Joe Nemechek Quotations

The pit crew was incredible tonight, we gained on almost every stop and towards the end of the race when we really needed a couple of quick stops, the guys came through with flying colors.

Since we didn't make the Chase, our goal right now is to finish 11th and we can do that. We have some race tracks coming up that we like and can run well at. We proved that last year, and if we can repeat that performance, we'll be contending for 11th place and the one million dollar bonus that goes with it. We have that Army spirit of never giving up.

Since joining the Army team I've flirted with glory in California a couple of times, but wasn't able to complete the job. I think it's time to change all of that.

My team is definitely capable of being in the Chase. Any Nextel Cup race you can win is big. It's the most competitive thing I've done.

I got too high, hit the grass and was sliding around. I came close to losing it, but fortunately I was able to save it and get back on track.

I got in the right place at the right time and had success. It gives all the drivers at all the race tracks something to shoot for. It wasn't that long ago that I was running there.

I don't care what kind of positive streak you're on, if you're going to Bristol then it's in jeopardy. Bristol is not a give-and-take track, it usually does more taking.

We took our licks, but nobody knocked us out. We fought like our soldiers right to the end.

Going fast down here at Daytona is about the team.

I was looking to get back to the front on the next (green-flag) run, but the car got loose -- it was a struggle just to maintain our position.

I think it gets back to being in the right place at the right time and getting the right break.

I thought we had an easy top-10 car, but once we got behind we had to pass a lot of cars and that's difficult to do here. But we did manage to recover and I am proud about that.

I think a tire was going down on Hamlin's car. He slammed on the brakes and I ran into him hard and smashed in my grille pretty good. That made the car real tight for the rest of the race.

It happened in the worst spot because the sun is glaring there and you can't hardly see anything. All of a sudden everybody was wrecking.

NASCAR is just trying to do whatever they can to keep the series under control,

Michigan has always been a good track for us and hopefully it will continue being that come next Sunday.

We need to put it together and get on a streak. But whatever happens you can be assured that we will follow the soldiers' creed of never giving up.

We have our own Chase, and that's to finish off the year with results that will put us 11th in points.

Well, in the heat of the battle, I wanted to choke him. I wanted to get out and wrestle right there.

The experience factor is big this year. If we all can get hooked up, we're going to be tough. And if we get hooked up at the right time, we're going to be hard to beat.

What's frustrating is that we had a good car, but never had the opportunity to be a challenger.

We had the right package today. But not having a shot at the victory after starting from the pole and leading a number of laps is disappointing. I thought this was the race we were going to win for our soldiers, who are protecting our freedom here and abroad. We'll get that victory for our troops and I have a gut feeling it's going to happen soon. But for now, we'll take the eighth-place result and go on to the next race.

We had the Army fight today. No one quit -- we were excellent soldiers. The pit crew was awesome again. It was just too bad we didn't get the result that we deserved. It was a great effort by everybody.

The toughest break, I think, we had was the Coca-Cola 600.

Once we get the primary engine in the backup (car), we should be fast. I am not really sure why the (primary) car did what it did. I was down low and the car was sticking, and then all of a sudden it was headed to the wall.

As a driver, it would mean a lot. But I don't think it defines a driver. Daytona is a big race, but any Nextel Cup race you can win is big.

At first I thought I was going to get robbed, ... That's the way our season has gone. I'm looking forward to (tomorrow). We're good.

It's not the ideal situation when you can't use the best stuff you bring to the track. We just never found a comfort zone with the backup Army Chevrolet.

Dale Jr. and somebody got together and shot up in front of me and I got into the back of them. My brakes locked up and the impact crunched the nose in. The Army car never drove the same after that. It was a pretty frustrating deal to have a car drive that good and then all of a sudden get wounded. For a while we had an easy top-10 car.

It's definitely a long shot. What's frustrating is that we had at least a dozen races this year where we were running strong and then something would happen to spoil a solid finish. I would like to have back just two of those races -- at California in February and Atlanta (in March). Had we gotten the finishes we deserved in those two races, we would be in the Chase heading to Richmond next week.

Not a great finish but an outstanding effort. We struggled in practice yesterday and I had concern. But Ryan (crew chief Ryan Pemberton) and the crew put a whole new setup in the car for the start of the race and let me tell you -- the Army Chevy was bad to the bone. One of the best cars I have ever driven. It was just incredible, I mean incredible on how good the car drove.

Any time we have a new car, I'm encouraged. When the highly-skilled engineers and fabrication department at MB2 build a car, it's on the cutting edge of technology. I am very confident that we'll have another stout hot rod in California.

I'm the first to admit that Bristol hasn't been one of my better tracks. But tonight I kind of broke the jinx. It's been crazy for me here in the past and I will take this 12th-place finish with a smile.

I can't think of a better place and better time to start a positive streak. We're going into California with a lot of confidence.

I don't think the race was 10 laps old when I heard a thump. I didn't think much of it at the time, but it turned out to be very costly. I don't know what hit us, but whatever it was, it caused extensive damage to the right-front fender and the air dam.

Any business you're involved with, and racing is no different, is about people. It's all about people.

Being involved in NASCAR, I've learned a lot. I've met a lot of people. I've met a lot of special people. I've met some of our leaders. I've met some of the smartest people out there. I've met a lot of average folks. But they've all touched my life and made me look at things differently. I thank the Lord for my good days.

I've dealt with some tragedy in my life, like losing my brother. That was probably one of the hardest days when I've been tested. But you learn what things are important. You have to prioritize your life with your family, your friends, things you want to accomplish. You've got to get all that stuff in order.

If you don't have faith, you have nothing.

I believe in God. I always have. There's a reason that everything happens in life.

All types of racing costs a lot of money no matter what you're doing.

There are a lot of other things I could be doing out there, but I love to race. I'm fortunate to have the opportunity, to have the team and to have the resources to be able to do this.

The engine ran flawless up to that point. They will figure out what it is and we will have a great run in the 500. I will guarantee you that.