From Daytona International Speedway
Dale Earnhardt Jr. had the pressure of winning the Daytona 500 lifted when he captured his first victory in the "Great American Race" back in 2004 in his sixth career start.

During a recent break in NASCAR Nextel Cup Series testing at Daytona International Speedway, Earnhardt Jr. said he feels confident that his No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet could bring a second Daytona 500 triumph in February.

"We're pretty excited," Earnhardt Jr. said. "Already today, we've been able to gain a lot. The first few hours we've been here have been real productive. I'm pretty excited. We've got a great track record here. It's a great race track for me. I really enjoy running here and feel like we will have a good car and great shot at winning."

Earnhardt Jr. was fastest in Jan. 9 testing at Daytona in his No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet, posting a lap of 186.606 mph.

While he already has a Daytona 500 victory to his credit, Earnhardt Jr., who overall has 10 DIS victories, is still seeking his first NASCAR Nextel Cup Series championship.

After missing the Chase for the Nextel Cup in 2005, Earnhardt Jr. reunited with his crew chief Tony Eury Jr. in 2006 and made the Chase.

Earnhardt Jr. hopes they can back up that success in 2007.

"I think going into last year, I was worried whether me and Tony Junior could be successful again as we were in '04," Earnhardt Jr. said. "I was worried whether we could match that. I had the pressure of trying to make the Chase. We didn't have any excuses. All of these things were going through my mind last year.

"This year, I feel like I proved to myself what I wanted to know last year and I feel like we're very capable of winning the championship. I feel like I know more each year, in and out, about what to do to win the championship and how to better position myself to make the Chase and do those types of things.

"Each year you learn more about that. I have to minimize my mistakes. It's really hard as a human being able to do that, but you've just got to really, really try, just to be perfect as a driver, not to make mistakes on the racetrack."

Two-time Grammy winner Kelly Clarkson will headline the Nextel "Tribute to America" before drivers start their engines for the Daytona 500.

Rudd took the entire 2006 season off with the exception of serving as a mid-race relief driver for Tony Stewart at Dover. He returns to Robert Yates Racing, the team he last drove for in 2002.

"It's pretty neat," said the 50-year-old Rudd. "I missed it. There's a lot of it I missed. Talk to me at the end of the year and I'll let you know the real story but right now I'm fresh and feel good and ready to go."

Rudd, whose lone Daytona International Speedway victory has come in the Gatorade Duel in 2000, will make his 29th start in the Daytona 500. In fact, as a result of the Bud Qualifying Round on Feb. 11, he'll start second in "The Great American Race," alongside Yates teammate David Gilliland, driver of the No. 38 M&M's Ford. Gilliland claimed the pole by turning a fast lap time of 48.304 seconds, 186.320 mph. Rudd posted a speed of 48.489, 185.487.

Wrist Not a Problem
Jimmie Johnson, who broke his wrist in a golf-cart accident over the off-season, says that he isn't feeling any pain and the injury won't be a problem when he is driving his No. 48 Chevrolet.

"My wrist is good," Johnson said. "I'm going to wear a splint in the car just to be smart and to be sure, but the cast is off and the hand is working and everything is good. The timing was perfect. I got the off-season to heal up and I'm ready for Daytona.

"It won't affect the 500. I'm going to be able to race in the 24 Hours of Daytona coming up here real soon and so it's just something that kind of slowed me down over the off-season. I had a cast on my hand and it kind of kept me on the sidelines watching my wife swim and being on vacation and watching my friends do all these fun things and I had to sit around and watch. But, beyond that, everything is good."

Said Ready
Boris Said captured the pole for last year's Pepsi 400 and knows it will take another good qualifying effort if he wants to race in the Daytona 500. Said, who will also compete in the Budweiser Shootout, and his No. 60 SoBe No Fear Ford are not in the top 35 in owner's points and will have to qualify for the Daytona 500 with fast qualifying speed or through a good finish in the Gatorade Duel.

"This year it's gonna be so hard to make these races," Said remarked. "Down here there will probably be 30 people going for eight spots and it's gonna be tough -- really seven spots because Dale Jarrett will be here -- so it's gonna be a nerve-wracking week for sure."

Speedweeks Tickets
Tickets for Speedweeks 2007 events, including the 49th annual Daytona 500, are available by calling 1-800-PITSHOP or by logging onto www.racetickets.com .