(DAYTONA BEACH, FL) -- The NASCAR Nextel Cup Series runs under the lights at Daytona on Saturday. Series points leader, Jeff Gordon has six career wins there. "We were off in February and I felt like a lot of it was due to the tires. We just didn't match up our down force with this car and with that tire and that's what we're working on," said Gordon.

Jeff Burton is ranked fifth in the standings. He won the Pepsi 400 in 2000. He is concentrating on getting his car to handle well. "I just want to be able to drive my car wherever I want to be able to drive it," said Burton.

Holding on the the number 12 ranking is Dale Earnhardt Jr. He is not too high on his chances at winning at Daytona. "It's a plate race. I don't think if we've got as good a chance as we use to have here, but ya know you never know what could happen. I do think that a win for us is around the corner," said Earnhardt.

Matt Kenseth

With the realization that NASCAR is leaving no wiggle room this year, drivers are starting to get the message. Matt Kenseth was one of the early drivers to get the penalty bell rung on him. He lost 100 points and his crew chief for several races early this season after violations at the Daytona 500. "They're taking all this a lot more seriously than they ever have before and they are policing things tighter," said Kenseth. "We were able to pick the pieces up and get running fine, but we still had that 100 point deficit starting the season which is always a tough thing and it definitely took us a few weeks to rebound from that."

Kenseth says most teams have the depth to survive a suspended crew chief, but the loss of points is what really hurts. He says this can mean the difference between making the Chase or not.