Darlington - Quotables
Darlington, S.C.
by Stan Creekmore and Bobby Bennett

DALE EARNHARDT JR., NO. 8 BUDWEISER MONTE CARLO SS -

DO YOU LOOK FORWARD TO DARLINGTON?

"Well, it's difficult to look forward to it. It's been a tough track for me. It's really hard to race on with the way it wears the tires out. But it's a good thing that they started running it at night. That's a little bit easier on the tires. And it does add a little more grip to the surface because that's what everybody is always in search of at that track. I haven't had a lot of success there. It would be great to get us a win there because any time you win at Darlington, you really put in a good hard day's work. We've had some pretty good cars there; not really any great finishes, but we've had some decent runs there. Every time I go back, I feel like I'm a little closer to that opportunity of winning there."

JEFF GORDON, NO. 24 DUPONT MONTE CARLO SS -

ON DARLINGTON AND WHAT IT TAKES TO BE SUCCESSFUL AT THAT RACE TRACK:
"Darlington is one of those odd mixes with the way we're setting the cars up. You've got Darlington where the asphalt is worn our. It wears the tires out. You have to have a lot more finesse there and patience than you do at most of the tracks we're going to these days. I always look forward to going to Darlington. It's one of my favorites and I'm sure it always will be."

WHAT DOES RUNNING 500 MILES AT DARLINGTON DO TO YOU MENTALLY?
"That's exactly it. It's very mentally draining. Unless it's hot outside, it's not a real physical race track. You can't run fast enough and hard enough to really push yourself, your body. You just have to be careful not to push too hard because the car is slipping and sliding at all times and it's all about staying out of the wall."

JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE'S MONTE CARLO SS -

ON GOING TO DARLINGTON HAVING HAD SUCCESS THERE:
"I'm so excited to go back. I know it's going to be a good track. There's some very hungry guys. I know (Greg) Biffle, he's had a tough start to the season and he's always strong there. I know Jeff (Gordon) is going to be good. There's a few guys like Matt (Kenseth), (Jeff) Burton, guys that are going to be really strong there. I love that race track. There's not a track that I smile about anymore going to it. I really, really enjoy going to that race track."

MATT KENSETH – N0. 17 DEWALT FORD FUSION -

IS THERE ANY WAY OF DESCRIBING THE GRIP YOU HAVE AT A TRACK LIKE RICHMOND AND THE LACK OF GRIP YOU HAVE AT DARLINGTON?  “It’s kind of a night and day difference.  You keep pretty constant grip at Richmond, but at Darlington you have pretty good grip for about two laps and then it starts going away and it’s a lot different, but it’s a lot different type of race track, too.”

WILL IT BE TOUGHER TO SET UP THE CAR BECAUSE NOBODY WAS ABLE TO TEST THERE AND THE TIRES DROP OFF SO FAST?  “Yeah, it’ll be a tough one.  Hopefully they give us enough tires to get through practice because that’s a tough one without testing.  The tires are gonna wear out in 10 laps, so that’s gonna be one of the most difficult races with the new testing policy.” 

HOW HARD IS DARLINGTON ON A DRIVER MENTALLY?  “You have to pay a lot attention.  It’s an old saying, but you’ve really got to race the race track and try not to get yourself in trouble.  If you get caught up racing other cars, then it’s pretty easy to misjudge something and get in trouble.” 

IS 500 MILES THERE AS CHALLENGING AN EVENT YOU’LL SEE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR?  “It was worse on Labor Day when it was hot out and it was a lot tougher.  It’s a little easier at night because you have a little bit more grip and it’s a little bit more forgiving.” 

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