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May 25 , 2007
CONCORD, N.C. – Michael Waltrip recorded the 38th-fastest lap in qualifying during Thursday night’s Bud Pole qualifying session at Lowe’s Motor Speedway with a time of 29.795 seconds (181.238 mph). The driver opted to run a second lap to better his time but when exiting Turn 2, the No. 55 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota Camry broke loose and crashed hard on the backstretch. Waltrip was transported to the infield care center where he was checked out and released. Unfortunately, Waltrip’s first lap was not fast enough to make field for the Coca-Cola 600 based on NASCAR’s top-35 qualifying rule. The deficit was just .162 seconds. Drivers who made the field with times slower than Waltrip were Kyle Petty, Tony Raines, Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards, Johnny Sauter, Clint Bowyer and Jeff Green.
Penske Racing claimed the front row for Sunday night’s 600-mile event with Ryan Newman turning the fastest lap with a time of 29.140 seconds (185.312 seconds). He was followed by teammate Kurt Busch. Rounding out the top-10 qualifiers were Elliott Sadler, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Matt Kenseth, Denny Hamlin, Ricky Rudd, Dave Blaney, Bobby Labonte and David Stremme.
Five Toyota teams qualified for the Coca-Cola 600. In addition to Blaney in 8th, Waltrip’s teammate Dale Jarrett, Jeremy Mayfield, Brian Vickers and A.J. Allmendinger qualified 23rd, 24th, 26th, and 29th, respectively. Michael Waltrip Racing driver David Reutimann crashed taking the green flag on his qualifying attempt, eliminating him from making the 43-car field.
Live coverage of the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway begins Sunday, May 27 at 5:00 p.m. EDT on FOX. It can also be heard on your local PRN Radio affiliate and Sirius Satellite Radio starting at the same time.
Coca-Cola 600 Qualifying Results:
http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2007/12/data/lineup.html
NASCAR.com Article on MWR’s Coca-Cola 600 Qualifying Performance:
http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2007/12/data/lineup.html
Next Up:
Autism Speaks 400 at Dover International Speedway on June 3, 2007
2006 Winner: Matt Kenseth
2006 Pole Winner: Ryan Newman
Television: FOX at 1:00 p.m. EDT
Radio: MRN and Sirius Satellite Radio at 1:00 p.m.
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