Catchfence

No. 11 Shore Lodge Toyota (Brian Scott) - Photo Credit: Chris Graythen / Getty Images for NASCAR

No. 11 Shore Lodge Team Notes of Interest

· Brian Scott and the No. 11 Shore Lodge Toyota team hope to tame the “too tough” Darlington Raceway during Friday night’s Royal Purple 200. The event will be Scott’s third career race at the 1.366-mile egg-shaped oval.

· Scott made his first ever NASCAR start at Darlington in 2009 while running a partial Nationwide Series schedule in addition to competing full time in the Truck Series. He started the event from the 21st position, stayed out of trouble and eventually finished the race in 20th place.

· Last Race: Scott dealt with multiple issues during last weekend’s BUBBA Burger 250 at Richmond International Raceway. In addition to battling an ill-handling race car, he also had to deal with a case of strep throat. After earning a season-best starting position of third place, Scott spent the duration of the race battling a tight-handling race car for which no adjustments seemed to help ease. Only three cautions slowed the race which resulted in a number of drivers, including Scott, to lose a lap or more to eventual race winner Denny Hamlin. Scott eventually finished the race in the 15th position, the first car one lap down.

· Scott continues to sit eighth in the NASCAR Nationwide Series driver point standings following his 15th-place finish at Richmond last week. Justin Allgaier is the current leader of the championship standings. Scott sits 48 points out of first place.

· Chassis #114 is the car Scott will race this weekend at Richmond International Raceway. Chassis #114 has been raced one other time in 2011. Scott scored a 14th-place finish in Chassis #114 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in early March. Chassis #106 will serve as the backup. This car has not yet been raced in 2011.

· To access information on Brian Scott and No. 11 Team visit: www.joegibbsracing.com and follow twitter.com/bscottracing and twitter.com/joegibbsracing

Brian Scott

Racing at Darlington Raceway:

“I’ve always been really fast at Darlington but I’ve struggled to make it to the end without damage. It seems like something kind of always happens there. I’m looking forward to taking these new Toyota Camrys to Darlington with the beefed up right sides. I’ve seen a lot of the Cup races there and it seems like they’re able to bounce off the wall quite a bit of times and not have that much damage because of the impact-absorbing foam on the right side and things of that nature. The cars seem to be pretty strong. I think that you’re going to be able to push the edge and if you hit the wall it’s not going to end your night. I think we’re going to be pretty fast there. My teammate Denny Hamlin – he’s really good there so I plan on talking to him pretty thoroughly to see what it is that makes him so good.”

Racing the new car at Darlington for the first time:

“I think everybody likes the fact that the impact-absorbing foam is there. The SAFER barriers are there. The cars are a little stronger and a lot safer. It makes going to a place like Darlington less daunting for sure. I’m looking forward to it. I’m looking forward to driving one of these new cars around there. It will be different I think for a lot of the Nationwide Series guys. For the Sprint Cup guys I don’t think it will be that different. They will be a little more used to it and probably adapt a little quicker. I’ve got a strong team with Joe Gibbs Racing and I think that our No. 11 Shore Lodge Toyota will be pretty good.”

- Joe Gibbs Racing Press Release