Daytona Quotations

Newman and I were friends. We were great teammates, and he needs to check his trophy case on that Daytona 500 trophy I helped him get years ago.

A lot of musicians put diamonds on things to show they had money. I on the other had felt that Daytona showed I had style and I didn't need to be flashy.

There is no other way to start the season than to win the Daytona 500.

There's a tremendous number of the Daytona Prototypes.

I guess if you're not going to win the championship, you're better off taking the opportunity to win a Brickyard or a Daytona 500 than you are to make the Chase and then fizzle out.

NASCAR and the Daytona 500 are about as American as you can get.

I've got Pacman, Galaga, Galaxian, Daytona 500. Those are the games I grew up playing.

The most important thing at Daytona is, are you going to have friends willing to work with you during the race as far as drafting? You've got to have friends out there. You can't do it alone. You form those relationships as the race moves along.

We want to come here to win the Daytona 500, but today winning the pole was a big plus. I'm proud of Jeff for getting on the pole today and it's really great to see RCR back up front. We've won a lot of poles here and have been up front a lot.

We won the 150, and we're on the front row and we won the Daytona 500 last year and the Talladega race. I think that's enough for guys to know we're on the radar screen. I would hope that people would think we're one of the guys to beat.

More than anything, the 24-hour race and everything leading up to the Daytona 500 on the Cup side was really positive. That gave us a lot of confidence going into the 500. The 24-hour race boosted the whole team's spirits. Anytime you're got guys thinking positive, it's a good thing.

I don't know what it is about me being able to come in on pit road on old tires here at Daytona and Talladega. For some reason I'm pretty good at coming into pit road, but then as soon as I get down into my stall, I get in there a little too hot.

Growing up, I would say, when we were racing go-karts back in the day, it was always our uncle. We were always looking up to our uncle. I mean, he won the Daytona 500, he's a very well-respected man, and we've always looked up to that.

I don't think it was so much an issue as it was a question of how it would be called. There was definitely aggressive driving up toward the front. But it was just like the other Daytona 500s.

Going fast down here at Daytona is about the team.

It can enhance the excitement of the race. As it transfers to stock cars, and particularly applies to Daytona and Talladega, with the cars running closer together, a bump draft at the right time in the right place is not the worst thing in the world. But it has been turning bump drafting into slam drafting, because the hits just keep getting harder and harder and harder.

I think it's critical that we that we establish interest in what we're doing beyond the 24 Hour. The 24 Hour has been the opening day, just as much as baseball has Opening Day for many years. There's an established history of having Daytona and then everything else. Quite clearly we want to make everything else equally important.

I think were going to have a good day today, but we should have a good day every time we come to the racetrack. Thats what we get paid for. I wasnt surprised that Casey won the pole. I think if Sterling had gone out earlier he would have had a real shot to win the pole.Our teams have had some struggles this year. Some of the pain has been self-inflicted, and some of the things we just couldnt help. Itd be great to win here today. In a way, its just another race, but its a big deal to win Daytona and a big deal to win Indy. Really, its a big deal to win anywhere. It pays the same amount of points, but the money is a little bit different.

I think that when we were younger, the fact of knowing our uncle Derrike won the Daytona 500. We were racing go-karts then, and I think that really kind of motivated us.

I think that it will make for one heck of a weekend. We're going to have the cars that race in the 24 Hours of Daytona and cars that race in the Indy 500. I think that that makes for about as good a show as you could ask for.

Kurt's done pretty well here over the years. We're bringing the same car and back-up that we took to Daytona for the 500 and at this race earlier this year, and the primary did really well there. These Sharpie guys have done a great job with the racecars all year, and especially last weekend and in Loudon, but we haven't had the finishes. So we need a good run this weekend.

Last week, Daytona Parasail informed me they were no longer interested in moving forward on the project.

I think Dale would at least be pleased from that to know that we moved forward in that. He and I had a discussion the week of the Daytona 500 about the HANS because he was questioning me why I was wearing it. But certainly, there were a lot more put into use the weeks following that Daytona 500.

Our trade contacts indicate Reynolds American has already developed a product and will enter the market with Camel, possibly in conjunction with the Daytona 500 in mid-February.

Our number one goal this year is to go win the Daytona 500.

Starting the season at Daytona is always enjoyable for me. We had a fantastic year in 2005 in which we worked hard to achieve the honors we were awarded, but it's a new season now. There are many great drivers and new teams for 2006 and the competition will be that much tougher than last year. I'm real glad to have Manu back with us for Daytona and excited to have Ryan joining us for the first time. He's a great young talent.

NASCAR was born right here in Daytona and they can't ever take that away from us, and we'll continue to promote it as a world center of racing.

I won my first race in Homestead, that was cool. My second win was in Daytona that was really cool. My third win was in Martinsville and I was so busted up I could hardly walk. This win in New Hampshire, that was hard! At the end Musgrave, Setzer and I raced side-by-side 2 and 3 wide and there is not a mark on my truck. When you go door handle to door handle with Musgrave, Hornaday and Setzer and come out on top you've done something.

I think everybody's pretty worn out after being in Daytona for so long. California means a normal routine and a chance for the crew guys to get back to their families for a couple of days before heading to another racetrack.

We have to make sure whatever we do to the cars, that it's scientific and not shade tree. We've thought about this before. I think we'll ratchet up the research and get a lot more input, but I don't think that will happen before the Daytona 500.

We have to make sure that whatever we do to the cars that it is scientific and not shade tree. We have thought about this before I think we will wrench up the research and get a lot more input but I don't think it will happen before the Daytona 500.

We aren't giving up. If we can find a way (at home Saturday against Daytona Beach), we'll be right back in the thick of it.

The problem with Daytona Beach is it took me forever to get my kids thinking that their life isn't over if FSU, UF and Miami weren't after them. I think the coaches have stepped it up around here and realized that this is part of our job.

We are confident in running hotels without (brand) flags but we believe as Daytona Beach is evolving, it is important for the public to see the city endorsed by well-known brands.

Yeah, I noticed that the Disney thing over there at the Daytona 500 (at Daytona USA) is a Chevy. They win a lot here. Chevy has run really well.

We won the two biggest races last year, Daytona and The Brickyard, ... We've added some quality teams, and I think we have players who can contend for the championship this season. We need to work on consistency, and I think you'll see more top-10 runs out of the Dodge camp in 2003.

The demand was really for the night race. You could always get tickets to the day race up here in the spring. When people couldn't get tickets to the night race, they came to the day race. TV did a lot for the night race. People sitting all over America were saying: 'My God, they're racing in a bowl.' They were used to Daytona and Charlotte. I think it's the curiosity as much as anything.

The Daytona Prototypes keep showing improvement every race. We have led the most laps all season and are a threat to win each race. We have one victory, but the team is hungry for more. Mid-Ohio is a driver's track and we have four good ones, so we are looking for good things next week.

While our drivers are probably not nearly in the physical condition of the NBA's All-Stars, the Daytona 500 is going to have 43 of the top drivers in the country, trained to drive at speeds in excess of 180 mph. Now that's intense! The NBA only has like 20 or 25 basketball players playing.

We've worked hard in the off-season building the new car. We did a shakedown at Savannah to see how the systems work, then came to Daytona and we'll see how we stack up.

We raced against factory teams from Honda, Yamaha and the rest. And we raced on all the big tracks. Mid-Ohio, Bridgehampton, Summit Point, Road Atlanta, even Daytona International.

We're not just thinking of the Daytona 500. We've got cars finished all the way through Atlanta right now. So our race team is a lot better race team and we've got a lot of confidence in our guys. We're getting our structures and processes and procedures and all that stuff in place where a year ago, we didn't have that.

To this day, he will look up at the stars and say, 'Mommy, Danielle and Daytona are up there,'

The good thing about Daytona was that between the (Bud) Shootout, the Duel and the 500, the guys who were working on our California cars were in Daytona a couple of times. We were all able to get together and talk and know where we were with everything. We were able to communicate one-on-one about some of the issues that we've had in getting these cars ready for California.

There is so much history here, just like the Daytona 500 and the Indianapolis 500. It's one of those races that everybody knows about and I couldn't pass up the chance to get the experience.

This team is still 100 percent capable of winning the Duel we're in, starting last, and also the Daytona 500. We have an amazing team.

This will be a very special event and one that fans won't want to miss. This time of year, Daytona Beach area is a Mecca for racing enthusiasm. We're thrilled to provide our customers and fans of Jeff Burton with a unique opportunity to meet the pole-sitter of Sunday's season opening event and wish him well.

We tested really well here at Talladega last week before the mechanical problem put us out for the afternoon session, ... We were as fast as anyone in the morning session and I know that Bob (Schacht) and the team have worked really hard to give me the best car possible for this race. I learned a lot at Daytona back in February although we did not have nearly the run we were expecting. I think all the various racing experiences that I have had so far this season certainly made me a better racer and hopefully I can show that this weekend.

We won 10 in a row at Lake Geneva (Raceway) with a Mid-Am car, and this is three times as big as that. This is the Milwaukee Mile. This is like Daytona for the little guys. I can't believe it.

We got ourselves into a little bit of a hole in Daytona but I have no doubt that this team will turn it around this weekend. We're taking a car that's already been to victory lane and we think it's going to perform even better this season. Here it's a whole different skill level and handling package and stuff. It takes probably a different skill set or different category of skills at Daytona -- where you position your car or how the air is and how fast your car is, so it's just a lot different.

We increasingly believe (Reynolds American) will be entering the smokeless market at the Daytona 500 this Sunday. Our trade contacts indicate (Reynolds American) has developed a product and will enter the market with Camel.

We think it's the best plan. What better time to show it off than during the sport's most important event, the Daytona 500?

Even though testing at Daytona can be boring at times, I really wanted to be there. I got a clean bill of health from my doctor just this morning, so I'm ready to go.

Everybody did a good job. I think if it goes like that for the 500 it'll be OK. I'm telling you no matter what anybody says or tries to say or mandate, those last laps of the Daytona 500 are going to be exciting.

Things started slow but by midweek (prior to the Daytona 500) we were pretty full.

The Rolex 24 At Daytona is a great race with a lot of history and to compete in it with GAINSCO/Blackhawk Racing is a great opportunity for me. I am proud to be a part of the All-American lineup with talented young drivers like Alex and Rocky. I grew up in admiration of the success of both of their fathers. It will be exciting to race with them, and Bob as well, who proved in his rookie year last season that he's got what it takes.

Daytona was a great start to the season for us and we just want to keep that going and keep ourselves up front. This series is extremely competitive, and getting more so each round, so you really have to have your homework done ahead of time. The guys haven't let up one bit since getting back from Daytona, so we feel like we are ready to go.

Daytona is so hungry that anything goes. When do we say enough is enough? I'm not opposed to development, but I am opposed to uncontrolled development and I think we're uncontrolled.

Daytona is a special place and the '500' is a special race. I haven't reached the point where I am content to watch this race on television. I would rather be part of the action - it's the big show.

Daytona has been good to me the last couple of years. With the tight points races every time I turn a wheel on the track it counts in a big way. Daytona can make or break your season. I feel confident going into the race that we can come out on top.

Daytona and Talladega make me nervous. They're restrictor plate races. (The cars) are bunched up all day long.

Daytona and Talladega are two different animals. When it comes to speed they are basically the same. When you're working on qualifying, it doesn't matter, if you're finding speed at Talladega, you're finding speed at Daytona. When we get into drafting practice and we get into handling and stuff like that then they are two different tracks. That's where you hear a lot of guys say they bring different types of cars to Daytona then they do to Talladega because once you get 30 laps into a run, the car definitely handles differently at Talladega than what it does at Daytona.

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.

This is one of the nicer industrial business areas in Daytona Beach. They need to give more thought to where they want to put something like that.

They have already proven themselves as a top team in not just the GT but also the DP division. I'm very excited at going back to Daytona to try and win myself another Rolex, especially with such good teammates. It has always been a happy hunting ground for me and I'm hoping that 2006 will be no different!

As we move forward in this process, we believe it is necessary to focus our attention on the three cities of Atlanta, Charlotte and Daytona Beach. Based upon the proposals that we have reviewed internally for the past several months, we believe these three cities provide us with the best opportunity to build and develop a world-class NASCAR Hall of Fame for our millions of loyal fans.

As we go forward in attempting to control bump drafting in those areas, there's going to be some very subjective calls being made. That's the reason we'd like to get this under way as quickly as possible. Hopefully we don't have to make a call. But if we do make a call in the twins, it wouldn't be quite as painful as having to make it in the Daytona 500.

It was a super easy day, and we won the Daytona 500.

I told him if he wins the Daytona 500, we'd have to get him a car for Indy.

For me, it would be like winning the Daytona 500.

It's obviously one of the most prestigious races you could participate in. ... To win it, I don't even know how big it would be. I think it would rank right there with a win at the Daytona 500. I know our guys would really enjoy it and it would mean a lot to everyone on the AAA team. For me, as a driver, it would just be the coolest thing in the world.

It's the best opportunity I've had at Daytona and Dale Jarrett took it away.

It's hard to get four cars down here to run this well, and it's not with just a little bit of effort but with a lot of effort. This race will carry us - when you win the Daytona 500, it carries through the rest of the year.

It's become a problem. We know it's a problem. Any solution that we look for, we have to make sure we don't make the cars less safe instead of more safe. That's the No. 1 thing ... We've got to make sure that whatever we do to cars that it's scientific and not shade tree. We've thought about this before. I think we'll ratchet up the research and get a lot more input, but I don't think it will happen before the Daytona 500.

Dave LaChapelle talked me into it, ... I thought it was going to be no big deal, probably not too many people would see it. Then I was having a party during the Daytona 500, and it was the first commercial on it. I told my wife, 'Honey, I think I'm in trouble.'

The biggest thing coming out of Daytona is the confidence this team has that we can go out there and perform. I definitely feel that we'll be competitive and racing for a top five.

It's hard to be mad at my brother. You're damned if you do and damned if you don't. He was only looking out for me, but he almost cost me a spot in the Daytona 500.

Not only am I going to Daytona to test to get ready, for me I am going to get acclimated with a new crew chief. This will be our first time to work together. Been to the shop, but it will be the first at the racetrack.

The new hotel's location, adjacent to NASCAR Headquarters and across from the Daytona International Speedway, makes our city an ideal market for an upscale, extended-stay hotel like Homewood Suites by Hilton.

I love restrictor plate racing. It reminds me of going to the go-kart track with your buddy's and just running wide open. But this year has not been much fun. We have had a top-five car at both Daytona and Talladega. We have stayed up front and put ourselves around good cars. It has been very frustrating to be honest. Hopefully we can avoid the wreck this Sunday. I know the (fabrication) shop feels the same way.

I love restrictor plate racing, ... It reminds me of going to the go-kart track with your buddy's and just running wide open. But this year has not been much fun. We have had a top-five car at both Daytona and Talladega. We have stayed up front and put ourselves around good cars. It has been very frustrating to be honest. Hopefully we can avoid the wreck this Sunday. I know the (fabrication) shop feels the same way.

I like the history of the Daytona 500. It's like the Kentucky Derby of car racing.

I'm really looking forward to my first Daytona 24 hour race. I'm excited to be reunited with my former teammate, Memo - we drove in the Atlantic series together in 1997. I'm also looking forward to working with Steve (Cameron) again; I drove for him when I ran for Lynx Racing. This team won the last race of the season last year and I feel that they're definitely capable of winning the Rolex 24.

I'm proud of this race team. These guys continue to work their butts off through adversity, making the best of a bad situation. We almost won another race today. We're doing everything we need to do. We won the Daytona 500 and maybe we'll win the championship.

I'm hopeful the underlying issue of us legitimately winning the race is there. We worked our butts off for it. ... We understand we made a mistake. We just want the respect that comes along with winning the Daytona 500.

In our sport, this is the big one. It's what we think about all winter, and it's the one race we spend months preparing for. They are all important, but the Daytona 500 is the most important race we run.

I know from history that Daytona is not the best track for our cars. You have to go into the weekend with the same mentality as every weekend, be smart and aware of everything going on around you. If you live by that, you will have a good car to go to the next race with.

I really felt like we were really in contention. I understand you have to run for a championship, but when we come to Vegas, it feels like the Daytona 500.

I really felt like we were really in contention, ... I understand you have to run for a championship, but when we come to Vegas, it feels like the Daytona 500.

If you want to compete against the best, in America that means NASCAR. We look forward to February 2007, when the green flag waves to start the Daytona 500 and the starting lineup features the Toyota Camry.

I guess you could say I like coming out of the gate strong. Hopefully, it will be the same with my new ride. I honestly believe we're going to go to the Daytona 500 and win it.

Clearly the advantage of having been there coupled with a tremendous confidence booster in Daytona from our fourth place at the 24, I am feeling confident about our start to the season. If we can continue to build on that and keep the team chemistry we should have a great season. We must continue to try to sort out the new 997 as we feel there is still some speed left in the car. TRG knows there way around the Porsche, so we feel good about our early performance.

I am not a great proponent of uncontrolled height, which is what we have here in Daytona Beach.

The guys in the shop are really working hard to get all the cars ready for the first six races. Ricky Pearson is a great leader, with lots of contacts and resources. After the Daytona test, we had to do some massaging on the bodies of the speedway cars but the guys stayed on-task and got the intermediate cars ready for Vegas and they never missed a beat.

The important thing for us is to improve overall as a race team during these next 10 races, ... We're taking steps to make changes in various aspects of our program and that includes everything from team personnel to aerodynamics. The biggest thing we need in the immediate future is a good run. We haven't put up a good effort since Daytona where we finished fifth. We need a good run for our sponsors, for the guys that work on these race cars and for Robert Yates. The other thing that is important to us is getting back to victory lane. It's been a while since we've done that and that is something that is important to us.

A good run in the Bud Shootout doesn't guarantee a good run in the Daytona 500, but it is a nice indicator that this part of the program is at least headed in the right direction. The extra seat time is always good to have, and I think there are things you can learn by participating in that race that the teams who aren't competing don't have the opportunity to learn.

The good news coming out of today is that NASCAR headquarters is not going to be moving from Daytona Beach.