Being the champion brings such responsibilities. What it doesn't bring is any points toward winning another championship in 2000. When the green flag falls in the Daytona 500, Jarrett will have zero points just like anybody else in the race. To realize that everything we accomplished, as good as it has been, none of that makes any difference. Everybody who comes to Daytona is excited because everybody is on the same ground right then.
Nobody has any points and everybody thinks they can win the championship and win races.
There are differences, of course. Jarrett and the team that fields the No. 88 Fords, led by crew chief Todd Parrott, knows it can win the championship. It did so, by 211 points a year ago over Bobby Labonte's team, in a season that included four race victories and 24 top-five finishes. We walk with a little higher kick in our step with a little more confidence. We realize there are some places where we need to improve and that we can be better than what we were last year.