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June 11, 2007
HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. – Michael Waltrip and the NAPA Racing team are looking to rebound after missing last week’s Pocono 500 by just .008 of a second. Michigan International Speedway may be the breath of fresh air that the team needs to help turn the season around -- Waltrip has earned four top-10 starts and five top-10 finishes at the track since running under the NAPA AUTO PARTS banner. In total, the two-time Daytona 500 champ has earned 1 pole, eight top-10 starts and eight top-10 finishes along with a Busch Series victory at the 2-mile oval.
NAPA AUTO PARTS driver Michael Waltrip:
Thoughts on Michigan International Speedway:
“Looking back, I’ve had some really nice runs at Michigan. I’ll never forget winning the Busch race a few years back from the outside pole. I was in a pretty heated battle with Todd Bodine. We were running door-to-door, so to come out on top was pretty awesome.
“As a driver, I find most tracks fun to drive, and Michigan International Speedway is no exception. What I like about this track is that it has a bunch of grooves. It gives you options based on how your car is handling. Plus, if someone is running the same line as you, you still have other options to make a pass. We can run five-wide with relative ease, and that’s not only good for the drivers, it’s good for the fans to watch.”
Michael Waltrip Fast Facts
NAPA AUTO PARTS driver Michael Waltrip will attempt to qualify for his 678th NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race when the 15th event of the 2007 season, the Citizens Bank 400, is held at Michigan International Speedway on Sunday.
Waltrip will attempt to start in his 44th Cup race at the 2-mile track. His best start is 1st (June 23, 1991) and best finish is 4th (June 16, 2002) in the NAPA machine. In total, he has two top-5 and eight top-10 finishes at Michigan.
Waltrip has completed 8,019 of 8,485 laps (94.5%) at the track and has led a total of 14 laps in competition. His average start is 22nd and average finish is 20th.
Waltrip has raced in 11 Busch Series events at MIS. He has collected 1 win, two top-5 and six top-10 finishes. He has led 68 laps in Busch Series competition at the track.
Entering this weekend’s NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series event, Waltrip is 56th in the driver standings and 48th in owner standings. The NAPA team will need to qualify for the Citizens Bank 400 on time since the No. 55 car is outside the top 35 in owner point standings. A total of 50 cars are entered at MIS. Of the entrants, 15 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 Bill Elliott, if needed.
Waltrip is a two-time Daytona 500 champion. He was victorious in 2001 and 2003.
NAPA AUTO PARTS driver Michael Waltrip Pocono Raceway Statistics
| DATE |
START |
FINISH |
DATE |
START |
FINISH |
 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
8/11/1985 |
31 |
18 |
8/18/1996 |
10 |
25 |
|
6/15/1986 |
36 |
22 |
6/15/1997 |
38 |
16 |
|
| 8/17/1986 |
29 |
32 |
8/17/1997 |
31 |
22 |
|
| 6/28/1987 |
15 |
39 |
6/14/1998 |
24 |
21 |
|
| 8/16/1987 |
28 |
20 |
8/16/1998 |
30 |
22 |
|
6/26/1988 |
34 |
28 |
6/13/1999 |
16 |
15 |
|
| 8/21/1988 |
28 |
7 |
8/22/1999 |
20 |
13 |
|
| 6/25/1989 |
28 |
16 |
6/11/2000 |
15 |
22 |
|
| 8/20/1989 |
22 |
31 |
8/20/2000 |
18 |
21 |
|
| 6/24/1990 |
16 |
21 |
6/10/2001 |
35 |
29 |
|
| 8/19/1990 |
34 |
30 |
8/19/2001 |
7 |
36 |
|
| 6/23/1991 |
1 |
34 |
6/16/2002 |
2 |
4 |
|
| 8/18/1991 |
21 |
9 |
8/18/2002 |
3 |
15 |
|
| 6/21/1992 |
41 |
27 |
6/15/2003 |
9 |
5 |
|
| 8/16/1992 |
26 |
22 |
8/17/2003 |
13 |
7 |
|
| 6/20/1993 |
10 |
37 |
6/20/2004 |
19 |
10 |
|
| 8/15/1993 |
28 |
16 |
8/22/2004 |
17 |
17 |
|
| 6/19/1994 |
11 |
8 |
6/19/2005 |
30 |
7 |
|
| 8/21/1994 |
10 |
14 |
8/21/2005 |
30 |
7 |
|
| 6/18/1995 |
24 |
12 |
6/18/2006 |
28 |
25 |
|
| 8/20/1995 |
25 |
11 |
8/20/2006 |
22 |
23 |
|
| 6/23/1996 |
20 |
32 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Mikey on the Tube
Michael participated in a taping of an NBC Nightly News segment featuring NASCAR driver Kyle Petty and the Victory Junction Gang Camp on Tuesday, June 5. The feature is slated to air on Monday, June 18.
NASCAR NEXTEL Citizens Bank 400 Broadcast Coverage
Live coverage of the Citizens Bank 400 at Michigan International Speedway begins Sunday, June 17 at 12:30 p.m. ET on TNT. It can also be heard on your local MRN Radio affiliate at the same time.
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