Gordon gets set for Toyota bow

Robby Gordon says he is excited by the prospect of making his first race start in his new Toyota in the Gatorade Duels at Daytona.

Gordon switches to the Toyota for 2009 after making his final start at the wheel of his Dodge during the Budweiser Shootout.

Already locked into the Daytona 500 thanks to his top-35 owners points placing, Gordon will now look to secure the best grid slot possible from 20th on the grid for the first Gatorade Duel race.

However, having shown his pace on restrictor-plate races in the past, Gordon said he was hopeful that a strong weekend may lie ahead.

"We have put together one of the best restrictor-plate programmes in the Cup garage," he said. "Last year, our worst finish in a plate race was eleventh, and we finished second in restrictor-plate points.

"I have learned a lot over the years, and this race is about survival and going hard only when it counts. After observing Saturday's Shootout race, we are confident that we have put together a good package for Sunday's race.

"We are looking forward to running our Toyota this year. It is the first time in ten years that I have been behind the wheel of one, and I can't tell you how happy our team is a part of the Toyota family."