Feb. 14, 2008

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.  – It was all about teamwork today for Michael Waltrip Racing (MWR) during today’s running of the Gatorade Duel 150s – the two-race event to determine starting positions three through 43 in Sunday’s Daytona 500. All three drivers were in the second Gatorade 150 race. NAPA driver Michael Waltrip and David Reutimann made up the front row and were assured starting spots, however, their teammate, Dale Jarrett, who was attempting to qualify for his final Daytona 500 was not. A MWR team strategy was put into place, and after 64 nail-biting laps, their plan paid off earning all three MWR teams a starting spot in the 50th running of The Great American Race. Waltrip scored 13th, Jarrett finished 9th and Reutimann earned 12th.

“It was a good time out there,” said NAPA AUTO PARTS Racing driver Michael Waltrip. “I just concentrated on our main goal. We needed to practice for a few laps to make sure we knew what we were doing. We did, obviously. Dale just had an awesome car. He did a great job. He could have made it without us, but there was no sense in taking that chance.”

When the green flag waved, the NAPA Toyota Camry showed some serious muscle by leading the first seven laps of competition. Then on lap 13, Waltrip got sideways after making contact with Dave Blaney. Waltrip held on to run in third place when the first caution of the day came out on lap 16. It was during this time that Waltrip sent a message to his crew on the radio, “I have a car that can win the Daytona 500. It handles perfectly!”

Crew chief Paul Andrews made no adjustments during the team’s only pit stop on lap 19 for four tires and gas. Waltrip retook the green flag on lap 22 in third and within two laps, he was back in the top spot. A blown engine by Blaney brought out the second yellow of the afternoon causing the event to be red flagged until NASCAR could clear the track. When the race restarted on lap 29, Jeff Gordon made a move that did not please Waltrip. The NAPA Camry got shuffled back to 16th, but was in close proximity to Jarrett who was not in contention for a transfer spot at that time.

The team’s plan to work together to help Jarrett make the race was put into motion at the halfway mark. Jarrett was backed by Reutimann and Waltrip in the draft. It took just three circuits for Jarrett to race into a starting spot for Sunday’s race and after a green-white-checkered finish, all three Michael Waltrip Racing teams were in the Daytona 500. Toyota won its first race when Denny Hamlin won the second Gatorade Duel.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the first 150-mile race.

As a result of the Gatorade Duels, Waltrip will start second, Jarrett will line up 20th, and Reutimann rolls off 42nd.

Sunday’s Daytona 500 gets underway at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX and MRN Radio.

Gatorade Duel Race 1 Results:
http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2008/101/data/results_unofficial.html

Gatorade Duel Race 2 Results:
http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2008/102/data/results_unofficial.html

Daytona 500 Lineup:
http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2008/1/data/lineup.html