Reutimann confident in challenge for N'wide title (cont'd)

During Cup Series testing at Daytona this week, Pemberton said he's enjoyed his first days with Reutimann and that he holds a similar path as Baxter's.

"You always have to adapt to what the situation might need," Pemberton said. "I prefer to be on the calm side. If we need to address things differently, we will. So far, it's been great -- David's been awesome to work with.

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"It's a different animal here at Daytona because it's all about the aero and the motor. We're going to have a lot more fun when we get to [test at] Las Vegas and California, when we can do more conventional work on the car and get that relationship going."

Before that, Reutimann and Baxter will have tested their Nationwide car at Daytona and will have a chance to see how the 2008 package stacks up. Reutimann is optimistic, considering he and Jason Leffler, the only two drivers who were in full-time Busch Toyotas last season finished second and third in the championship.

"It's a racecar that's pretty balanced, but what's under the hood doesn't hurt any," Reutimann said. "The fact of the matter is the motor makes good horsepower, the torque curve is right where you need it and the things run all day long.

"That's all you can ask for, is a good, drivable motor that makes good horsepower and is there, generally -- unless you do something stupid, run one hot or something like that -- they don't break.

"They just keep doing the same thing, week after week; and that's what you need, something consistent that's always going to be there for you, and that's what we have with that motor."

Reutimann said he'd need every HP number to keep up with Edwards, who won four races and the title by 618 points after a second half slump. Reutimann laughed when asked how many races he'd need to win this season to beat Edwards.

"I have to win more than he does," Reutimann said. "Carl is an extraordinary driver and he's definitely going to be a guy to beat, no matter what he's driving -- whether it's a lawn mower, golf cart, whatever.

"I feel like we learned a lot, and the last half of the year I think our performance was better than his -- I think we were more consistent. Unfortunately for us, the first half of the year he was just on fire; and it just shows that can happen either way.

"The thing is, we just have to be consistent. The days that Carl runs good -- and there are going to be a lot of them -- you have to be right there with him, mirroring his steps. If he wins, you need to run second, and lead some laps, get bonus points and not make any mistakes.

"The first part of the year, we made a lot of mistakes and we weren't consistent -- but Carl's going to be a guy that's tough to contend with."

Reutimann said that thanks to his support staff, the logistics of running two series again was the least of his worries.

"I enjoyed it last year and it was a lot of fun just because I didn't have to do any work," Reutimann said. "When they weren't conjunction races, Jennifer [Chapple, his PR aide] would say 'you've got to be out of the car at a certain time.'

"I'd be out of the car at a certain time, she'd take me in a golf cart to a helicopter and I'd get on it and leave. We'd land, I'd jump on a plane and go to sleep, an hour or so later we're where we're supposed to be and it was fun.

"It made you feel like you were really important for a day or so, so I look forward to that."