HOW DO YOU FEEL GOING INTO THIS WEEK'S SEASON OPENER?  "I feel good, especially after coming down here to test.  That was probably our best test at Daytona with our Ford F-150 that I've ever had.  I liked the way it drove.  I liked the way it ran with the Roush Yates power under the hood.  The Ford Powerstroke Diesel is a great truck.  We've always called her 'Old Faithful' but we're calling her 'Fancy' this weekend, so if I take care of Fancy, she'll take care of me."  

WHAT KIND OF FEELING DO YOU GET WHEN YOU DRIVE THROUGH THAT TUNNEL EVERY YEAR KNOWING YOU'RE A WINNER AT DAYTONA?  "It's a fantastic feeling because not only were you able to race here and compete here, but you were able to have some success here and win and pull into Victory Lane.  I'm coming to win.  I want to win this race and once you've tasted that, it's not just another race.  Daytona International Speedway is not just another race track and just not another race.  This is Daytona, the World Center of Racing.  You want to win there.  You want to win there for your manufacturer and you want to win there for your team and for yourself.  It's just a fantastic feeling to be there." 

GUYS TALK ALL THE TIME ABOUT HOW HAPPY THEY ARE TO WIN REGARDLESS OF THE RACE OR TRACK, BUT DAYTONA MUST BE A LITTLE MORE SPECIAL, RIGHT?  "Very much so.  I don't really worry about being remembered once my career is over, but you'll always be remembered as a former Daytona winner.  It doesn't matter if you're in the 24 Hours or the Duels or the Firecracker 400 in the summer - the Daytona 500 or the Nationwide race - you're in Victory Lane at the World Center of Racing and it's great.  It's a great feeling and it's hard to describe, it really is, but it's a fantastic feeling." 

THE ONLY BETTER FEELING MIGHT BE A CHAMPIONSHIP?  "Yes, and when we say championship, that would be the only way we could get my owner to the race track.  No pressure, but he has come forth with the plan of being at the race track in Homestead at Ford Championship Weekend if we're in contention for the championship, so we want to try to get him to the track." 

HOW DO YOU SIZE UP THIS SEASON?  "I think our manufacturer is good.  We've got good trucks.  We've had wind tunnel time.  We've had shaker rig time.  As far as a team perspective, we've had a lot of work going on at the shop.  The teams really haven't moved in any direction.  At one point in time we were thinking about shutting the 10 truck down and at the same time Kevin Starland, my crew chief, orchestrated both trucks to be prepared and when that truck finally lit back up and Brendan Gaughan came on board, the trucks were already ready to go.  So when we came down here, Brendan actually had the quickest truck in Friday's testing with the 10.  I was really satisfied with mine.  I really didn't have to show everything it had, so I think we're in good shape.  I think we're in contention for a championship."