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Sound off: Top quotes from drivers at Playoffs Media Day
By Staff Report | Published: September 12, 2019 17
David Becker | Getty Images
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Zack Albert | NASCAR Digital Media
All 16 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs drivers have hit Las Vegas, site of Sunday's playoff opener. Before they hit the track, they all previewed their postseason outlook at Media Day. Read on for the best quote from each driver.
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Zack Albert | NASCAR Digital Media
"I've been asked this question every single year and yeah, if you don't win a championship, it's disappointing. I've been to the Homestead race four years in a row, only won it once, so I don't know if that's a little LeBron James-esque, but it feels like I can get there, I just can't seal the deal." -- Top-seeded Kyle Busch
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Alejandro Alvarez | NASCAR Digital Media
"For us to win it, it would mean that everything we've worked for, everything we've executed and worked tirelessly for has come true. It would show that hard work does pay off, and I think that's the most important thing. Certainly, from being a small kid, that's all I've ever wanted to do was be a NASCAR driver." -- Denny Hamlin
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David Becker | Getty Images
Martin Truex Jr. on recalling the Martinsville incident with Joey Logano one year later: "I think that I would certainly do Martinsville differently. But, until you're in those moments, you just don't know how you are going to react or what you going to do. It's not like you plan these things, it just comes naturally. I think for me, experience and understanding the guys I race with -- who will do what and who won't do what -- definitely makes you think about it more."
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Zack Albert | NASCAR Digital Media
"Anything that happens that is off the wall shouldn’t be a surprise to us because we have been a part of some of those situations and seen them as we have gone through the playoffs. You have to adapt and adjust as the weeks go by but it is definitely an aggressive, one week at a time approach." -- Kevin Harvick
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Tyler Strong | NASCAR Digital Media
"It almost doesn't matter who the favorite is because it can change in the matter of a week. I feel better and more confident (this year) as a driver and team that we have speed in our cars and have done it before. Anytime you have done something before you feel more confident in what you can do. I feel much better than last year and hopefully we can do the same.” -- Joey Logano
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David Becker | Getty Images
"Certainly winning a championship is a legacy. Winning a second championship is an elite legacy in the sport. Something I certainly hope to do and have put a lot of emphasis on and probably is the biggest thing I want to do in the sport. That opportunity is in front of us over these 10 weeks." -- Brad Keselowski on eyeing his second championship
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Tyler Strong | NASCAR Digital Media
"Asserting yourself amongst those guys that win a lot and win often and win championships and do it regularly, until you assert yourself amongst that crowd, they’re not worried about you." -- Chase Elliott
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Alejandro Alvarez | NASCAR Digital Media
"I feel like Kyle Larson and myself are in a good spot to make a run. We're not going to do it individually, we're going to do it together." -- Kurt Busch on Chip Ganassi Racing's playoff outlook
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David Becker | Getty Images
Alex Bowman on feeling pressure to advance in the playoffs: "I feel like my career has kind of been made by performing under those high-pressure situations. I'm all for it and ready to go. ... I think you kind of see people crack under the pressure. People make mistakes. I’m one that kind of enjoys the pressure and wants to make the best of it."
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Alejandro Alvarez | NASCAR Digital Media
"You learn each time you do something right and I think the first time in the playoffs was good for us (in 2018) and it was just learning a little bit more about it. You don't really know what to expect when you’ve never been there." -- Erik Jones
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David Becker | Getty Images
"Momentum is huge in any sport, but especially in racing. We have been really fast lately, run up front, and had some good races these last couple of months. At Indy, I crashed, but I felt like I had the fastest car there." -- Kyle Larson
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David Becker | Getty Images
Ryan Blaney on being the only winless Penske driver entering the playoffs: "You want to be winning races with your teammates, right? I mean, your teammates winning races you want to win races and you know, it sucks that we haven't won a race yet this year. There's a handful of them I wish we got back but you just try to move forward and move on and try to do the best you can."
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David Becker | Getty Images
WIlliam Byron on flying under the radar: "It’s a little bit of an advantage to have that lack of pressure on our team. Our goal was obviously to make the playoffs and to accomplish that has been really good. I feel like now we can focus more on executing the first three races and try to get through that round. So yeah, I don’t think it really matters either way but it does help that we don’t really have that pressure on us.”
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Zack Albert | NASCAR Digital Media
"I would say that we have been in this position before. We were under the radar and an underdog last year going into the playoffs and I don't think anybody would have picked us to be so close to making it to that final four and going to have a shot to run for the championship. We ended up finishing fifth in the points." -- Aric Almirola
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David Becker | Getty Images
"Hell no, this is fun! We are in the playoffs, you know what I mean? Last week we were pooping our pants, man! Now it is real. We have accomplished it and we have a championship to go after. It is as simple as that. Why on earth would you be nervous about this? We have raced for the last month-and-a-half nervous. We are used to it. All these other guys, the pressure is back on them now." -- An honest Clint Bowyer on if he feels nervous
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Zack Albert | NASCAR Digital Media
"I think it takes a pretty stubborn individual to thrive in unpredictability. I guess maybe I fit that criteria." -- Ryan Newman on if he thrives in the playoffs