 | | Kurt Busch kept the points lead for the sixth week in a row. Credit: Autostock |
By Ron Lemasters Jr., Special to NASCAR.COM
November 14, 2004
09:12 PM EST (02:12 GMT)
1. Kurt Busch, 6,346 "We can smile about this finish but our race car wasn't all that sporty. The Smirnoff Ice car was good on specific run, but after that we couldn't find the right setup. "It was a great job by the crew today to bring me back up and to give us those awesome pit stops at the end to get us track position. To come home in this position gives us good incentive to go to Miami and do the deal. "This was the worst car I've ever had at Darlington. I'm surprised. It didn't react to any of the changes we made today. The only thing that saved us was our pit stops. It was an awesome day for the pit stops and the crew did a magnificent job. "They stepped it up and knew when we had to do it and to gain back those spots we lost here in the spring due to a pit stop. It was a great day. "I didn't know what the car was capable of because it was a horrible driving race car, but it was a good day for Smirnoff Ice to come on board and showcase what they can bring us next year. Just the way our team pulled together for those pit stops at the end, that's what kept us in it." 2. Jimmie Johnson, minus-18 "I can't believe it. Winning the Southern 500 and winning in Martinsville with what took place with the airplane and Hendrick Motorsports.  |  | | Jimmie Johnson has gone from ninth in the standings to second in just five races. Credit: Autostock |
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"Going to Atlanta and doing it. Fighting out way back in this championship, I just can't believe it. These guys here behind me won this race on pit road today. "There were a lot of race cars that were equal like the No. 6 (Mark Martin) and the 24 (Jeff Gordon). I had to overcome some stuff with the No. 29 (Kevin Harvick). "For some reason he's upset and trying to wreck me and stopping on the backstretch and all kinds of stuff there. But we'll get it sorted out. To overcome everything and to be in Victory Lane with this Lowe's Monte Carlo is awesome." 3. Jeff Gordon, minus-21 |  | | Jeff Gordon's winless streak reached 13 races. Credit: Autostock |
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"Well, I'm proud of the DuPont Chevrolet team for the job they did all night long. We had great pit stops and an awesome race car. "We made some big adjustments to really get the car where it needed to be. I'm happy for Jimmie and that Lowe's team, but we made a mistake and it cost us the win. We came back and fought back to third. Mistakes happen. "I've made them. Everybody makes them. But right now at this time in the game in this championship, that cost us a lot. We've got some work to make up in Homestead." 4. Dale Earnhardt, Jr., minus-72 "Yeah, we got lucky the caution came out and gave us a chance to change that battery or we were going to be in bad shape. It was not a good car. |  | | Dale Earnhardt Jr. rallied from a dead battery to finish 11th. Credit: Autostock |
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"We've had better cars here and we've had worse. It's not necessarily the team's fault. We, as a group, just can't really communicate about this track and I can't tell them exactly what I need. "The whole place just needs new asphalt and believe me, I'd pay for it myself. I'd buy the whole damn thing if I could. Anyway, it was a good finish for us. I'm happy about Jimmie Johnson winning. "Those guys have been on a tear and that's been good to see. It wasn't a great race, but it wasn't a bad one." 5. Mark Martin, minus-82 "Pat Tryson is a great cheerleader besides some other things, too. He's pretty incredible. |  | CHASE FOR THE NEXTEL CUP | |
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"This Viagra team gave me a great car tonight. We just hit it on that last set of tires. The car was incredibly quick and I'm just proud of this Viagra team. "This Taurus was fast. We hit it right at the end. I wish we would have had five more laps. What a tremendous team I have here with this Viagra team. They hit it right that last run there. Man, I wish we would have had just a few more laps, but it was a great run for us, a great team effort. "They were incredible all day on pit road and the car was just a pleasure to drive. It was a great race. I'm really pleased with the way it turned out, but, man it was fast that last 10 laps. I would have liked to have a had a few more." 6. Tony Stewart, minus-185 "I'm glad this is over." 7. Ryan Newman, minus-244 ."We had the car to do it today. The Alltel Dodge was awesome. It's just unfortunate that the motor let go. I think we had something for 'em there. | | Southern 500 | |
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"The last two laps we were the fastest car on the track. We weren't even in clean air. We'll get 'em at Homestead. "We've been running strong these last 10 races. I look forward to going to the last race. The track was fast. There's no other word for it other than fast. "The guys are experiencing grip they've never experienced at this place. Obviously we're not in the hunt for the championship now, but may the best man win." 8. Matt Kenseth, minus-383 No quotes available. 9. Elliott Sadler, minus-383 "We dug ourselves in a hole this weekend by having to go to a backup car during Saturday's practice. Even though we felt good about the car after last practice, we just never could get the handling right on the M&M's Ford today. "It was extremely loose throughout the entire race and we never could get it tightened up enough to where it was comfortable to drive. " I just hung on for 500 miles and tried to make the most of the day. So, we're just going to go to Homestead and go for broke and try to get another win for M&M's and Robert Yates Racing." 10. Jeremy Mayfield, minus-404 "I don't understand it. We were good and it went bad for a while and stayed that way for awhile and then it got good again. We missed it somewhere. "I've never seen it happen that fast. I rode the wall a couple of times and just couldn't get off of it. We had a good car to start with, made a couple of adjustments and I guess we just missed it. "We went the wrong way for awhile and then we got good again. Overall we came home 19th. As bad as we were in the middle of the race, I guess that's pretty good. It's pretty cool out here tonight. Maybe next time they'll start the race a little earlier | 
