With the 2009 NASCAR season kicking off this weekend at the "World Center of Racing", America's Most Popular Driver in the Sprint Cup Series will look to defend his title in the Budweiser Shootout and the Gatorade Duel 150.

"Winning the first race of the year -- whether it's for points or no points -- is always pretty special," said Earnhardt Jr. "There's no better way to start a season than by winning the first one right out of the gate. Being that it's an exhibition, it's more cool than it is important. It doesn't necessarily determine how the rest of your Speedweeks will go because we run different cars for the Daytona 500. But it's the opening act of a new season, and everyone wants to start off with a bang. I guess it's more important for bragging rights."

Coming off of his first season at Hendrick Motorsports, he has ditched the rookie stripes and looks to improve on what he accomplished last season. In 2008 Earnhardt Jr. recorded one win, ten top-5 and 16 top-10 finishes en route to a 12th place finish in the driver point standings.

"I want to go out there and run up front and try to win some races and be in the Chase," noted the driver of the No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. "We did good last year for the first half of the season, first 55 percent of the season. We need to show up in the summer time, around July and August, and continue to be competitive. I feel we will come out of the box just like we did last year and do well and get everyone excited. We just need to maintain that."

With NASCAR's version of the Super Bowl right around the corner, Earnhardt Jr. is confident that all four drivers at Hendrick Motorsports has what it takes to contend for the 2009 Cup Series title.

"I think Mark (Martin, No. 5 Chevrolet) is definitely not going to be a slouch. Earnhardt Jr. continued, "I'm expecting him to be as competitive as Jimmie (Johnson, No. 48 Chevrolet) and Jeff (Gordon, No. 24 Chevrolet). I just hope to go out there and be able to match what they are doing on the racetrack."