Crocker: Daytona no longer a dream

Erin Crocker is stepping up a program that she hopes one day will land her in a full-time Nextel Cup ride by driving in the Busch, Truck and ARCA series for Ray Evernham Motorsports. The youngest of five children, Crocker will share with readers the ups and downs of her life on and off the track through NASCAR.COM 's David Newton.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Watching my truck hauler pull into Daytona International Speedway last week with Cheerios, Betty Crocker and my name all over it, and with this picture-perfect Daytona USA sign in the background, it was one of those moments I had to stop and let it sink in.

It's kind of hard to take in everything that is happening to me when you're so caught up in driving. But sometimes, like when you go through the tunnel to the track early in the morning, it's like, "Wow, I'm here to race.''

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I came to Daytona a number of times with my family when I was growing up, but I never could have dreamed that I actually would be here as a driver.

Ray Evernham has given me a lot of advice. He's been a great mentor. He really believes in me. He spots for me a lot, which is a boost of confidence right there.

Some of the best things that he says to me have probably been the hardest to take, like this is where you need to improve, specific things that when I first hear them I get a little fired up. Overall, I appreciate his honestly and constructive criticism.

Last week, I went with Ray over to Volusia Speedway Park to watch the World of Outlaws. I ran the whole tour in 2004. I went over there thinking I'm probably going to be a little sad, especially with my old car over there.

When I first heard the cars on the track there was a part of me that went, "Oh, man, I miss that." But as I walked around I realized I'm really happy to be where I am. This is my challenge. This is what I want now. I realized, "Here I am walking around the garage with Ray Evernham. Man, I have come a long way!''

A funny thing happened another day when I had breakfast with Ray. Well, it was funny to me. This guy came up and started talking to me, going, "Hey, how's your car? What else are you doing this week?''

I don't know if he didn't see Ray or what, but he never said one thing to Ray, like he wasn't there. I remember feeling funny about that.

I get recognized a little bit now. It always happens when I don't expect it. Usually it happens when I'm at Starbucks in the morning and my hair is all over the place. The first time it happened was last year after the Kentucky ARCA race that I ran second in.

The next morning my mom came to visit me. I said, "I'll go get coffee.'' I looked like a disaster. I had this little beanie hat on. Well, I was putting cream in my coffee and somebody was like, "Hey, great race last night!" I was, "Oh, gosh, somebody recognized me.''

I had plans to go to Disney World with my family on Sunday, which was supposed to be an off-day. But we had to cancel because the ARCA race was rained out on Saturday and we had to race Sunday morning.

I was hoping to get some beach time, but not in this weather. It's been cold.

The best part of the week has been getting back in the car. It felt like I hadn't been in a race for a long time. It felt really good to finish after not finishing the last few races of last year. I would have liked to have finished better than I did (15th), but it was more important to finish.

Bill Elliott once told me, you can't win a race until you finish it.

Everything else has been pretty routine. I was on Benny Parsons' show. I've done some appearances for my sponsors. I don't mind doing those. They keep your time occupied where you don't have to sit there and think about stuff.

My ultimate goal is to be successful at the Nextel Cup level. But I try not to focus on that. That's down the road. I want to earn respect, earn my spot.