Brooklyn, Michigan (June 18, 2006) – The final running order of the 3M Performance 400 appeared slightly different from the Sunday norm as a downpour cut the race short by 71 laps on the 2-mile oval at Michigan International Speedway. With dark clouds rolling across the speedway and rain obviously on the way, several teams tried strategies to get their cars to the front. The No. 55 NAPA AUTO PARTS team capitalized on this opportunity and Michael Waltrip drove to a 25th place finish, his fourth top-25 finish of the 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup season.

Although the race began nearly an hour late due to showers, when the cars were able to race, the action was furious. “The car feels pretty good. We got after it there. It feels good to be aggressive out here,” Waltrip radioed after the opening laps of the event. However, the No. 55 NAPA Dodge began to slip through the field a few laps later. “The car’s handling pretty good. Maybe they’ve got more power than us. The most important thing is that we’re handling good out here today.” On Lap 16, Waltrip had climbed to 16th position.

A four-car collision on Lap 31 caused one of a track record-tying nine yellows. Crew chief Joe Shear followed the strategy set by the race leaders and opted to stay out and gain positions. Six laps later Waltrip was running in 14th position, but as the track temperatures changed, the performance of the No. 55 NAPA Dodge began to fade. “It’s a little loose. I have to walk it into the corner,” Waltrip radioed as he fell rapidly through the lead lap cars to 33rd position.

The caution flag waved for rain on Lap 53 giving Waltrip and Shear a chance to discuss the car’s condition. “I’ve lost the balance of the car. It’s skating on the right side pretty bad.” The NAPA AUTO PARTS team adjusted air pressure in two tires and lowered the track bar on the ensuing pit stop. “It’s still loose. The changes helped the front end, but the back end is loose. The car’s not responding to me like I want it to,” Waltrip radioed on Lap 66 as he struggled to cling to 29th position. Waltrip drove the NAPA Dodge onto pit road for more air pressure and track bar adjustments on Lap 68.

Debris on the track forced a caution on Lap 80. “I have no forward traction. It’s all in the right-rear tire,” Waltrip communicated to Shear. “We’re going to take a rubber out of the right-rear and open up the shock,” replied Shear. Prior to the stop, Waltrip trailed only race leader Brian Vickers, but restarted in 34th position on Lap 84 as the drivers raced ever closer to the halfway mark of the event.

Carl Edwards led the field to the start-finish line on Lap 100 of the 400-mile event as Waltrip continued to battle loose conditions in 33rd position. “I’m spinning all the way off the turn. When I flatten out off the corner it doesn’t feel like the sway bar’s still attached to it,” Waltrip radioed. On Lap 114, the NAPA AUTO PARTS team performed minor adjustments to the car in anticipation of rain. Waltrip restarted in 27th position.

NASCAR stopped the cars with a red flag on Lap 129 as the heavy rain began. Waltrip was able to climb two more positions prior to exiting his car on a very wet pit road. Minutes later, the race was cancelled.

Kasey Kahne overcame radiator problems and climbed 37 positions to clinch his fourth win of the season, his third from the pole. Car Edwards, who finished in the top-five in both Michigan races last year, finished in second position. Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Greg Biffle, and Reed Sorenson rounded out the top-five of the 3M Performance 400 at Michigan International Speedway.

“I’m happy with our performance out here today. Although the race was cancelled due to rain, we put together some pretty good runs and the No. 55 NAPA Dodge team did a great job with our pit strategy. The past few weeks we’ve finished above our starting positions and today we placed in the top-25. We’re making progress and that’s important,” commented Waltrip on the NAPA AUTO PARTS team’s performance.

Next week’s Dodge/Save Mart 350 will take place at Infineon Raceway on Sunday, June 18, 2006. Coverage will begin at 3:00 pm on FOX and PRN.