Make no mistake. Stock car racing is enormously popular in Mexico, fueled by an oval-track building boom that has transformed what was once a road-racing culture into one where the NTSMx is truly a national series and the most popular form of motorsports in the country.

"The series started out predominantly on road courses," Silbermann said. "If I’m not mistaken, in the first season, all the races were on road courses except one oval race. Then you flash forward today in Mexico, and in a very brief time, it’s just the opposite. Today, all the races that we run with the series in Mexico, they’re all on oval courses with the exception of one road course.

"In a very short time, a whole stock car racing culture has erupted in Mexico. If you attend an event down there, you find the grandstands packed with very passionate fans. You would think you were at Talladega or Daytona, just seeing the enthusiasm in the very large crowds they draw. But if you got to the broader picture, with the series now coming to the United States for the first time, that seed that was planted eight, nine years ago has now sprouted and grown."

The defending series champion is Jorge Goeters, a one-time pole winner in the NASCAR Nationwide Series — in 2005 in the first NNS road-course race in Mexico City. Goeters left the Caneles team after last year’s championship to form his own organization.

Taking his place with Caneles is Ruben Garcia Jr., who won the NTSMx rookie-of-the-year title at age 16. Daniel Suarez, one of NASCAR’s Next9 up-and-coming drivers, will compete at Phoenix. So will Rogelio Lopez, the first Mexican driver to win a NASCAR K&N Pro Series East event (2007 at Nashville).

"Keep in mind, NASCAR fans here in the United States have already seen some very talented Mexican drivers competing in our U.S. series," Silbermann said. "You’ve got folks like the multi-time series champion, German Quiroga, competing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. You’ve got Daniel Suarez who’s been identified as one of NASCAR’s Next9 drivers; he’s making a name for himself in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series.

"Just less than two weeks ago, you had the reigning series champion, Jorge Goeters, compete in the inaugural UNOH Battle at the Beach. Some Mexican drivers already are making a good name for themselves in the United States, but I think some fans will really be surprised how deep the talent pool is in the Mexico Series."

Logistically, it’s no easy task to transport an entire series across an international border, but by Tuesday night just after midnight, Silbermann said all the haulers had arrived in the United States, with the first ones expected to arrive at PIR later that day.

"There are some logistical challenges we’re overcoming, just as we did when we were going in the opposite direction, taking our then-Busch Series down to Mexico City," Silbermann said. "I will say that a lot of the agencies on both sides of the border — customs, immigration, the entities that deal with all the paper work and logistics — have really gotten behind this event to try to make the transition across the border as smooth as possible.

"The good news is all the haulers are in the United States."

And fans will soon understand the significance of the NASCAR Mexico Toyota Series’ inaugural visit to the United States.

"This event’s going to have an impact on many different levels," Silbermann said. "First of all, the race will open the door for new fans, but, at the same time, existing NASCAR fans are really going to like what they see.

"The series features very talented drivers who, as we say, are not afraid to have at it. But also, this event helps serve as a focal point for the diverse array of Latino endeavors by the NASCAR community across the board here in the United States."

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The color, introduced by the Petty family and then made famous by "The King" Richard Petty, has come to define the winning tradition and heritage of the Petty family and the famed No. 43. The legions of Petty race fans have long waited for the return of the famous Petty Blue paint scheme. Smithfield Foods is proud to return the tradition and winning heritage back to the track.

"We want to connect the tradition and history of Richard Petty and Richard Petty Motorsports fans to our Smithfield Foods family of brands," explained Larry Pope, chief executive officer of Smithfield Foods. "There is no better way to do that than to bring back the Petty Blue color scheme that all race fans recognize and relate to on the No. 43 Ford. We will now make sure that each time we race this season, our fans will be able to easily recognize Aric (Almirola) on the track and the strong heritage that the Petty and Smithfield Foods brands represent."

The first Petty Blue scheme will adorn the No. 43 this weekend when Almirola will race the Famland Ford at the Phoenix International Raceway. This car, along with the Eckrich and Smithfield (Gwaltney) Ford were unveiled today by team owner Richard Petty and Smithfield Director of Public Affairs, Dennis Pittman.

"I’m really humbled by everyone at Smithfield and all their companies to decide to make this change," said team owner Richard Petty. "They have been great partners for us as a company and this really proves that. Our fans will now be able to easily recognize the No. 43 Ford and Aric on the track throughout the season. It will also bring back a lot of good memories for me each time I see it."

"I know what time zone I’m in; I was a little confused on days," Johnson said with a laugh. "I thought we were on Tuesday but it is clearly Wednesday. Not much sleep, some of that self-inflicted. It’s been a very fun ride."

The ride, however, has a much different feel than when he won his first Daytona 500 title in 2006. 

"When I won my first Daytona 500, I had not won a championship," Johnson said. "It was amazing and a lot went on, but I don’t think the popularity was there like today. This is like winning a championship. I’m just as busy and there is just as much reach for myself, my sponsor, my team, as it did winning a championship. It is amazing the impact this single event has across our nation and in the world. It’s a big, big deal.   

"I’m really savoring the moment more and just enjoying it. I feel like I’m more mature today as a driver and somebody within the sport. I can appreciate this moment much more than in ’06. I did all I could at the time, but seven years later a lot has changed. I’m very appreciative of what goes with it." 

Johnson’s attention this week has been away from race preparations unlike his traditional schedule. Johnson, scheduled to compete in both the Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series races this weekend at Phoenix, understands the challenges that will come with this weekend’s races. 

"It hasn’t been at my mind at all," Johnson said. "We’ve been so occupied and busy. Tuesdays is normally the day I download with my team and talk about what happened at the races and then we move forward and prepare for the upcoming event. Then we go through that same thing with our teammates, their crew chiefs and the race engineers. I missed all of that yesterday so I feel a little removed and not really in the space to go racing in Phoenix. It’s for a good reason. Chad (Knaus, Johnson’s crew chief) is going to cut me some slack this week and I’m going to have to catch up on Friday when I get to the track."

One of the highlights of his Q&A session with the fans was a story that involved one of those Hendrick Motorsports teammates as well as TMZ that chases down celebrity news.

"I was in New York yesterday, and I get out of a car for an interview," Johnson tells the audience. "TMZ is standing there with a camera and the man asks the question that is the most annoying one I hear all the time which is, ‘What do you have to do if you have to go to the bathroom?’ 

"So evidently I was on TMZ last night because just before I walked out this morning my phone was blowing up and (Dale Earnhardt) Junior texted me and said, ‘You’ve never peed in your car before?’ No, I haven’t. Where did you see this? How did you know this? ‘Well, I watched TMZ.’" 

Johnson understands the momentum a victory in NASCAR’s most prestigious race can provide a driver. His first Daytona 500 victory came in 2006, which coincidentally was the same season he earned the first of his five NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championships. 

In 2006, he followed up his Daytona 500 victory with three wins in the first nine races, along with seven top-10 finishes during that span. His victory in Sunday’s Daytona 500 has provided his Hendrick Motorsports team confidence moving forward. It is in stark contrast to last season when Johnson got caught up in an accident and finished 42nd in the 43-car field of the Daytona 500.

"We feel like we’re going to start the season at the top of the class and we’re excited about that," Johnson said. "Plate racing is so different than what it takes to win the championship. You’ve got to make the Chase and that is all on downforce tracks. You get into the Chase and you’ve got one plate-race track versus nine other downforce tracks. You can turn it in some directions. I have seen some teams and drivers win the (Daytona) 500 and you see four or five months later they haven’t had such a great year. There’s some type of hangover from the (Daytona) 500. Or it can be a springboard."

Winning the Daytona 500 has not translated into success at Texas Motor Speedway in the same season. In the 16-year history of Texas Motor Speedway, no Daytona 500 winner has gone on to visit Victory Lane at "The Great American Speedway!" in the same season.

While Johnson remains winless in April’s Texas 500, he is no stranger to Victory Lane at Texas Motor Speedway. Johnson has two victories during the speedway’s November Sprint Cup Series event, winning the AAA Texas 500 in 2007 and again last year. He remains one of the most consistent NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers at Texas Motor Speedway as he ranks second for career top-five finishes (9), top-10 finishes (14) and finishing average (9.26). 

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