Toyota NSCS Loudon post-qualifying driver quotes

Denny Hamlin was the fastest of the Toyota stable in Loudon qualifying.

DENNY HAMLIN, No. 11 FedEx Ground Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing
Starting Position: 4th
How was your qualifying session?

"Our lap wasn't bad — just lacking overall speed. Really we need a tenth-and-a-half to really be able to run with the 2 car (Brad Keselowski). Overall, a little discouraged about the speed, but happy that we're in the top-five in qualifying. That's pretty good. We'll get a good pit stall out of it. That's the most important thing. Good starting spot. I just want to be able to fight here for the win — we got to get a little more speed to do that."

What impact will there be from the expected warmer temperatures the next two days?
"It will change a lot — no doubt. It will change quite a few things. Whatever problem you have is just going to get a little bit worse and so you have to pay attention to that tomorrow in practice."

Did you have any real problems today?

"My balance is not bad really. Struggling to kind of find out where I was a little bit off. We'll analyze it a little bit more and figure it out."

Kyle Busch is pleased with a top-five qualifying effort.

KYLE BUSCH, No. 18 M&M's Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing
Starting Position: 5th

How was qualifying?

"Qualifying was alright. We ended up okay — probably not as good as we wanted to be there after sitting on the pole here in the spring. There are a lot of fast cars that are really good this time around. Not bad. The car stuck well. The guys did a really nice job for just making qualifying runs today. Top-five is good."

What impact will there be from the expected warmer temperatures the next two days?

"Times are just going to slow down. The track is going to grease up. That's typical Loudon stuff — unless you get a cloudy, overcast day on Sunday. If you get that, you might have similar track temps to today — even though the ambient (temperature) is higher, there's no sun beating down on it. Just depends on what you get. Conditions always change."

Matt Kenseth says track will change a lot over the weekend.

MATT KENSETH, No. 20 Dollar General Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing
Starting Position: 16th

How was qualifying?

"We were just 16th. We were just off a little bit. Race trim — I thought our car was really good. The track is going to change a lot tomorrow. It's going to change a lot again on Sunday with the temperature difference and the other races on the track. It drove pretty good in race trim — good speed. Qualifying trim — just off a little bit. I just couldn't get any more speed out of it other than that."

How important is starting position here?

"I think when you qualify well you say it's the most important thing in the world and when you qualify bad like I did today you're going to say it doesn't matter. It is seriously important everywhere — none of these tracks are easy to pass. Our car has been pretty good here last year and this year, and we've been able to pass halfway decent. Hopefully, we can get a good race set-up. Starting 16th isn't the end of the world."

Can New Hampshire really hurt somebody or help somebody in the Chase?

"I think they're all equally as important — at least per round. It's not too important to the 2 car (Brad Keselowski), but other than that I think this track carries as much weight as Chicago or Dover — as far as the first round goes."

Toyota Racing