Avondale, Ariz. (April 23, 2006) – NAPA AUTO PARTS driver Michael Waltrip made his 650th career start at Phoenix International Raceway (PIR) in the Subway 500. But while the historic start was memorable, the finish was one to forget. A crash on lap 98 ended Waltrip’s night resulting in his 42nd place finish.

The weekend started slowly for the NAPA team as Waltrip posted the slowest time of the day in Bud Pole qualifying after getting loose in turn three and nearly wrecking the car. A great save by the Owensboro, Kent. native kept the car off the wall. The team was forced to use their owner’s provisional and the NAPA car started 42nd.

In “happy hour” practice, NAPA crew chief Derrick Finley found a setup under the car that Waltrip really liked. While the No. 55 was not the fastest car in the first five laps of a run, it was just as fast as the best cars on a long race run. The breakthrough had everyone on the team feeling confident for Sunday’s 500K race.

The momentum the NAPA team gained in the final practice carried over to the start of the Subway 500. Waltrip quickly made his way through traffic. In just 20 laps he had picked up 10 positions. “I have a good setup,” Waltrip radioed to the crew. On lap 25, the yellow flag waved for the first time and the NAPA team used the caution to pit and gain valuable track position. A two-tire pit stop sent Waltrip back to the track in 25th position.

The strategy worked just as planned for the NAPA team. Waltrip was able to hold his own with just the two tires and on lap 54 the team got the caution they needed to take their standard four-tires. The crew made an air pressure adjustment to the No. 55 in an effort to get the car to turn a little better from the center of the corner and off. A small problem with the rear tires cost the team valuable time and Waltrip returned to action in the 28th position.

The adjustments from the pit stop made the NAPA car come alive once again. Waltrip began working both the high and low grooves of the track. It seemed like he could drive the car wherever he needed. However, heavy traffic forced Waltrip to setup each of his passes. While the driver of the No. 55 was being cautious in the early stages, the same could not be said for others in the field.

On lap 98 all the hard work that the NAPA team had put into what was their best handling car of the year went up in smoke. As the field worked off turn four, Waltrip was hit from behind by Kyle Petty, sending the No. 55 hard into the wall and back into traffic. Five cars were involved in the crash, but the NAPA car suffered the worst fate. The rear clip of the NAPA car was smashed clear to the rear windshield. Waltrip dropped the window net to let the safety workers know he was fine, but the same could not be said of chassis No. 94. The roll bars that protect the fuel cell had been damaged in the crash. NASCAR surveyed the damage and informed the team they would not be allowed to return to the race since the fuel cell area had been compromised. And with that statement the night was over for the NAPA team.

The No. 55 was scored in the 42nd position. “I’m not sure why someone would run over me like that, but they did,” said Waltrip. “We had a good car tonight. That wasn’t our problem. We’ll just go to Talladega, have a good qualifying run and try to get back all that was lost here tonight.”

Qualifying will be more important than ever for the NAPA team in Talladega, Ala. The finish at PIR dropped the team out of the top-35 in NASCAR owner’s points, which is the cutoff for provisional starting spots. The No. 55 will have to make the race on their qualifying time at the 2.66-mile Talladega Superspeedway.