Every driver will tell you that a race can be won or lost in the pits and Sunday was a perfect example. We had a good car on Sunday and we felt good about how we were running. We weren't up front all day but we did move up and down in the draft and we were just waiting to make a move at the end. But, typical of our season, something happened. We ran out of gas and came coasting into the pits, which didn't really hurt us too bad. But during the pit stop the carburetor flooded and that was what really hurt us. Every second we lost in the pits translated to about 300 feet lost on the track. It was a miscue that cost us a good finish and that is frustrating.

Charlotte is upon us again and I'm excited about it. When we race in Charlotte it is always a busy time for all of us even though we get to sleep in our own beds in our own homes. Not only do we normally run pretty good at Lowe's Motor Speedway, but I get the chance to spend some quality time with the members of my fan club at my annual fan club outing. And, on Friday the 11th, we have the Fall FanFest at Joe Gibbs Racing, where I will be signing autographs for the first 750 people who bring a toy for Toys for Tots. So, let's all hope that we have a successful weekend both on the track and for the kids...