NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers A.J. Allmendinger and Jamie McMurray headed to Florida just days after Christmas to compete in the 3-day Daytona KartWeek by Cometic Gasket which began on December 28th.

For McMurray, the event has become an annual tradition. After beginning his racing career behind the wheel of a go-kart and for the past three years he has competed in the yearly competition.

"This is not kick back and relax, this is very serious and it's very high stress," McMurray said. "We're trying to run two classes this year, it's just hectic today trying to get both karts on the track today and get everything ready but I've got some good helpers."

In 2010, McMurray will have a new Sprint Cup ride and, as a head start to his NASCAR season, he has prepared his kart with his new colors.

"I had to have a new go-kart uniform made and I thought it would be really nice for Bass Pro Shops get to see what it looks like," McMurray said. "They sent me the stuff that I needed and Impact made me a suit and it matches my kart. You got to have all your stuff together. It would have been really weird to have 26 on my kart."

Allmendinger also has a history in karting and he is no stranger to Daytona. After this event, he will begin prepping not only for the Daytona 500 but also for the Rolex 24 at Daytona at the end of January.

 "It kick starts my two months of living in Daytona," Allmendinger said of the event. "It's OK with me as long as I'm racing, I'm happy. I like to race go-karts a lot more if I got the chance. Unfortunately, there are not a lot of tracks there in Charlotte to go out and drive in. When I do get a chance, I go out there and have some fun.”

The event will challenge World Karting Association drivers on a 3.56-mile road course, the Sprint track located in Turns 3 and 4 and a quarter-mile dirt track outside Turns 1 and 2.

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