Sonoma, California (June 25, 2006) – Although NASCAR officials issued a red flag period following a five-car wreck on Lap One of the Dodge/Save Mart 350, as the action heated up a battle-tested Michael Waltrip was able to avoid numerous collisions to finish in 23rd position at Infineon Raceway. The No. 55 NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge struggled through the 13 turns of the 1.99-mile road course for the majority of the afternoon, but Waltrip was able to earn his second consecutive top-25 finish in as many weeks.

Waltrip began the race in 35th position and was nearly collected in the wreck through the S-turn on Lap One, but managed to navigate through a thick cloud of dust and smoke unharmed. However, the No. 55 NAPA Dodge began to loosen in the early laps of the event. “It’s so loose I can barely hang on,” Waltrip radioed on Lap 12. Three laps later he had slipped back to 37th position.

Waltrip entered pit road on Lap 31 for a green-flag stop. The NAPA AUTO PARTS team quickly replaced all four tires, filled the fuel tank, and made air pressure adjustments. A few laps later Waltrip radioed “That’s a little better. It felt better before the stop, but it may come to me. I seem to be getting faster.” On Lap 55, the halfway mark of the event, Waltrip was running in 33rd position.

“The front end’s turning good, but I think it may be too stiff. The car’s been getting worse all day. I can’t hustle it at all,” Waltrip radioed on Lap 58. A pit stop on Lap 60 provided Crew Chief Joe Shear the chance to make more air pressure adjustments to the No. 55 NAPA Dodge. A few laps later Waltrip climbed to 20th position.

As the race began to edge closer to the checkered flag, several of the leaders made green-flag, fuel only stops. With 40 laps remaining in the event, these drivers would be able to go the distance should the race stay “green.” On Lap 68, Waltrip pitted under “green” for a splash of fuel.

“I’m so loose it feels like I’m running on dirt,” Waltrip radioed on Lap 98 as he struggled to hang on to 27th position. On Lap 100, Waltrip entered pit road for the final time. The NAPA team put on four fresh tires and took two turns of bite out of the left rear.

NASCAR issued the second red flag of the day with six laps to go due to a major collision involving Bobby Labonte and Kyle Petty. “How many did that wreck K.O.?” Waltrip asked. Three cars involved in the accident would not finish the race.

The green flag waved on Lap 108 and created a shoot out for the win. Waltrip managed to steer through the crowded turns of Infineon Raceway to pick up a 23rd place finish. Waltrip remains the all-time leader among NEXTEL Cup drivers in laps completed at Infineon Raceway. He is the only current driver to finish all 18 races at the track.

Jeff Gordon took the checkered flag of the Dodge/Save Mart 350 for his first win of the 2006 season. Ryan Newman, Terry Labonte, Greg Biffle and pole-winner Kurt Busch rounded out the top-five.

“I’m pretty happy with what we accomplished out here today. We struggled with a loose race car, but were able to pick up a few positions there at the end for another top-25 finish. This is the 18th race I’ve finished at this track and to post consistent runs with such fierce competition like we have today is something to be proud of,” commented Waltrip on the NAPA AUTO PARTS team’s afternoon.

Next week’s Pepsi 400 will take place at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, July 1, 2006. Coverage will begin at 7:30 pm on FOX and MRN.