Sorry this is a couple of days late this week. I just got back from Las Vegas. I came home on the red eye last night. (Actually, I started writing this on the plane on my blackberry, but fell asleep before I got it finished)

I was home for a couple of days this week, but they go by so fast. I spent last weekend in California with the Dollar General team. Vickers and the guys did a good job and finished eighth. They gambled on the last caution and stayed out. A bunch of cars behind them pitted for tires. That’s always a tough call because you never know if the field will follow you or not down pit road. I can’t wait to head back out there in the fall because I’ll be driving the car! It’s been good to spend time with the team and get to know the guys, but this not driving is for the birds. I can’t wait to be back in the car! My next race will be at Bristol in the Dollar General Toyota and I can’t wait. We have two weekends off between now and then. I’m going to head to Rockingham (NC) this week to test the Cup car. I’ll let you know how that goes in the next diary here.

Las Vegas was a lot of fun. Away from the track, I hung out with some of the guys on the team. At the track I talked to Trent a lot about the car. The guys brought a great car to Vegas. Vickers was fast all weekend and finished fifth on Saturday. After the long day, thanks to the rain, I met some of the Nationwide Insurance VIPs. A group of us Nationwide Series drivers took them around the track in Richard Petty Driving Experience cars. We finished up just as the rain started again. It was nice meeting them and I hope they had a great time this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

It’s nice to be home now for a few weeks. I’ll get a chance to catch up on a few things around the house…especially laundry! Have a great week and thanks for keeping up with me on The Hot Lap.