|
June 26 , 2007
HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. – Michael Waltrip climbs back into the No. 55 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota Camry after two-time NASCAR champion Terry Labonte substituted at Infineon Raceway. Waltrip is hoping the momentum gained after a top-10 finish at Michigan continues at New Hampshire International Speedway (NHIS). While racing at the 1-mile track known as the “Magic Mile”, Waltrip has recorded four top-10 and 12-top 25 finishes.
NAPA AUTO PARTS driver Michael Waltrip:
Thoughts on New Hampshire International Speedway:
“First of all, I like the family that owns New Hampshire International Speedway. The Bahres are really good people. I really appreciate what they have brought to the Northeast. A lot of people enjoy the opportunity to come and watch a race there. The facility itself is second to none. It’s great viewing and has a wonderful atmosphere. It’s perfect for the fans and great for us.
“Since they have reconfigured it a little bit, they got it right on. If Martinsville was configured like New Hampshire, you would see a lot better racing. They made it where you can run on the very bottom where it is flatter. You can also run on the top where it is banked more. You have options. At Martinsville, when you get to the corner, you don’t have any options. You just run into each other. At Loudon, you have options. They really did a nice job at providing us options.”
Michael Waltrip Fast Facts
NAPA AUTO PARTS driver Michael Waltrip will attempt to qualify for his 679th NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race when the 17th event of the 2007 season, the Lenox Industrial Tools 300, is held at New Hampshire International Speedway on Sunday.
Waltrip will attempt to start in his 25th Cup race at the 1-mile track. His best start is 4th and best finish is 6th (July 25, 2004) in the NAPA machine. In total, he has four top-10 finishes at NHIS.
Waltrip has completed 6,798 of 7,088 laps (95.9%) at the track and has led a total of 78 laps in competition. His average start is 21st and average finish is 24th.
Waltrip has raced in three Busch Series events at Loudon. He has collected one top-five and two top-10 finishes. He has led 13 laps in Busch Series competition at the track.
Entering this weekend’s NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series event, Waltrip is 51st in the driver standings and 47th in owner standings. The NAPA team will need to qualify for the Lenox Industrial Tools 300 on time since the No. 55 car is outside the top 35 in owner point standings. A total of 49 cars are entered at NHIS. Of the entrants, 14 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 Coca-Cola 600 Statistics
| DATE |
START |
FINISH |
DATE |
START |
FINISH |
 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
7/11/1993 |
12 |
23 |
7/22/2001 |
18 |
28 |
|
7/10/1994 |
12 |
37 |
11/23/2001 |
29 |
40 |
|
| 7/9/1995 |
9 |
14 |
7/21/2002 |
16 |
20 |
|
| 7/14/1996 |
31 |
10 |
9/15/2002 |
14 |
8 |
|
| 7/13/1997 |
33 |
29 |
7/20/2003 |
5 |
28 |
|
9/14/1997 |
22 |
36 |
9/14/2003 |
5 |
26 |
|
| 7/12/1998 |
38 |
24 |
7/25/2004 |
4 |
6 |
|
| 8/30/1998 |
29 |
27 |
9/19/2004 |
16 |
9 |
|
| 7/11/1999 |
8 |
19 |
7/17/2005 |
28 |
17 |
|
| 9/19/1999 |
20 |
38 |
9/18/2005 |
36 |
15 |
|
| 7/9/2000 |
13 |
20 |
9/17/2006 |
35 |
23 |
|
|
NASCAR NEXTEL Lenox Industrial Tools 300 Broadcast Coverage
Live coverage of the Lenox Industrial Tools 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway begins Sunday, July 1 at 1:45 p.m. EDT on TNT. It can also be heard on your local MRN Radio affiliate at the same time.
|
