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March 14, 2007 HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. – With over 50 drivers competing for 36 starting spots in each NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race, qualifying has posed a unique challenge to Michael Waltrip and the NAPA Racing team this season. The two-time Daytona 500 winner missed the starting line-up by just .033 seconds at California Speedway, while a loose race car caused Waltrip to spin out during his qualifying run at Las Vegas. With this weekend’s Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway (AMS) located in NAPA’s backyard, Waltrip is aiming to put the NAPA car on the grid and the team back on the map with a solid qualifying effort at one of the fastest tracks on the circuit.
NAPA AUTO PARTS driver Michael Waltrip:
How frustrated are you after suffering a second DNQ (Did Not Qualify)?
“I’m disappointed about the qualifying result at Las Vegas, but I am encouraged about the effort put forth by my NAPA team. We had a car that was going to be fine once it was in the race. It was just crazy loose in qualifying. I just spun out. In our situation, we have no choice but to go for it in qualifying, and when I went for it, it just would not stick. I was, however, encouraged with what we learned. Despite the fact that we have DNQ’d on these first two downforce events, we almost made it at California with a set-up I really didn’t like. At Vegas, we were really close again. I’m encouraged. I was also encouraged last week when we tested in Kentucky and I am excited that we are going to Rockingham on Wednesday to test. I think Rockingham will do us some good because it resembles Atlanta. I feel pretty good about everything. We are really working hard back at the shop building some different styles of aero-downforce cars. We will have our first completed one by Texas. A version of the new one will be ready to go for next week’s race in Atlanta. Hopefully, that will get us better results.”
What are your thoughts entering the Atlanta race weekend?
“Atlanta has been an interesting place for me. I almost won the Busch race a couple of times, and I almost won the Cup race. I’ve always run well there, but the last couple of years haven’t worked out right for whatever reason. I finished seventh in the spring of 2005 and 11th in the fall. Unfortunately, last season, I struggled a bit. The good thing about Atlanta is I know what I like in the feel of the car and when I find it, I can go fast.”
Michael Waltrip Fast Facts
NAPA AUTO PARTS driver Michael Waltrip will attempt to qualify for his 677th NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race when the fourth event of the 2007 season is held at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
He will attempt to start in his 44th race at the 1.522-mile track. His best Atlanta start is 5th (NAPA 500/Nov. 18, 2001) and best finish is 5th (March 18, 1990).
During his career at AMS, Waltrip has earned 1 top-5 and 8 top-10 finishes. His average start is 24th and average finish is 22nd.
Waltrip has completed 11,541 of 13,867 laps (83%) at the track and has led a total of 49 laps in competition.
Entering this week’s NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series event, Waltrip is 50th in the driver standings and 56th in owner standings. The NAPA AUTO PARTS team will need to qualify for the Kobalt Tools 500 on time since the No. 55 car was outside the top 35 in the 2006 owner point standings. A total of 51 cars are entered in the Atlanta race. Of the entrants, 16 are go-or-go-home teams. Waltrip will be competing for eight qualifying spots, one of which may be used as a past champion’s provisional by teammate Dale Jarrett, if needed.
Waltrip is a 2-time Daytona 500 champion. He was victorious in 2001 and 2003.
Although Waltrip has never finished higher than 12th (1994 and 1995) in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series point standings, he has won a NASCAR Series championship. Prior to joining the Cup Series full time, Waltrip won the 1983 NASCAR Dash Series championship.
NAPA AUTO PARTS driver Michael Waltrip Atlanta Motor Speedway Statistics
| YEAR | START | FINISH | YEAR | START | FINISH |
|
| 11/03/1985 |
19 |
39 |
11/10/1996 |
33 |
11 |
 |
| 3/16/1986 |
31 |
19 |
3/09/1997 |
31 |
7 |
| 11/02/1986 |
22 |
20 |
11/16/1997 |
35 |
13 |
|
| 3/15/1987 |
16 |
39 |
3/10/1998 |
32 |
18 |
| 11/22/1987 |
26 |
38 |
11/08/1998 |
28 |
22 |
|
| 3/20/1988 |
16 |
12 |
3/14/1999 |
24 |
10 |
| 11/20/1988 |
28 |
7 |
11/21/1999 |
8 |
36 |
|
| 3/19/1989 |
13 |
20 |
3/12/2000 |
28 |
25 |
| 11/19/1989 |
30 |
26 |
11/20/2000 |
25 |
39 |
|
| 3/18/1990 |
19 |
38 |
3/11/2001 |
10 |
23 |
| 11/18/1990 |
27 |
14 |
11/18/2001 |
5 |
26 |
|
| 3/18/1991 |
13 |
5 |
3/10/2002 |
17 |
40 |
| 11/17/1991 |
7 |
40 |
11/27/2002 |
15 |
11 |
|
| 3/15/1992 |
21 |
28 |
3/09/2003 |
6 |
27 |
| 11/15/1992 |
25 |
14 |
10/26/2003 |
13 |
38 |
|
| 3/20/1993 |
22 |
14 |
3/14/2004 |
15 |
23 |
| 11/14/1993 |
31 |
6 |
10/31/2004 |
40 |
14 |
|
| 3/13/1994 |
32 |
23 |
3/20/2005 |
37 |
7 |
| 11/13/1994 |
27 |
10 |
10/30/2005 |
37 |
11 |
|
| 3/12/19995 |
39 |
35 |
3/20/2006 |
24 |
20 |
| 11/13/1995 |
7 |
12 |
10/29/2006 |
39 |
33 |
|
| 3/10/1996 |
27 |
9 |
|
|
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Mikey’s Cap Swap
Back by popular demand this month is Mikey’s Cap Swap promotion. Race fans are invited to visit their local participating NAPA store to trade in their old cap for a new NAPA Racing cap. It’s free with any purchase. Plus, while there be sure to register for a chance to win a trip around Lowe’s Motor Speedway in the No. 55 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota Camry driven by Mikey, himself! The winner will also get a VIP, behind-the-scenes tour of Waltrip Raceworld.
Kobalt Tools 500 Broadcast Coverage
Live coverage of the Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway begins Sunday, March 18 at 1:30 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. |
