“But during the time off I was able to really focus on what I really wanted to do and that's to drive competitive race cars and be competitive and I don't think I can put a time limit on it. I think I'll know when that day is ready for me to step out, but it's not right now."
HOW DO LINDA AND LANDON FEEL ABOUT THIS?
RR "I definitely had a lot of good home time. I think the other day when I was gonna go test, a few days ahead of time she wanted to know if she could pack my bag for me and wanted to make sure I didn't need to go early and get a hotel room, so I think maybe I get the hint that maybe she needs me to go back on the road (joking). But being serious, that's probably the big thing that will be the toughest is being gone on the weekends when I have time to spend with the family. We'll make things work some kind of way and just beg, borrow or rob time to steal to spend time together as a family. It's getting more and more difficult as racing has become more and more popular. The demands on the drivers and teams has become more of a time schedule juggling act than it ever has been in the past."
HAVE YOU MADE ARRANGEMENTS TO GET YOUR LAWN CUT?
RR "I'm gonna do things different. I used to do a lot of it myself and I'm actually gonna make some arrangements to get some people to fill in with all the smaller tasks just so I can have some more home time."
HOW MUCH CAN YOU HELP RYR CATCH UP WITH THE CAR OF TOMORROW BECAUSE YOU'VE TESTED IN THAT CAR?
RR "We went to Rockingham the other day and tested and David was there and he drove the car and it amazes me how guys who have never seen the race track before can get out and go fast right out of the box without any real previous track experience. One thing that David would not know, and there's no way for him to know that, is what the history of that racetrack is. When is a car really good and when is it bad and when do you need to work on it. That's something from an experience level that David would not know because he never raced Rockingham and I know the characteristics of that racetrack. I think that's gonna be pretty valuable experience, especially in working out the car of tomorrow. When is this car really good and when does it need to continue to be worked on.
![Ricky Rudd was the top Ford in qualifying at Daytona. Rudd posted the 5th fastest time [Photo: autostock].](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/49363.jpg )
