"So Todd and myself have both sat down with all the guys and sort of taken, not so much a step back, but just minimised the work that we've got to do at the race team.
"We can now be focused on driving the car and doing the work that we need to do with the training side of things and the preparation side of things so that we can compete at the very top level in our racing, as a driver.
"We've both been lucky enough to be at the top of the game in the past. 2006, obviously when we won the championship, and 2007 were big years for me and I know what it took back then in terms of fitness and preparation to get to the top.
"The preparation I've put in for this year has been twice as intense as back then.
"We've focused on our fitness, our preparation, the strategies we are going to put into each race weekend and the driving aspect of things, more so that actually running the team.
"We've still got quite a significant involvement in the team and that doesn't change, but the workload does, so that we can roll out in 2010 and compete knowing that when we are racing Jamie Whincup or Will Davison we are just as fit, if not fitter, than them.
"Our Jack Daniel's Commodores are just as good as their cars and we've got all the components that we need to beat them.
"Last year we knew towards the end of the year that we had the car to do the job, but we probably didn't have the fitness and the time to dedicate to our driving. Those different aspects of being a driver are important and now we have the confidence that we have every little ingredient that we need to go out and win races for Jack Daniel's Racing."
Rick Kelly says that the hard work and long hours of 2009 were extremely satisfying from the point of view of establishing a brand new four-car team.
"2009 was a very, very exciting year for Todd and myself, and the whole team, and of course Mum and Dad," said Rick Kelly.
"We were all excited to be part of a new team and to be building something.
"Just turning up at the first race in Adelaide with four cars ready to race was an achievement that almost brought us to tears given the short amount of time we had to get ready. It was awesome to roll our cars out and compete at that event."
