Watkins Glen, New York (August 14, 2006) - Although Kevin Harvick stole a road race at Watkins Glen International from incumbent Tony Stewart with three laps remaining, it was the subplot that emerged for the No. 55 NAPA AUTO PARTS team that seemingly went unnoticed. Amidst the crew chief shake ups in NASCAR's competitive landscape, Michael Waltrip looked to Tommy Baldwin, Jr to provide a consistency atop the NAPA pit box this week.

A week removed from the NAPA team's second DNQ of the 2006 NEXTEL Cup season, Waltrip started the 90-lap race in 33rd position. Five laps after the green flag waved over the 2.45-mile road course, Waltrip radioed, "These brakes aren't good enough to race with these guys. I can't get down into the corners with them." "Unfortunately, we have what we have. Just conserve them and be ready to race for the last 30 laps," Baldwin replied.

Nearly a quarter of the way into the event, Waltrip took the lead as the field cycled through green-flag pit stops. He had not led a lap since the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Waltrip steered the No. 55 NAPA Dodge onto pit road during a caution on Lap 28. The NAPA AUTO PARTS crew quickly made air pressure adjustments on all four tires and refueled the car. Waltrip restarted in 32 nd position.

At the halfway mark of the event, Waltrip was in 25 th position and continued to battle a push in the No. 55 NAPA Dodge. Ten laps later, Waltrip returned to pit road for what Tommy Baldwin, Jr. hoped would be the last of the race. “You’re doing great out there. Keep this up and we’re looking at a top-20 or top-15 finish,” Baldwin radioed. Waltrip’s best finish of the season was 18 th in the Daytona 500.

However, fortune would not smile upon the NAPA AUTO PARTS team as Clint Bowyer sent Waltrip slamming into the tire barrier on Lap 83. The collision sent Waltrip onto pit road twice for repairs. The lengthy repairs put the No. 55 NAPA Dodge a lap down to leader Tony Stewart.

“It’s unfortunate the race ended for us the way it did. Even with brake problems, we felt confident that we could pull out a good finish. I hate it for the guys in the NAPA pit. They worked real hard today. Tommy Baldwin has only been with us for two weeks, but has already made such a big difference in what we’re doing. Everyone has confidence in what he’s doing. That comes from years of competing at the highest level. He’s a proven winner,” commented Waltrip after the race. “We’re going to Michigan next week and look to continue our progress.”

Kevin Harvick, who moved into contention when Kurt Busch was penalized for pitting too soon midway through the 90-lap race, passed Tony Stewart with three laps to go Sunday and won the caution-plagued AMD at The Glen. It was Harvick's first road win and his second victory of the year driving for resurgent Richard Childress Racing. And it was stunning because Stewart had won three of the previous four races here.

The top 10 in NEXTEL Cup standings will be reset in four weeks -- after the 26th race of the season -- into five-point intervals. Those 10 drivers will then race for the Nextel Cup title over the final 10 races of the season.

The NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series will travel to Michigan International Speedway for the GFS Marketplace 400 on Sunday, August 20. Coverage for the event will begin at 2:00 pm EDT on TNT and MRN.