Ty Norris, vice president and general manager of Michael Waltrip Racing, will share his opinions each Thursday on NASCAR.COM.

Trust. It is an elusive emotion, usually encircled by a defensive wall of skepticism, but perhaps the most precious commodity a man can possess.

As complex as trust is, it can be defined simply by the consistency of two interwoven things: Actions and words. If your actions always match your words and vice versa, you gain trust and believability.

Following a jaw-dropping 10 days in Daytona, both NASCAR and Michael Waltrip Racing's actions have matched its pre-season words.

NASCAR insured fans that its racing would be the best ever. NASCAR insured drivers it would let them race hard, show their emotions and compete unobstructed of tedious governance. And Michael Waltrip Racing proclaimed 2009 was not a fluke and that MWR's progression over the past 18 months has positioned them solidly as legitimate Chase participants.

Merely words without action. After Daytona, you better believe them both.

Side-by-side racing all day. Record lead changes. New names in the mix with the sport's rock star screaming up the middle in the end to finish second. And, by the way, with the late week rules change on restarts, the race finished under green, just like the fans wanted. There was no shortage of dramatic story lines to follow.

For MWR, its drivers finished fifth and sixth in the Great American Race, which was only part of the story. Martin Truex Jr., in his maiden voyage in NAPA colors carrying his family's car No. 56, was a contender all day long, and had perfect position to make a run for the 500 checkered flag for two of the green-white-checker restarts. An aggressive three-tap nudge from Kevin Harvick led to a miraculous save by Truex while he was leading and he salvaged a sixth-place finish. David Reutimann restarted 12th in the final run to the checker, stuffed himself in Dale Jr.'s trunk and launched the No. 88 to a runner-up finish. For Reutimann, it was his first top-five at Daytona and a great start to his 2010 Chase run.

Beam as you will, but the grandeur that is Daytona is clearly in the rear view mirror. The real season and the grind starts now! (Continued)