Catchfence

Toyota Motorsports Logo

• Kyle Likes Chances at Daytona
• Busch, Speed Prepare For Saturday Daytona Doubleheader
• Scott Speaks About Sports Cars
• Leffler Likes Double-File Restarts
• Lagasse Learning Plate Racing

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS)

NEWS, NOTES & NUMBERS: Toyota Camry drivers have combined for five wins (Kyle Busch — Las Vegas, Bristol and Richmond; David Reutimann — Charlotte; Joey Logano — New Hampshire), 19 top-fives and 34 top-10 finishes through 17 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) races … Nineteen-year-old rookie Logano became the youngest race-winner in NSCS history when he won at New Hampshire last weekend … A year ago, Busch won the NSCS race at Daytona International Speedway … Toyota NSCS drivers Kyle Busch and Scott Speed will team-up to drive the No. 02 Lexus Riley for Chip Ganassi Racing in the Grand-Am Rolex Series race at Daytona Saturday afternoon before that night’s NSCS race.

JOEY LOGANO, No. 20 Home Depot Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing

How special was your first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win at New Hampshire last weekend?

“I think your first win — no matter where it’s at — is huge. Obviously, it’s not the way you want to win your first race, in the rain, but 20 years down the road when you look in the record books no one will know the difference. I’ll take them any way I can. New Hampshire is my ‘home’ track and where I watched my first Cup race. And Zippy (Greg Zipadelli, crew chief), and a lot of the guys at Joe Gibbs Racing are from the northeast, so it’s cool to get a win there.”

KYLE BUSCH, No. 18 Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing

How slick is the track at Daytona – on a scale of from one to 10 — in July versus February?

“I guess if you put the spring time slickness at a three, this might be like a seven or maybe an eight. It’s not terrible. It’s bad, but it’s not terrible. Some guys will tell you worse, but I believe our cars are really good handling at that track. The only places I really have (not struggled) at are Bristol, Richmond and Daytona. That’s where our cars run really strong. I’m looking forward to Daytona. Hopefully, we can stay out of mayhem and at least have a good, solid run there. They might bounce a lot and look terrible, but for some reason they’re fast and they still grip good and it should be a good race for us.”

SCOTT SPEED, No. 82 Red Bull Toyota Camry, Red Bull Racing Team

What are some of the challenges you and Kyle Busch will face on Saturday as you race in both series?

“The (Grand-Am) car is completely different. Not only is it racing different being on a road course, but the cars themselves having so much more downforce are obviously completely different to drive. Luckily, we got a test session in. We were able to do some laps which was very beneficial for both of us to get into the groove of driving a car that’s so much different and that actually has some grip. And then to have the two different races on the same day, I’m sure that’s going to be interesting. I’m sure Kyle (Busch) will be more used to doing that kind of stuff than I am. But, nonetheless, for both of us it’s going to be a big challenge to go from a car that’s got a lot of grip and turning right to Daytona where you’re just trying to keep it flat-out and drafting all day.”

Did you find during the test that you and Kyle Busch like similar things in a sports car?

“I think we both like similar things, for sure. I have to say, how fast he (Kyle Busch) was able to progress and how much he picked up was truly impressive. He’s a man, there’s no question. One good thing was we were able to fit into the same seat, we are similar sizes and we like the same car set-up. A lot of the big fundamental things we got out of the way and I think it will work out good with the two of us.”

NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS)

NEWS, NOTES & NUMBERS: Toyota Camry drivers have recorded seven wins (Busch — California, Texas, Richmond, Nashville-2 and New Hampshire; Logano – Nashville-1 and Kentucky), 25 top-fives and 56 top-10 finishes through 16 2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) races … Busch leads the NNS series point standings, holding a 162-point advantage over second-place Carl Edwards … Last year, Camry driver Denny Hamlin visited victory lane in July … Jason Leffler has a current streak of 11 consecutive top-10 finishes dating back to the race at Nashville in April … Scott Lagasse, Jr. is from St. Augustine, Fla., and graduated from his hometown Flagler College.

JASON LEFFLER, No. 38 Great Clips Toyota Camry, Braun Racing

What do you think about the double-file restarts beginning at Daytona in the Nationwide Series?

“I think the double-file restarts are going to bring a lot of excitement to the Nationwide Series races. It’s going to allow us the opportunity to race for position instead of spending time trying to get by a lap-down car. There will be times that you feel like it hurts you, but more often than not, I think it will be viewed as a benefit. I’m really excited about it and I think the fans are going to love it!”

SCOTT LAGASSE, JR., No. 11 E-Pack Manufacturing Toyota Camry, CJM Racing

What have you learned from your first two restrictor-plate races this year?

“At Talladega, I learned how the air works and the drafting in general. I learned a little bit more about what I needed the car to do and feel like in the draft. Each race, I’m learning more and more so that helps a lot. I think we’ll be pretty good at Daytona. We had a really good car at Daytona in February and got caught up in something that probably wasn’t of our doing. Just trying to ride and stay out of the mess. Then we turn around and go to Talladega and run really well there. I’m excited about going back to Daytona. I think we were just kind of riding there the first time and it felt like we were pretty good. It should be a fun race.”

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS)

NEWS, NOTES & NUMBERS: In 11 2009 NCWTS races, Toyota Tundra drivers have combined for six wins (Todd Bodine — Daytona and Texas; Busch — California and Atlanta; Mike Skinner — Kansas; Brian Scott — Dover), 31 top-fives and 59 top-10 finishes … In addition, Tundra drivers have recorded three poles and led 792 laps … Six Tundra drivers are currently in the top-10 in the NCWTS point standings — Skinner (third), Bodine (fourth), David Starr (fifth), Scott (sixth), Tayler Malsam (seventh) and Terry Cook (eighth) … Tundra drivers have two weeks off before returning to action July 18 at Kentucky Speedway … Skinner is using his weekend off to travel to West Sussex, England, to compete in this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed (July 3-5), where he will drive a Red Bull Camry in the famous hill-climb event.

BRIAN SCOTT, No. 16 Albertsons Toyota Tundra, Xpress Motorsports

Why have you been so successful this season?

“My hat’s off to our guys. Everybody on our Xpress Motorsports Albertson’s Toyota Tundra put in really hard work and a good effort in the shop. That ultimately translates to how we show up at a race. We unload well and we run well. That’s just their preparation. All the guys work tirelessly. Jeff Hensley is the best crew chief when you get to a race track. He calls a great race and he can see it through to the end. He knows our fuel mileage. He knows our pit strategy. He has it figured out. I’m just lucky enough to go out there and drive. If I don’t screw up and we don’t have any bad luck, we can contend for a win every week.”

- Toyota Motorsports, Press Release