Kenseth ready to wrap up his celebratory week

FONTANA, Calif. -- Spotter Mike Calinoff is enjoying his reunion with Daytona 500 champion Matt Kenseth, but his leg is still a little sore. Sore because he's continuing somewhat of a tradition to get tatted up after each milestone Kenseth -- his driver and friend -- reaches in his NASCAR career.

A Daytona 500 tattoo was a no-brainer.

Mike Calinoff gave himself a permanent and painful reminder of the 500 win.

"As soon as I landed in Mooresville [N.C.], from the induction ceremony at Daytona USA, I went to the tattoo place," Calinoff said as he lifted his pant leg in the garage Friday to show off a slightly irritated yet colorful Daytona 500 tattoo on his left leg.

His right leg: That's a completely different, yet related, story altogether.

Back in 2003 when Kenseth won the Cup championship, Calinoff decided to get a championship tattoo on his right calf about four days shy of the season finale before Kenseth was crowned.

"We had a pretty decent points lead and I felt confident in Matt's ability, so I went ahead and did it," Calinoff recalled.

During Monday's Daytona 500 induction ceremony, Kenseth leaned over to Calinoff and jokingly asked why he didn't have the Daytona 500 tattoo sooner.

"I did ask him on Monday if he got the tattoo put on yet, before we won the race ... if he was really a psychic," Kenseth said. "I was just giving him a hard time about it, but it didn't surprise me that he did it."

Together with Kenseth since his full-time start in the Cup Series in 2000, Calinoff left for a short duration to work for Chip Ganassi Racing in 2005. After the No. 40 car team shut down he was available to work with Kenseth again.

"A month before the 2008 Chase we talked about a possible reunion," Calinoff said. "It's great because I have enough room for maybe another championship and the Brickyard [400 race]."

Tattoos were just the starting point for Kenseth who enjoyed a week of festivities, celebratory events and well wishes after his Daytona 500 win.

Kenseth received quite the welcome in California.

From the victory tour through the streets of San Francisco to the David Letterman Show in New York, Kenseth traveled both coasts celebrating his momentous victory.

"Letterman was probably one of the coolest things," Kenseth said, referring to one of the shows he's always wanted to be a guest on. "I've been able to do the top-10 list a couple of times ... but you don't even really meet Letterman. They kind of lock the door and lock you in the [green room]; when he runs through he doesn't want to see anybody. But to be on there and actually be a guest on Letterman was probably a highlight for me -- second to going to Victory Lane."

Kenseth and his wife, Katie -- who is expecting the couple's first child in July -- enjoyed a tour of San Francisco crossing the Golden Gate Bridge and visiting legendary Fisherman's Grotto No. 9 at Fisherman's Wharf. The couple learned how to cook and crack a Dungeness crab under the guidance of co-owner Anthony Geraldi.

The Daytona 500 champion said he was surprised by the number of NASCAR fans in the city of San Francisco.

Now back in Southern California, Kenseth is finally switching gears and refocusing his attention to Sunday's Auto Club 500.

"I've got to be a little bit careful not to enjoy it too much longer," Kenseth said. "You have to start thinking about the rest of the season and focus on this week. Just winning that race doesn't make you have a successful season, so we really need to move on from that.