I'm really excited about getting my 50th start. I read that the other day, and I can't believe that I will have driven 50 Nextel Cup races; I didn't ever think I'd get to drive one. It's just awesome and it means the world to me. I am really glad to be a part of the sport at this level. Hopefully, there is another zero after that start number before I quit. |
I've actually had people comment to me, they misunderstand the joy that I get out of racing, |
I've learned a lot about New Hampshire over the last couple of races, ... It's flat and fast and I think I'm improving with every lap that I run there.We accomplished making the 'Chase' but now it's time to focus on going after the championship. We have a great team and great race cars so if we can run consistently up front I don't think there's any reason why we couldn't be in contention for the big prize. |
I've teamed up with Jack Roush, and I couldn't be with a more dominant team than I am right now, ... Other than that, as a competitor I try not to settle for anything less than perfection even though we don't achieve it most of the time. I'm just very lucky to be a part of the team I'm part of. |
If I could write a book, there's going to be a chapter about Mark Martin. He's an unbelievable guy. He has an amazing character. He actually treats people exactly how they treat him. I mean, he doesn't waver. |
If I only had 10 more laps to drive in my career, I'd want do them at Darlington. |
If we do this for three more weeks, we'll be all right, ... Man, I can't thank my guys enough. The car was just awesome. |
If we've got race-winning power, we're going to go win the race. If we don't, we're going to just not wreck. |
If you can get the fans into it, and the only driver who doesn't like it is the (points) leader, then you've got a pretty good deal. I'd like to see them use the same format (in the Busch Series.) |
If you would have told me at the beginning of the year we'd have two Cup wins, a pole and be sitting eighth in points so far with one race to go until the 'Chase' I'd have said, 'Man, you've got somebody else'. I just didn't expect our year to go this well. Our primary goal this week is to make the 'Chase'. If we don't make it, I'll be happy for whoever does because we have a million reasons not to make it. But we really want to make it and I think we can. |
In a way, it might make it harder to do things for one another that could help each other on the track. None of us want to sacrifice anything. |
In the long haul, the absence of any public scrutiny means the practice in the future could evolve into one that is an extremely uncompetitive, behind-the-scenes give away of work with the taxpayer not knowing whether a fair price is being paid. The current system may have flaws, but at least the public is assured of a competitive price. |
It doesn't matter how he runs the first part of the race, he always runs up front and I think that's because he works on his stuff. So that's someone I'm trying to emulate there. |
It has to do with getting Jamie going, that?s all it is. That?s something I want to make real clear because Bob is doing an unbelievable job. |
It helped me a bunch of ways. The first thing was I got to race more. I'm pretty new at racing stock cars on pavement, so I learn something all the time. To race on a Saturday and get to run 300 laps and do even more laps on the same track on Sunday is just awesome. |