being in the back. It does suck to finish second but I’m glad we did because the 29 (Clint Bowyer) was fast.”

JOEY LOGANO, No. 20 Great Clips Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 4th

Did you think your car was able to make a pass for the win at the end of the race?

“I don’t know. We were sitting there third behind Kyle (Busch). I’m not sure we could’ve got by the 29 (Clint Bowyer) there at the end. We were in a good position for what we had there. Maybe me and Kyle (Busch) could’ve ganged up and done something there. Overall, the SportsClips Toyota was good. It didn’t take off good there at the beginning of the race and we kept adjusting on it and got it good at the end and we got track position back. Front to the back, front to the back and that’s kind of how it cycled through on this track.”

Did your car seem to work well drafting with other cars on the race track?

“Quite a bit. Pretty much the first half of the race I was out there to make friends really and see what cars you work good with and all of that. Me and Carl (Edwards) just had a close call out there. He got loose there in the center and then I could’ve stuck my nose in there and caused a big wreck.”

Did you feel more comfortable drafting during this race?

“I was having a good time there the last 20 laps. I was like, ‘This is pretty fun.’ If you’ve got a big run you can try to get to the lead but it’s hard to get to the lead and it’s hard to pass the leaders. It’s just kind of how a lot of these things are. I haven’t figured out the whole draft thing as far as getting myself into the lead. I can get myself into second, third but getting myself into the lead takes a lot. You don’t see many cars able to do that. You can have a massive run and guys lining up with you to get up there. It takes the whole package to get up to the lead but I could push people pretty good with this car.”

KASEY KAHNE, No. 10 McDonald’s McCafe Toyota Camry, Braun Racing
Finishing Position: 5th

How did your car handle during tonight’s race?

“Our car was great. I’m real happy with the team and everything. It was fun to be in the Nationwide Series and work with Braun. We just had no help. I felt like my car was really fast and nobody wanted to push me. Every time I looked in my mirror there was nobody there. We need somebody to help. We still were fast without anybody but we needed somebody to get us to the front.”

BRIAN VICKERS, No. 32 Dollar General Stores Toyota Camry, Braun Racing
Finishing Position: 7th

MICHAEL WALTRIP, No. 99 Aaron’s Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing
Finishing Position: 11th

MICHAEL McDOWELL, No. 47 Tom’s Toyota Camry, JTG-Daugherty Racing
Finishing Position: 13th

SCOTT LAGASSE, JR., No. 11 E-Pack Manufacturing Toyota Camry, CJM Racing
Finishing Position: 18th

JASON LEFFLER, No. 38 Great Clips Toyota Camry, Braun Racing
Finishing Position: 19th

MICHAEL ANNETT, No. 15 Pilot Travel Centers/Ventrilo Toyota Camry, Germain Racing
Finishing Position: 35th

- Toyota Motorsports, Press Release