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Roy J. Akers — www.skyviewsports.net
Charlotte, NC. — NASCAR drivers are bringing fans up to speed and on video above and by print below. You will be up on the latest in just a few minutes.
Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
You seem to do really well at that Charlotte Motor Speedway. You also won the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race there in May, but what makes you so good at Charlotte Motor Speedway?
“Fast cars, I can’t look past that. It’s the first track I’ve been able to fortunately win at in all three of the national series for Truck, O’Reilly and Cup. Definitely good memories, a lot of losses. I mean, to say we’ve won three races means we’ve lost a whole lot more. So there’s been some humbling times, but I can’t look past winning the Coke 600 last year, and trying to go and win another oval race there is top of the list. I mean, just what that would mean for us as a team and me personally to drive back into victory lane is everything we’re trying to do. If the race car handles like it did last year at 600, we’ll have a shot.”
I guess this goes without asking, you were a fan to see the Charlotte Oval back on the fall schedule rather than the Roval, correct?
“Yeah, I would have wished it was an oval track last year. From the high of winning the 600 in May on Memorial Day Sunday, to the agony of falling out of the then playoffs last year at the Roval, by two huge mistakes on my part. So it wasn’t actually on the track that caused me the issue, it was pit road and just big errors that took us out of advancing to the round of eight a year ago, and then you double down on that and not even make the chase this year is tough. But yeah, Charlotte was one of my coolest core life memories that I’ll take with me for the rest of my days. So yeah, glad to be on the Oval and back on the circle track.”
Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Let’s go back to your first NASCAR Cup Series win. It was the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. You’re battling the great Jimmie Johnson. Describe that feeling coming off Turn 4 knowing that you’ve got enough fuel and you’re about to win your first race and it’s a Crown Jewel?
“I just remember the sense of relief, and thinking ‘wow, we won a race at the highest level of NASCAR. I remember tracking Jimmie Johnson and just knowing what we were battling, the chess game that we were playing on fuel. I had watched so many laps of Jimmie around Charlotte Motor Speedway, and how, you know, precise he was with his line in Turns 1 and 2. I just remember arching Turn 1 as late as possible, and coming off the corner, and Jimmy pulling to the side, out of gas. It was like ‘okay, here we go. Now, we just need to get to the checkered flag,’ and then we were able to do it.”
What is that feeling like when you see the checkered flag first at Charlotte Motor Speedway?
“There’s nothing better than looking in your mirror and knowing everybody’s behind you and you’re coming to the checkered flag. It’s a great feeling.”
Daniel Suarez, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
You’re heading back to Charlotte, where you won in May. How do you feel about returning to the oval layout after competing on the ROVAL in recent years?
“I’m looking forward to being home this weekend and getting back to Charlotte. I’m glad we’re back on the oval. We had a great race there in May, so hopefully we can go back, have a good car and put together another strong weekend.”
Ty Dillon, No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
What are your thoughts on Charlotte Motor Speedway?
“Charlotte Motor Speedway is where so much of my life was started and was created. So many special things that mean so much to me happened. I met my wife here at this track when we were little and have got to bring my kids now. So, this is a very special place. The only thing is I haven’t got to victory lane in the big cars. I’ve won everything. I’ve won at the dirt track. I’ve won at the little track. I’m ready for my shot here in the big victory lane.”
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Roy J. Akers covers motorsports including NASCAR, NHRA, Indy Car and more and is the host of High Banked Fury, the Zoom/podcast.Motorsports newsmakers, media of the sport with expert analyst guests, stories, and opinions are found on the podcast and http://www.skyviewsports.net. Subscribe to all of it today!
