Hey everyone,

We're two weeks into 2006, and we're already looking at our first off-weekend. I really enjoy racing the trucks, I just wish that we didn't have this downtime between races! We're off to a good start, and I can't say enough about my guys and what we've been able to accomplish.

At the beginning of the year, I set one of my goals to win the Rookie of the Year award. We've been fortunate enough to be the highest finishing rookie in both races so far, so we're on top of the battle. The 99 crew that's behind me has worked really hard so far, and they deserve the credit for our strong start. I'm still learning about these trucks and how they drive, and they are really accelerating the learning curve. I don't know that I'd be running this well if I was with a different team. These guys are awesome, and they are really pumped up about our performances. I can't wait to get to Atlanta and get on the track!

Speaking of Atlanta, I can't wait to get down there. That track is so fast, and you can run all over the place. I'm anticipating another strong run for us there. One of my best friends recently moved down there, so I'm hoping to get to spend some time with him as well.

I signed autographs at the Ford Racing souvenir trailer in Fontana, and I'm going to see about making that a regular occurrence. I enjoyed meeting some of the fans, and I think it will be cool to keep doing that. So if you're going to be heading to a race, make sure you come by and say hello.

Hope everyone has a good weekend, make sure you watch the Busch race on Sunday. I'll be cheering for my teammates to have some good finishes. I know they are all looking forward to getting on the road course, so we'll see how it goes.

Until next time,

Erik