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• Kyle Chats About Chicagoland
• Camry Drivers Like Chicagoland
• Waltrip Winds Down Driving Duties in 2010
• Crew Chief Ready to Visit Victory Lane
• Tundra Drivers Enjoy Break

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), 20 top-fives and 37 top-10 finishes through 18 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) races this season … A year ago, Busch made a dramatic last lap pass on Jimmie Johnson to win at Joliet’s Chicagoland Speedway … Michael Waltrip Racing announced this week that Michael Waltrip will run a limited schedule next season and Martin Truex, Jr. will drive the No. 56 NAPA AUTO PARTS Camry full-time in 2010 … A Camry Hybrid will serve as the pace car for both races this weekend at Chicagoland.

KYLE BUSCH, No. 18 M&M’s Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing

Does Chicagoland Speedway change m ore at night compared to other tracks?

“The biggest thing I learned last year was the track didn’t change much. It just got cooler and gained grip. The balance didn’t change a lot — that was pretty cool to see. Charlotte — we go there and it’s probably the most temperamental track on temperature — it’s so hot during the day and you’re sideways loose busting your butt and then all of a sudden you get to night and you’re knocking every wall down with the right front corner. At Chicago, it didn’t change much and the track was well lit by the lights. Everything went good there last year.”

Did sweeping the Sprint Cup and Nationwide races at Chicagoland a year ago make it a memorable race weekend?

“Winning both races at Chicago last year — it was just a great weekend. It was special, but there have been several special wins the last couple of years. Winning at Atlanta, Daytona, and Infineon last year, and winning at home in Vegas and on my birthday in Richmond, were also great races. But, winning Chicago last year and beating Jimmie (Johnson) was definitely neat. I have a lot of
respect for him (Johnson), Jeff Gordon, and anybody in this sport since it’s so competitive. To go out and beat guys like that — it’s
something that’s pretty special. I really cherished that for sure and I know M&M’s did too.”

DENNY HAMLIN, No. 11 FedEx Freight Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing

What do you like about racing at Chicagoland?

“It’s one of the tracks that you really can’t compare to anywhere. It’s a mile-and-a-half in its own, for sure. It’s a relatively flat track and I think it’s lost a ton of grip over the last couple years, whether it’s for weather or whatever reason. It’s had really good racing in the past. I know last year they had a great finish with the 48 (Jimmie Johnson) and the 18 (Busch). We like going there. It’s somewhat close to the city so we can visit and spend time there on Sunday. I like going there for that reason.”

MARCOS AMBROSE, No. 47 Kingsford/Clorox Toyota Camry, JTG-Daugherty Racing

What is it you like about racing at Chicagoland?

“I’m looking forward to Chicago. It’s a unique track that we only get to once a year. I don’t quite know what to expect, but I feel like our one-and-a-half-mile program has been going well. Any of those one-and-a-half-mile race tracks we feel we can contend for a top-10, which for my first year is what we’re aiming for.”

MICHAEL WALTRIP, No. 55 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing

What are your future plans as an owner/driver in the Sprint Cup Series?

“As an owner, I knew there would come a time when I wouldn’t be a full-time driver anymore, and that time is now. In 2010, I’m
going to run a limited schedule. I do know that for the 52nd running of my favorite race, and the biggest race in the world, the 52nd
running of the Daytona 500, I will be racing in the 500 in my No. 55 NAPA car. I do know that I’m going to run four or five races, and maybe as many as 10 or 12.”

Why did you select Martin Truex, Jr. to replace you beginning in 2010?

“I’m turning my car over to a guy that I think can go win the championship in it. If I thought I wasn’t the best man for the job, I wouldn’t have had a ride for this long. If I wasn’t the guy to go race it on Sunday, somebody else would take my place. And I believe at this time in my career that Martin (Truex, Jr.) is the right guy to take over my car and go win races in it. I just wanted to do this — to me it’s always been about the sponsors, and NAPA has been the greatest sponsor I could ever have. I thought this was an opportunity to put them in victory lane on a regular basis. I couldn’t be happier or prouder.”

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), 28 top-fives and 60 top-10 finishes through 17 NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) races this season … Camry drivers have led 1,981 of 3,277 NNS laps this season … Busch leads the NNS series point standings, holding a 172-point advantage over second-place Carl Edwards … Scott Lagasse, Jr., took the first-place trophy in Chicagoland’s 2008 ARCA event … Trevor Bayne returns to the seat of the No. 99 Camry for the next four NNS events beginning this weekend … Braun Racing announced Great Clips will continue to sponsor the No. 38 Camry for three more years.

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

Are you looking forward to returning to the site of your last ARCA win?

“Chicago has been good to me in the past. I’ve run a couple of ARCA races there and even walked away with a win last year. I’m a big fan of the configuration of the track, and a lot rests on the fuel mileage there. Teams will play on pit strategy when it comes down to it. It would be great to see the E-Pak Toyota up there contending for a win at the end of the night, and I think we have all the elements in place to do just that.”

TRENT OWENS, Crew Chief, No. 32 Dollar General Toyota Camry, Braun Racing

How much are you looking forward to the Chicagoland race?

“We have had some really strong races this year with Brian Vickers, especially at the mile-and-a-half tracks. I think we are just knocking on the door of a win with the No. 32 Dollar General Toyota. We are bringing the same car with us that Vickers drove at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. That Camry was one of the strongest cars of the race and, had that rain held off, I think we would have had some celebrating to do in victory lane. To get our first win of the season this weekend at Chicagoland would be extra special since it is the Dollar General 300.”

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS)

NEWS, NOTES & NUMBERS: In 11 NCWTS races in 2009, 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 (seventh), Tayler Malsam (seventh) and Terry Cook (eighth) … Skinner spent last weekend in England for the Goodwood Festival of Speed where he ran exhibition runs in a Red Bull Camry show car … Red Horse Racing crew chief Rick Gay will get married this weekend to team public relations manager Sarah Holladay … The next race on the NCWTS schedule is at Kentucky Speedway on July 18.

- Toyota Motorsports, Press Release