My fans freak out and think I'm never going to race again. And I don't want them to do that because I want them to be there to pull for me in the truck series next year.

I've turned over a new leaf. On TV, Kenny Wallace said I was a pessimist after Charlotte, so I got mad. Now I am so excited about coming back that I just can't stand it. I wish we were starting tomorrow and I'm going to win! That's the new me.

Your character is slowly built and quickly eroded. You're definitely influenced whatever you are immersed in and whatever you're around and what you're a part of.

I try not to have expectations because they can tend to tear you apart. I expect to work as hard as I can possibly work and I expect to give every ounce of a hundred percent.

Obviously you can look at things however you choose to and I'm not proud of some people in sports, but I don't really look at it as my calling to be out there setting an example. I just try to treat people the way the I want to be treated - with respect and some dignity.

Kids pick up and absorb a lot more than you think they do. I try to do what I think is right, and I try to lead by example.

I'm far from perfect but I have managed to earn a good deal of respect by trying to implement the kinds of things you learn about.