They said it: NASCAR drivers talk about Kobalt 400

“It’s a feeling I dream about, being the fastest guy. … It’s one of the best feelings in the world, I can tell you that.”

Kobalt 400 winner Brad Keselowski, on holding off the field by more than a second after taking the lead with six laps remaining.

“What a miserable day,” he tweeted. “We will learn and get better.”

Driver Denny Hamlin, who dropped back to 19th after starting ninth.

“It was awesome. I thought with the wind it played a huge factor as an unknown. You would get down to the corner and your car could be different every lap. It was really fun.”

Driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr., who finished 12th, on the blustery conditions.

“Visibility, maybe, is the only thing you get a little nervous about when the sandstorms come through, but it wasn’t too windy. I thought it was before we got in the car, but I was just as intrigued as anybody to see how it would go and how the race would go with these kinds of winds. It’s definitely a factor that makes it another challenge. All the drivers want is more challenges; more hoops to jump through.”

Driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., who was worried about the sandstorm that nearly overtook the track during the second half of the race.

“We lost so much ground the first 29 laps, we kind of broke even by the time it was over.”

Ryan Blaney, a rookie who finished sixth after qualifying 14th.

“I guess that’s the wild, wild West, right? It was dusty, windy, crazy. It made for a great race.”

Second-place finisher Joey Logano, on the effects of the wind and rain on the race.

“I have no idea, honestly. I went into Turn 1, and I wasn’t really hardly turning yet, and (I) just spun out before I had any idea what happened. I don’t know, after that I was just trying to save our DeWalt Toyota, and got ran into from behind.”

Driver Matt Kenseth, whose car appeared to lose control on Lap 225 and slid into rookie Chase Elliott’s Chevrolet.

“Obviously, we knew when the caution fell there we were still short on fuel. At that point, it was worth the risk to take the gamble and hope for the cautions. Obviously, we got those and were able to get to Victory Lane.”

Paul Wolfe, winner Brad Keselowski’s crew chief, on his team’s fuel strategy near the end of the race.

“Being in the chase right now for Brad takes a lot of that pressure off, as we know.”

Walt Czarnecki, chairman of Team Penske, on his driver Brad Keselowski’s victory, which clinched a spot in the season-ending NASCAR playoffs.

“I’m so excited I made it here. I’m pumped. I had so much going on this morning, but I wouldn’t miss this race for anything.”

UFC fighter Miesha Tate, who is represented by driver Kevin Harvick’s management company. On Saturday night, Tate upset Holly Holm for the UFC women’s bantamweight title.