It's a high-speed game of whatever-you-can-do-I-can-do-better.

Jeff Burton, Clint Bowyer and Stephen Leicht have a lot riding on the first half of the 2009 Nationwide Series. In fact, their names are literally on the line.

Nationwide Schedule

Driver for RCR's No. 29 car

Date	Track	Driver
Feb. 14	Daytona	C. Bowyer
Feb. 21	Fontana	J. Burton
Feb. 28	Las Vegas	J. Burton
March 21	Bristol	C. Bowyer
April 4	Texas	J. Burton
April 11	Nashville	S. Leicht
April 17	Phoenix	J. Burton
April 25	Talladega	C. Bowyer
May 1	Richmond	J. Burton
May 8	Darlington	J. Burton
May 23	Charlotte	J. Burton
May 30	Dover	C. Bowyer
June 6	Nashville	S. Leicht
June 13	Kentucky	S. Leicht
June 20	Milwaukee	S. Leicht
June 27	Loudon	C. Bowyer
July 3	Daytona	C. Bowyer
July 10	Chicago	J. Burton
July 18	Gateway	S. Leicht
July 25	Indianapolis	S. Leicht
Aug. 1	Iowa	S. Leicht
Aug. 8	Watkins Glen	J. Burton
Aug. 15	Michigan	J. Burton
Aug. 21	Bristol	C. Bowyer
Aug. 30	Montreal	S. Leicht
Sept. 5	Atlanta	J. Burton
Sept. 11	Richmond	C. Bowyer
Sept. 26	Dover	S. Leicht
Oct. 3	Kansas	C. Bowyer
Oct. 10	Fontana	J. Burton
Oct. 16	Charlotte	S. Leicht
Oct. 24	Memphis	S. Leicht
Nov. 7	Texas	S. Leicht
Nov. 14	Phoenix	C. Bowyer
Nov. 21	Homestead	S. Leicht

A preseason photo shoot for sponsor Holiday Inn berthed a three-man bet among the Richard Childress Racing drivers of the No. 29 Chevrolet: Whichever driver has the most victories between Daytona on Feb. 14 and Daytona on July 3 will have his name above the driver's-side window for the remainder of the season, beginning at Chicago.

Bowyer, the defending series champion, was the catalyst for the bet. He was scarfing down yet another cinnamon bun during the shoot when he noticed Burton's name on the car and wondered aloud why the 41-year-old's name was on the car.

Burton was walking back on the set and made the off-the-cuff comment that, "if you have a problem, beat me on the track and you can have your name on the car."

Leicht pulled out a copy of his contract to check the language. In fact, the No. 29 was his car, too. Why wasn't his name on the car?

A one-on-one conversation with Nationwide Series director Joe Balash sealed the deal: NASCAR did not have a competition issue with whose name was on the car -- and the bet was on.

"I plan on taking advantage of this opportunity to proving the young guys wrong," said Burton, who has 27 wins, 88 top-five finishes and 143 top-10s in 293 starts in the Nationwide Series. "I know I can get it done and I'm going to give it my all to prove that in the first half of the year."

However, it's Bowyer who gets the first opportunity to crack the win column. He's on the entry list for the season-opening Camping World 300 at Daytona.

Burton will drive seven races while Bowyer will be behind the wheel six times and Leicht in four races during the 17-race stretch. Bowyer, who won the 2008 championship in RCR's No. 2 car, is driving a partial schedule this year.

"I can't wait to see Stephen and Jeff's face when they have to stare at my name the rest of the year," Bowyer boasted. "I'm going to win because it adds so much fuel to the fire.

"I have to win because it's my incentive not to see their names staring back at me on the weekends I'm driving."

Burton and Bowyer are all-in. And Leicht?

"There is no way any person can deny the accomplishments that Burton has had in the Nationwide Series," said Leicht, 22, who refused to directly address the potential benefits Geritol may add to Burton's performances. "He has done it all here as the now 'elder' guy on the team, but it's now my time to shine."

Knowing that Bowyer will turn 30 this year -- and unquestionably will be added to AARP-screened mailing lists -- Leicht cast a volley across the bow of the defending champion. "The fact that he shows me a little less competition-related respect motivates me even more this with bet.

"I think that with this awesome opportunity to drive the No. 29, I can prove him wrong and gain his respect when he's looking at my name above the door."

• Like you, Bowyer was a Chase driver in 2008. Apparently the guy has some talent; he's confident -- just shy of cocky -- and you know he wants to win this internal RCR competition. What advice would you, as a loving, caring teammate, offer Clint as he attempts to win the bet?

Burton: My advantage is that I don't have as many distractions as the young guy. They have a lot of toys to play with and I think that will help me with this bet even further. My advice to them is to quit playing and get to work!

• Tell the truth: The mounts that Richard has in his trophy room -- he bought 'em on eBay.

Bowyer: Lots of laughing ... (We'll take that as a "yes.")

• We've talked with the folks at GE. No one has a clue. We've talked with the scientists at Sylvania. Same answer. ... What is a Stephen Leicht?

Burton: If he does well enough and wins, then everybody will know what a Stephen Leicht is. If he doesn't, it may be harder to define. It all rests on his shoulders.

• Which is a better bet: The Florida Marlins winning the World Series in 2009 or Stephen Leicht winning this bet with Burton and Bowyer -- and why?

Leicht: Most people would say the Marlins are the safer bet, but I'm saying I have the best shot because I know I can do it. The first four races are my best ones and they all fall in the first half of the season. That being said, the first half of the year will be the last time Jeff and Clint see their names above the window.

• On the road as much as drivers are, making sponsor appearances, fan fests ... what is the key to a good night's sleep?

Burton: Staying at a Holiday Inn or Holiday Inn Express of course! You gotta stay at the right place!

• You're in a hotel room with two double beds. It's a two-night stay. Do you sleep in one bed the first night and the other bed the next night?

Leicht: It really depends. When I'm staying at a Holiday Inn or Holiday Inn Express, I push those awesome mattresses together and sleep on them both!

• What's more important in your hotel room: a bigger bar of soap or an extra bottle of shampoo?

Bowyer: Soap and shampoo are always good, but more water pressure makes all the difference. So, I'd have to say it comes down to the shower head, like the great ones from Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express.