Daytona Beach, Fla. — Our 2009 Sprint Cup Season officially got under way in dramatic fashion with the running of the Bud Shootout this Saturday night in Daytona Beach.

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As the spotter for Carl Edwards, in the No. 99 Aflac Ford Fusion, one of my jobs is to talk to my driver and keep him relaxed and focused on the task at hand. That task Saturday night in the Shootout was simple; miss the wrecks and be around at the end. The Shootout pays no points toward the championship so drivers will take more chances than they will in the 500 on Sunday. This race is for bragging rights and a whole lot of money.

The Bud Shootout was a typical Daytona race as the drivers ran two-, three-, and sometimes four-wide for the entire 75 laps. We led the race on several occasions, but towards the end got shuffled around and finished in the seventh position. Not bad, but not at all where we wanted to be. We were able to roll the car on the trailer in one piece after the race, so that means a lot.

A STEP BACK IN TIME
The first week at Daytona every year is always a time for personal reflection for me. My first Daytona 500 memories are filled with hours in front of the television as a young boy watching my heroes Richard Petty, Cale Yarborough, Neil Bonnet, and Buddy Baker. I dreamed of one day racing the high banks ever since I was eight years old.

The first time I got a chance to go to Daytona was 1995 as a spectator, and I will never forget it. Being from Michigan, where the winter is usually pretty brutal, racing in Daytona Beach in February was a perfect fix. I have been going to Daytona every year since in one capacity or another.

In the late 90’s, I served as a volunteer crew member on some ARCA teams after that initial experience as a fan. I was racing locally in Michigan, driving super late models, when my big break came in 1998. I was introduced to Mr. Junie Donlavey, a legend NASCAR team owner who was known for giving young guys breaks.

I went to work for him as his Sprint Cup team manager and ARCA driver and our first race together was the Daytona 500. I will never forget it. Mike Wallace was our driver and I jumped over the wall and cleaned the windshield for him in that race.

I had the privilege of going back to Daytona with Mr. Donlavey and his No. 90 Ford for the next five seasons, and it’s safe to say that no place had a more special meaning for him. He always got so excited in the winter months and made sure the guys in the shop paid extra attention to our Daytona cars.

I have also realized my dream of driving in several races at Daytona since my first visit and there is no place that I would rather race. The opportunity to be able to compete on such sacred ground is something I cannot explain.

BACK TO THE FUTURE
My job this year, as it has been since 2004, is to keep Carl and the No. 99 Aflac Ford Fusion out of trouble for the entire season, starting with Sundays Daytona 500. As a team we won nine Sprint Cup Series races along with seven Nationwide races in 2008, finishing second in points in both series. I know if we were able to win the Daytona 500 on Sunday, it would mean as much as all those race wins combined.

Unfortunately, I’m not driving in any races at Daytona this season, but you can rest assured that I will spend this entire year trying to figure out how I can come back down here in 2010 and climb through the window of something.

Daytona Beach is a special place; the Daytona 500 a very special race. Ask any racer in the U.S.A. where he dreams of racing and I would almost bet that every one of them will say Daytona. Forty-three guys will get that chance Sunday. After 500 miles one man will fulfill his lifelong dream and become a hero to so many people worldwide.

With any luck at all, when the checkered flag falls on Sunday, our Aflac Fusion will be the one headed to victory lane.

Jason