mportant it has been for me to be a contender, and we have the opportunity in 2004 to go win this championship."
<p>
And if he falls short of that goal by season's end? Well, there's always next year.
<p> 
"2005 looks like the best-ever for me and my team," he said. "2005 for me is about commitment, racing for a championship for one last time for the Nextel Cup."
<p>
While he has finished seasons runner-up a NASCAR-record four  times and recorded 213 top-five and 338 top-10 finishes in 596 career Cup starts