HUNTERSVILLE, NC – Best known for his success at Daytona International Speedway, including two Daytona 500 victories, Michael Waltrip, driver of the No. 55 NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge, looks forward to turning the 2006 NEXTEL Cup season around this weekend at a far less traditional track.
Nestled among the rolling hills of NAPA Valley, an area of northern California renowned for its prestigious vineyards and resorts, Infineon Raceway is the first road course the NEXTEL Cup Series will visit this season and the track that Waltrip mounted one of the greatest comebacks of his career.
“I think I’ve got to start eating carbs. I’m worn out,” Waltrip said as he exited the NAPA AUTO PARTS hotrod after his fourth place finish in the 2004 Dodge/Save Mart 350. He was worn out because he officially passed more cars in a single race than any driver in history at Infineon Raceway. Forced to start at the rear of the field due to an engine change, Waltrip drove a near perfect race and capitalized on a two-stop pit strategy. The result was Waltrip’s first top-five finish in Sonoma, CA. Waltrip is the only driver to be running at the end of all 17 races at Infineon.
The NAPA AUTO PARTS team hopes to rebound from a sluggish start to this season with a good run this weekend at Infineon Raceway just as Waltrip’s fourth place finish sparked a fire midway through the 2004 season.
NAPA AUTO PARTS driver Michael Waltrip on the Dodge/Save Mart 350...
What are your thoughts and expectations for racing at Infineon?
“I’m very much looking forward to Sonoma. Infineon is a track where I’ve always done well. We’ve had the good fortune to race to a few top-10 finishes and we were close to capturing the checkered in 2004. Coming to Sonoma is almost like a weekend off. It gives the drivers a break from the ovals in a refreshing part of the country. I really enjoy coming to this part of the country and meeting NAPA Racing fans that I don’t see often and challenging myself on a road course. I’ve always had a knack for driving a road race, but not because of any particular reason. Part of being successful is not messing yourself up. I think there has only been one race when I didn’t finish on the lead lap and that was due to a big accident I got tangled up in. Preparation for road racing isn’t any different from anywhere else on the series. With so many fierce competitors in the NEXTEL Cup, intensity is always turned up a notch from the previous race. Road racing is just two entries on a long list of tracks.”
| Dodge/Save Mart 350 Broadcast Coverage… |
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| Coverage for the Dodge/Save Mart 350 will begin Sunday, June 25 at 3:00 p.m. EDT on FOX. If you can’t catch the race on TV, it can be heard on your local PRN Radio affiliate and XM Satellite Radio – Channel 144 starting at the same time. Remember to check your local listings as dates and times of the race may change. |
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| Michael Waltrip NASCAR NEXTEL Dodge/Save Mart 350 Fast Facts |
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- Michael Waltrip holds the record for most laps completed at Infineon Raceway. Through 17 races, or 1,554 laps, Waltrip has completed 1,548.
- Waltrip shares the track record for the biggest improvement from qualifying to finish at 36 positions. In 2004, Waltrip started 40th and finished 4th.
- NAPA AUTO PARTS driver Michael Waltrip will make his 18th start at Infineon Raceway; Waltrip’s best start in the event was sixth (1997) and his best finish fourth (2004).
- Waltrip’s average starting position in 17 starts at Infineon Raceway is 19.117; his average finish is 15.529.
- Waltrip has one top-five and seven top-10 finishes at Infineon Raceway; he has led seven laps at the track. His seven top-10 finishes is third among all active drivers.
- In 42 road course starts, Waltrip has two top-five and eleven top-10 finishes. He has led 23 laps on road courses in his career.
- After 15 races, Waltrip is currently 35th in NASCAR NEXTEL Cup driver points standings, 1,200 points behind leader Jimmie Johnson.
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| NAPA AUTO PARTS driver Michael Waltrip Dodge/Save Mart 350 Stats... |
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| Year |
|
Start |
Finish |
Year |
|
Start |
Finish |
| 1989 |
|
28 |
10 |
1999 |
|
11 |
10 |
| 1990 |
|
20 |
9 |
2000 |
|
28 |
12 |
| 1991 |
|
8 |
10 |
2001 |
|
19 |
20 |
| 1992 |
|
26 |
20 |
2002 |
|
20 |
22 |
| 1993 |
|
16 |
23 |
2003 |
|
20 |
13 |
| 1994 |
|
9 |
16 |
2004 |
|
40 |
4 |
| 1995 |
|
13 |
10 |
2005 |
|
34 |
22 |
| 1996 |
|
16 |
22 |
|
|
|
|
| 1997 |
|
6 |
7 |
|
|
|
|
| 1998 |
|
11 |
34 |
|
|
|
|
|
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