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March 10, 2007
 LAS VEGAS – Michael Waltrip made a valiant effort to qualify the No. 55 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota Camry for Sunday’s Las Vegas 400 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, but a loose-handling race car caused Waltrip to spin out on his second qualifying lap. His first lap around the 1.5-mile speedway, at a time of 31.138 seconds (173.422 miles per hour) was not fast enough to make the starting field for the third event on the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series schedule.
“We were 10th in testing here,” said Waltrip after qualifying. “That was pretty cool, and we felt like we were good. NASCAR ended up changing the tires when we came back, and the weather was warmer. Practice did not go well but we thought after practice, we would continue to work on the car to get it right so we could perform well in qualifying, but the car ended up being too loose. I fought it during the first lap trying not to spin out, and then I finally did on the second lap.
 “Our cars are not running right. It’s just real disappointing. I feel for David Reutimann and I feel for Dale Jarrett. I’m really concerned about why we aren’t any better than we are, but we are going to work. I think about several people who have been through the same thing. The Pettys, for example – they struggled a couple of years ago. Kyle couldn’t make a race and Richard’s No. 43 car wouldn’t run. I know how to do this not just as a driver, but as an owner. I know how to connect with people and get them to understand that this is just a start. We have to go to work. We have to figure things out. We have to change some things up. We have to rearrange some people. You cannot define a future by what we are doing today. I love being a car owner, and I love having my hands in it. I love driving. I never really realized how much I love driving until this year. When I didn’t get to do it at California, it hurt. This isn’t who we are. This isn’t going to define us. It is just going to take a little bit of time to get it squared away.”
 Michael Waltrip Racing’s other two Toyotas struggled as well. David Reutimann was 48th quickest (30.240 seconds/178.571 mph). His time was not fast enough to make the race. Dale Jarrett turned a lap of 30.531 seconds (176.869 miles per hour). Fortunately for Jarrett, he qualified on the past champion’s provisional and will start 43rd on Sunday.
Of the Toyota contingent, only one other Camry made the starting field. Dave Blaney recorded the 11th-fastest lap with a time of 29.707 seconds (181.775 miles per hour).
Kasey Kahne won the Bud Pole with a time of 29.212 seconds (184.856 mph). Rounding out the top-10 qualifiers were David Stremme, Elliott Sadler, Juan Pablo Montoya, Jeff Burton, Scott Riggs, Reed Sorenson, Sterling Marlin, Joe Nemechek and Kurt Busch.
Live coverage of the Las Vegas 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway begins Sunday, March 11 at 4:00 p.m. ET on FOX. If you can’t catch the race on TV, it can be heard on your local PRN Radio affiliate and Sirius Satellite Radio starting at the same time. Remember to check your local listings as dates and times of the race may change.
Las Vegas 400 Qualifying Results:
http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2007/3/data/lineup.html
NASCAR.com Qualifying Report:
http://www.nascar.com/2007/news/headlines/cup/03/09/vegas.cup.qualifying.ap/index.html
Practice 1 Results:
http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2007/3/data/practice1_speeds.html
Next Up: Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on March 18
2006 Winner: Kasey Kahne
2006 Pole Winner: Kasey Kahne
Television: FOX at 1:30 p.m. ET
Radio: PRN and Sirius Satellite Radio at 4 p.m. ET |
