This just might be the most important race (this season), it's the home state for the team and home state for the title sponsor.

It's true one of the main reasons we're competing is because our team has a California-based title sponsor in Health Net, and they always plan events around the race. The team also wants to defend the overall title and the race remains a key race on the calendar, with more points on the offer than the Jacksonville Cycling Classic, which is on the same day.

It's a more intricate sport than perhaps people perceive. Most people think you get on your bikes and ride. The Tour de France coverage has kind of explained that it's a lot more than that. Hopefully, by the end of the week, people will start to understand it.

It's a marketing investment - they are trying to gain a wider exposure for their brand and their company.

Interestingly, this is the first home race for our sophomore. We ended up being all away last year. I think it's just going to be extra exciting because we have a young team and these guys will want to perform well at home.

Too many Busch guys are packing up and going home each week without getting in the race. The Cup drivers are taking up too many spots in the Busch races.