Hello! Welcome to my new weekly blog on The Hot Lap! It is hard to believe that the 2010 season is already here. This year I am driving the No. 32 Dollar General Toyota for Braun Racing. I’m behind the wheel for 23 Nationwide races and five Sprint Cup races.

The main focus for me during the off-season was getting the Cup car ready for Daytona. We feel like we have a good shot at making the race. Although I think I’ll get my first gray hairs next Thursday when we have to qualify during the Twin 150’s. Trent Owens is going to be the crew chief on both the Cup and Nationwide cars. We already kind of broke the ice working with each other last year when I drove the No. 32 at Gateway and Phoenix, so hopefully in practice this Friday we’re able to get the car dialed in right away. Friday is also my birthday, and to be honest, qualifying for the 500 is the only thing I want this year!

I flew into Daytona on Wednesday night. It was good to get to the motor home and get settled in. My dog, Alvin, made the trip and is hanging out with me this week. He was pretty happy to see me when I got here since he and Joe, my coach driver, left on Monday to drive down. I spent Thursday at Daytona’s Media Day. I spoke to a lot of great reporters and took a lot of pictures. It was an early morning but it’s part of the job and I don’t mind it at all.

This weekend we are finally back on track and I can’t wait! I’m sure I’ll have lots to tell you next week. Thanks for tuning into The Hot Lap and my new column. Have a great weekend and check out practice and Saturday’s qualifying!

Follow Reed Sorenson each week as he competes in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and select NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events for Braun Racing and blogs about it here at TheHotLap.com.