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I have Barilla Brock and welcome to foxsports.com. Coverage of the Daytona 500 brought to buy break. Get that car and got mobile. Only from -- only on the now network and at the Daytona 500 approach is a lot of speculation and just which driver will take the checkers this year. One guy who can never be overlooked is Jeff Gordon. Still among the elite of NASCAR the four time Daytona champ sat down to talk all things racing with Charlie.

I'm Lee Spencer foxsports.com. And I'm -- with four time cup champion Jeff Gordon and -- thanks for joining us and Brandon. They talk a little bit about you really seem enthusiastic this season there's been a lot of talk about the irony.

Innocent child together but. The 24 kind of started at all how do you guys feel about when he ten.

And we felt really excited about it yeah -- tire myself and a lot of conversations. -- was with Rick Hendrick and you know we just felt like. We didn't need to reinvent the -- it's not like we had a terrible season we just needed to do you know. Picking up a little bit some some crucial areas communication. You know. Pit stops and and just really trying to find in the car throughout the weekend we've got to equipment he got the people. It's just you know how we get the most out of one another throughout a race weekend and throughout the whole season. Trying to prepare for for that case as well I succeeded in the chase you out you can capitalize on on the resources that we do you have Andrew -- court itself. Steve and I felt like got really really bonded in clicked over the offseason. And and I feel like he really. Dedicate himself to this race team and win that you know I'm missing anybody doing a long time that song I'm excited about 2010 and.

Kind of got over the hump in his communication. Rumors we heard about that you guys. The radio chatter just -- where you wanted it to be. You know one thing that Stephen I'm always and that's really positives -- world -- open -- one that we don't put down. You know our feelings out there and in view afraid of hard when -- feelings and in this absent of emotions. But yet the intensity of a race weekend you know can can get the best of anybody. And so you know we just really trying to breakdown in communication be. Brutally honest ones doing what we can do. You know and and when I can do you as a driver what I can do to give him better information they can make the right adjustments. Eyes as well as you know things that we need in the car. -- to get the speed -- you know sometimes our focus a little bit too much on. On things sent down you know are really gonna make it go faster because of trying to get -- drive like the old car. And we could we could really fine tuning their car this car you just can't do you just to go faster general -- corner. And you're gonna give up a lot on entry and exit in order to do that so we talked about a lot of things that we again. Some some really great. Open communications. Skilled Cox and and I think that now immigrants it payoff underage.

We talked to him markings -- up and they then. You know they work out like beans and that you picked up your workout routine a little bit in the offseason and should be counted Sharpton and Jeff Gordon and work out again they -- Don't always go together tell us what you do in the off season ticket out and make.

As in the past and never did work you know I I -- I was fortunate and good genes from my mom and dad. And you know listen whatever I was doing was working formula. My schedule got such where judges was a fine in time to do especially when the baby came along. And zone near but I realize that with the chase format I think that's really what's changed it more than anything as well as competition's gotten more fierce. Is that you know I need to make sure that I'm I'm not only in shape when the season starts plus my back you know want to strengthen my corner to help my back. And again you know I I thought to be in this sport for a long record time. You gotta stay in shape. So that's probably -- and I neglected over the years and in some trying to trying to get some of that back. I don't think you have to be the most physically thing kind of Roger win races you know I think that is just set a good smart thing to do. And if it helps me especially in this final ten races of the season. And then I think it's a good thing I think it's also as much mental as physical because you get yourself. In a jam you know for me it's it's three or four times a week. You know doing those activities and -- clears your mind Elijah to focus on the important things sent down. Then you mean mostly on the racetrack as well -- off the racetrack.

We hear junior talk about pressure you have been with Hendrick Motorsports for so long that. You know what it's like you've always had the equipment to get -- time. You talk about the pressure when you have. You're not the only. Four time champion on the roof anymore you Mark Martin who had you know his best season in years and he had junior who you know can go hot and cold -- when it's hot he he gets hot check. Do you as a four time champion feel pressure with that type talent under the group.

Absolutely and I think that's one of the things that makes Hendrick Motorsports specialists so competitive as well some other organizations out there that you know out. An incredible driver lineup and and solid teams behind him. Is that the competition with and when you when you're when your resources are there and you're you're doing the right things that the engineering. You know with your engines under the hood. You and your -- things. Then then you know it comes down to that team. And -- that team you know is is outperforming another team -- organization. It it. Pushes those others to Alameda there. Competition level in what they're doing in his attainment. So there's no doubt about -- you know and and we've seen it. Since I can remember going back when I first start in. You know we came on strong in -- for change in 95. And the five current terrorism -- and -- and they wanna change in 96 and just -- just can't push and -- and now. We really have fourteenth that are capable. Of winning races winning championships. And and we saw with a 123 finish last year. That's great finish third but at the same time and I got beat by -- my my teammates and it just wasn't good in Athens in you know and it's and you -- makes you. You wanna -- wanna do everything you can possibly can. Can Ireland be you know first after on the track and be first in class and hopefully that's -- the first in the championship. What -- tank -- in accordance. Well you know I'm really help and that that we can show -- competition just how strongly we aren't just continue on the momentum and your motor sports. I know our teammates are gonna get -- act around. Out there but I think there's some other team that is really gonna step it up as well as we certainly don't underestimate them or take that for granted. I've always said what went. What can beat us is ourselves. And so you know we're hitting on all its owners and we've got everything lined up Bryant and the cars are drawn -- well. And and I'm driving well and communicating well Steve. I don't think anybody can beat so hopefully we do that things right answers to a lot -- from a open do those things right. And we can not to win a lot of races this year and especially in this --

You talk about what Daytona mean to you I mean you know there's been heartbreak but there is awesome and the incredible moment when you you go to victory -- What is it about this place it's a magical.

You know you drive in the tunnel and it is a really special place. It took me a lot of years to be in the sport to really. I appreciate just just how hard it is to win the Daytona 500. How special. This track is because of the history of it. And in what difference and we built. And then you look at their listening. That are out there and won this race and in I don't you know taking. Our three wins for instance and only Yarborough and and now. Richard Petty won more in and that's that's unbelievable to me that task that -- on that that type of a -- And every time I come here. It it means that much more just to compete here and those three wins and I have. Are are very very special to me. And what it would mean -- forward vina would be off it'd just -- Altman and I would certainly. I enjoy and appreciate another team would more than ever even over the three wins his because in his nineteenth season. Every -- we appreciate more but especially comes to a -- under.

The politics and have changed quite a bit -- your rookie season and recently NASCAR went through you know we're gonna open it up and make that -- is as compelling as we can for the fans were looking for -- story lines. You liked the direction that they're taking and it where they kind of put the demons witches you know I guess first went in tempered a little bit with. Their knowledge but I trying to get the best practice on lap on the race track lot aren't.

And a big believer in communication and in June. Getting all parties involved and making the decisions for the sport and you have to listen to the fans because they they really error huge part of this sport. Just like the media you know I think in me -- Very important role as well. You know I think that it's a very tough balance -- NASCAR has turned it to to balance out competition. As well as entertainment. And and then -- I've I've never been one in view them in making those decisions but I think they've made some really good ones over the offseason to. To say hey you know we're gonna we're gonna open missing out we're gonna let you guys go out there and do what you need to do. And we are so awesome fantastic race in the shoot out we're seeing a lot of action not from the track and I think it's gonna continue Natalie through the weekend -- a Daytona 500. But down throughout the whole season. And I think it's great and I hope you know that NASCAR continues to do mormons. Pretty certain fans are gonna enjoy that as well.

we really appreciate your time. Period. Her foxsports.com. -- Lee Spencer. I that is gonna do it for -- more dot com coverage of the Daytona 500 brought to you by -- get NASCAR Sprint Cup mobile only from sprint. Only on the now network and for all you Daytona 500 need to be -- to keep a log on right here to foxsports.com. I'm Barry Le Brock -- next. And and there's a place all religions live. February 14. Only on box.