Q How do you think the 2006 racing season finished up?
A I think it went OK and it was a successful year. But you can always do better. We just struggled with things going our way this year. Last year things really swung our way and this year they didn’t. I hate to use the word luck but bad luck was a big part of it.
Q What do you take away from this year and carry into next year?
A The biggest thing is confidence and momentum. We ran well and our speeds were there. We showed promise week in and week out but we just couldn’t get the finish at the end of the day. Going to the tracks for the second time we saw our results turning around. Having a notebook as we go back to the tracks and on pit strategy will help. I know now how the car handles throughout the race. Going into next year I feel I will be a lot stronger then we were this year.
Q How are you spending your off season?
A You are actually busier in the off season than you are during the racing season. Right now we have a lot of meetings getting things going for next season. Right now I am trying to buy an airplane. We are looking at quite a few. And we are testing the car of tomorrow. We have to be good in two different cars next year. We can’t put all our eggs in one basket.
It’s hard to balance out how much time you put into last year’s car and the car of tomorrow. On top of that we also have new Chevrolet engines next year. Next year we will run a little bit of what we ran last year and a little bit of the new engines. A lot of people don’t realize how much goes into it but they started three or four months ago working on next year. That’s what it takes to be prepared.
Q What do you think about the car of tomorrow?
A I have tested it a couple of times. I am not a big fan and a lot of drivers are dissatisfied with it. But no one liked the Chase when they brought that on but it has worked out better than anyone thought. Maybe they do know what they are talking about, but they are going to have to prove it to me.
Q You couldn’t capture the Rookie of the Year title. What are your thoughts on that?
A To win this year I was going to have to finish second in points and that would have been a tough task. Denny and all the guys on his team were solid. They almost beat everyone there was to beat. Unbelievable year for them.
Q Any changes in your crew for next year?
A We are looking at a lot of different options. Obviously the off season isn’t called the Silly Season just for drivers but team members do a lot of swapping around. We are really looking at our pit crew and really everybody at RCR. If it’s for the better then we will make a change. I feel like we had a good team last year. We made a lot of mistakes but overall we had the speed. The rest will come with experience.
Q When you look back over the last three years are you still pinching yourself about being where you are?
A Really the first year when I was racing Busch full time I really was. That was an unbelievable year. I really don’t think about that anymore especially being gone so much and sponsor obligations. Now my focus and concentration is on being better and being in the chase next year. I want to make myself a better driver but also want to make the team better. So that is what I am focusing on.
Q What will your racing schedule look like next year?
A Next year I am backing off the Busch program a little bit to focus more on the Cup car. We are going to run about 17 races in the Busch car and run a handful of Truck races. I am spreading it out a little bit more. I really liked running the trucks last year and feel like that will be a fun deal to run more of those next year.
Q AC Delco is not going to be sponsoring the No. 2 car next year. Have you found a new sponsor and when will that be announced?
A We have found one, and it will be announced in the next two or three weeks.
Q You are in the EA Sports NASCAR 07 video game. Do you play the games and how realistic are the tracks as compared to the real tracks?
A As far as the tracks go they are unbelievably close. But some of the older games the handling characteristics are better and those are the games we usually play. But the new Nascar 07 is cool. To have your name, picture and race car. I was disappointed that I could not be on the Cup side but we are working on that with DirecTV next year
Q How does your schedule look until the new season begins on Feb. 10?
A I am looking forward to getting back home. We are also going to be doing some traveling in my motor home. I like taking it. I never thought I would say that but after you fly everywhere the only thing you want to do is drive. We will be taking it after the first of the year to an appearance in California, then to Mississippi and then to Daytona to test. As soon as the New Year is here we are full throttle. I am really looking forward to taking my team and families down to the Bahamas the weekend before Christmas. It’s nice for everyone to bring their wives and girlfriends. We spend so much time away from our families it’s a good way to get everyone back together.