The race this weekend at Kentucky Speedway marks the halfway point in the 2008 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.  Colin Braun, driver of the No. 6 Con-way Freight Ford F-150 for Roush Fenway Racing, talks about his season to date and what he anticipates for the remainder of the year.

TALK ABOUT THE FIRST HALF OF THE SEASON. YOU WENT INTO THE YEAR WITH A HUGE LEARNING CURVE. IS IT WHAT YOU EXPECTED?  "First I have to start by saying my Con-way Freight team has done a great job all season.  Mike Beam (crew chief) and the guys have given me fast trucks every week.  I knew going into the season that I could drive a truck fast without any traffic for a short run.  The biggest thing I've had to learn is how to race in traffic.  I've learned a lot from racing with the veteran drivers in the series.  I never thought about how much goes into racing.  I just figured you needed to drive fast every lap and you'd win races.  In the last month or so I began to realize there is a lot more to it and being the fastest doesn't always mean you are going to win.  We were fast enough to win races, so I think I set my goals too high for my experience level expecting to win too soon, and pushing too hard to make that happen."

HOW DO YOU TAKE WHAT YOU LEARNED IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE SEASON AND APPLY IT TO THE REMAINING 13 RACES?  "I just need to race smarter.  I don't need to run the fastest laps all the time.  I need to work with Mike (Beam) on making the truck drive well as opposed to just being fast.  I have made my goals more realistic for my level of experience and I know that you can't force wins.  I have to take what we have and when it falls into place we'll win.  For now I am focused on winning the rookie championship, finishing every lap and getting solid, consistent finishes."

Braun currently leads the Raybestos Rookie Standings by 15 points.  He has one top-five and four top-10 finishes this season.  The Craftsman Truck Series kicks off the second of the season Saturday night at Kentucky Speedway with the Built Ford Tough 225.