NASCAR CUP SERIES: USA TODAY 301

June 23, 2024

Joe Gibbs

Adam Stevens

Press Conference

An Interview with:

THE MODERATOR: We are not joined by our race-winning crew chief, Adam Stevens. Questions, please.

Q. After that rain delay you guys changed the tire, the rain tire, did you ever think you would see that amount of crazy racing where guys were using the high line of the track?

ADAM STEVENS: I didn't know what to think. We haven't had the wets on here. Obviously we all had a little bit of experience at Richmond earlier this year, but I really was surprised to see people in the apron. That shocked me.

It seemed like everybody could find a line that worked, for whatever balance they had. There were different points in time during the run as certain grooves started to dry out that it really moved around. I think that played into Bell's favor.

He is just so good at moving around and finding speed, making speed, finding the grip, but the added component of having to keep the tires cool was interesting. Not something we've quite seen yet.

Q. So there was a time not long ago this race would have just been called when the rain came like that. What does it say about NASCAR's willingness to try some different things and especially the product after that rain delay that was out there, the fact that they were willing to try some things like this and give you a chance to races it out?

ADAM STEVENS: I was probably the biggest skeptic when they said they wanted to run wet at the ovals. I thought they were crazy, and they proved me wrong for sure.

They did a really good job of coming up with a plan methodically of how wet was too wet. We tried all those gizmos with the wipers and the blinking lights and the mud flaps that didn't do anything.

They figured out once they got the water off the racetrack that you could run in it, you know, and that was probably the best way to dry the track too. Those are all boxes I never thought we would have checked from the way that that whole project started out, but kudos to them for being visionaries in that regard and Mr. France for pushing the limits.

I don't think there was probably a lot of support for that, but as we've narrowed in on what works, it's pretty clear today that it worked.

Q. Christopher have any input after yesterday?

ADAM STEVENS: No, he told us about his day, but the cars are so far different now. There's just not much that transfers. They're nothing like they used to be. Years ago, maybe 10, 15 years ago, where you could relate a little bit. There's just nothing to take from it anymore.

THE MODERATOR: We've now been joined by our race-winning owner, Coach Joe Gibbs.

Q. Adam, I was talking to Briscoe a while ago, and he just said Christopher is the GOAT here. Why is Christopher so good here, and Christopher gave you guys, the team, credit for being so good here. What is it about this track that really meshes with JGR?

ADAM STEVENS: I don't know. I think if you go back through history, we've had a lot of drivers be successful here. I think that there's a get have a snowball effect where the feedback is better, the setups get better, and then, in turn, the feedback gets even sharper and you are working on smaller and smaller things.

Then the crew chiefs get a little smarter. The engineers get a little smarter. It's just a you huge snowball rolling downhill.

It had nothing to do with racing in the rain here today. We didn't prepare for that. As far as a base setup, you know, obviously we got to make adjustments, but we didn't put springs and bars and shocks on this thing thinking we were going to finish up in the rain.

To Christopher's side, I would love to hear his response to this question. Like I said, this track is just so -- it's got so much character. It really tasks the driver with being willing and able to move around and find that little bit of grip as the line moves and the rubber goes down and certainly in the wet, like we talked about earlier.

As it dries, knowing how much work you're asking out of your tires and how to remedy that situation in short order, and just that dirt experience and his mindset of always looking forward and always being willing to be the first guy to make a new move seems like it paid off today.

Q. One follow-up. What were you thinking with all those cautions being up on the box with Christopher on the restarts?

ADAM STEVENS: I wasn't too worried about the restarts, but if you have enough of them, eventually one of them is going to go bad, right? That's a concern, but it wasn't really on my mind.

The thing I was thinking the last probably two was how dark it was getting. I know it was probably hard to see on TV, but all of us here at the track were thinking, man, we can't do too many more of these because it was certainly getting dark.

Q. Joe, just comment on Christopher taking both races this weekend.

JOE GIBBS: Yeah, I've got to say, first of all, it was just great being a part of today. I don't think any of us will forget this. The way this all started, I appreciate NASCAR staying after it because everything that happened there, it could have easily been something where we don't finish the race.

I think, as Adam said, now that we have the tires, the wet tires, it's going to allow us to finish races at times that we wouldn't be able to.

As far as Adam, just doing a great job today. Christopher, I just think Christopher, he's gifted, and the further he goes, we all just really appreciate it. I think he's a real talented, young guy. To be truthful, with him not in here, I'll tell you, he's the All-American guy. Sponsors love him. He's just a kid that everybody loves.

So it's great to see him, too, get the success that I think he deserves. He's worked hard. He came in during COVID. He got in cars without making a lap that first year and went through all of that. So I really appreciate that.

So there was a lot about tonight, God has blessed us with great people back at the race shop. I wish they were here to kind of celebrate with us and our sponsors, in particular Toyota.

Just a huge deal for us. For them, Rheem, and JR, everybody there, Tony Merritt, Don, everybody at Stanley Black & Decker, this means so much to us when you can call them from the winner's circle. To give you an example, Rheem had about three hospitality suites, and they may have had 150 people here. What that means when they go back and to be able to talk about tonight is just a huge deal.

It's a big part of our sport. Our sport is different than other sports. You've got to have a great sponsor, and they're more than sponsors. They're partners. So it's the thrill for us when we get to celebrate a night like tonight.

Q. For both of you, did you expect NASCAR to go back to racing at all while it was storming, and is there anything you would suggest as far as how they would do things procedurally going forward with these tired?

ADAM STEVENS: I'll take that one, Coach. I honestly did think we would go back. Looking at the radar, it was a pretty hard line on the back side of the storm. I think everybody had a pretty fair estimate of when it was going to stop and the lightning be clear as well as the rain, and there was still plenty of daylight left.

I think they got that right, and they didn't really communicate anything until it was about done, but I think they had that in mind, and I think we were all in agreement there.

As far as what they could do differently, no, I think the more that we go through this, the pitfalls that we can avoid, you know, we've pretty much either stepped in them or avoided them already.

One big thing I think was the noncompetitive pit stops just to keep the pit crews out of danger. They didn't have time to dry pit road. It was very, very wet. Not only is that a slip-and-fall hazard, but you can have a pit crew guy on the ground on the right side of the car and then the car slipping and sliding trying to beat each other out of their boxes. It could get really, really messy in a hurry.

I think in this situation that was absolutely the right call as well.

JOE GIBBS: I think NASCAR made a lot of big decision there, and I think they were on the right side. I really do. I think the way they handled everything, including those pit stops that were noncompetitive.

Q. I just wanted to follow up with Coach. Does this make up for what Christopher Bell did earlier in the week?

JOE GIBBS: Somebody asked me that in the winner's circle, and I said, Christopher Bell can do anything he wants (laughing).

Q. I know how you talk about this weekend is special. Another special moment for you guys is watching Justin Bonsignore make his Xfinity Series debut. What does that say as a whole to see the modified community see another one of their own make a big start like that?

JOE GIBBS: I thought that was a great effort. I think it says a lot about that series and modified and what they could do over here. So maybe that's going to lead to other young guys stepping over. Certainly that was an impressive run.

It didn't turn out the way really he deserved. So I thought it was a big deal. It says a lot about that series.

Q. Coach, you have won Super Bowls. You have won NASCAR Championships. You know what it takes to make a champion. What do you see in Christopher Bell that could potentially make him a champion this season?

JOE GIBBS: I think Christopher, first of all, has really sacrificed on his way up. He's raced a lot in dirt and everything. He says to you -- when I first met him, he said, Coach, this is all I can do, I have to be successful in racing (laughing).

I do remember that first year. Adam was a part of that, and he would get out of the car, you know, and it was more of, I can do this, you know. By the second year he was a little more aggressive, and then by the third year he was pointing his finger at me and said, You're keeping me. I knew he was on board then.

So I think he's gaining confidence as he goes. It's great to see a young guy like that that really and truly deserves it. So it's a thrill for us to be a part of it, and I joked with people. I said, We can ride him for 20 years (laughing).