"I guess if you put the springtime slickness at a three, this might be like a seven, or maybe an eight. It's not terrible. It's bad, but it's not terrible. Some guys will tell you worse, but I believe our cars really handle well at that track. We had a really good race car at Daytona in February, so I'm expecting to go back there and run well again this weekend. I said earlier how we struggled everywhere, that the only places I really have (not struggled) are Bristol, Richmond and Daytona. That's all we really have. That's where our cars run really strong. I'm looking forward to Daytona this weekend. Hopefully, we can stay out of mayhem and at least have a good, solid run there. Our cars really drive well there. They might bounce a lot and look terrible, but for some reason they're fast and they still grip good and it should be a good race for us."
You've run well at both restrictor-plate tracks since joining JGR last season. What's the difference in mindset between Talladega and Daytona, where you will be racing this weekend?
"Everyone can pretty much run in a big pack at Talladega because it's so smooth. But handling becomes the issue at Daytona, and that's the big difference. At Daytona, you can sense the feel of the car enough to communicate to the crew chief about what you need and how you want your car to handle. I've always been able to run out front at Daytona and stay out of trouble, which has been nice."
As the defending champion of this race, was last year's first Sprint Cup win at Daytona special for you?
"For sure. We didn't have the best car out there, but we got to the right place at the right time and stayed ahead of the 99 (Carl Edwards) there at the end. It's always special to win at Daytona, but to bring Norm (Miller, Chairman, Interstate Batteries) and that green Interstate 18 back to victory lane where it belongs was extra special. I'm just hoping we can be in the right position this weekend and do it again."
Weather tends to play a factor in July at Daytona. Do you make adjustments for the weather?
"The weather is the weather. It's the same for everybody. You just practice at what the track conditions are at that time. You are not going to really adjust your car for daytime or a rain shower - judging on what's going to happen. You just have to make sure you have enough adjustability (in your car) for whenever the track conditions do change."
You've been through some adversity this year with the No. 18 team. What has been a key to help you keep calm and focused on winning races and the eventual goal of challenging for a Sprint Cup championship?
"Probably the relationship that Steve (Addington) and I have has helped us a lot. I think it just works, since I get fired up and he's always the calm voice over the radio. We're proud of the fact it just works. I think Addington does a good job at that, and Jeff Dickerson (spotter and business manager) does a good job at that, too. I have two guys who are my eyes, who see a lot of things I don't, who can pull me back when they need to. The other thing is, I think he (Addington) gets a lot of respect from the team. All the guys on the whole team respect him for all that he knows, for all he's done in this sport for as many years as he's been around. The same goes for me, too. I respect what he's accomplished in this sport. I feel like he's done a tremendous job and, obviously, he's going to keep doing it when times are tough."
