Sept. 3, 2007

FONTANA, Calif. – Michael Waltrip and the NAPA AUTO PARTS race team experienced a left-front tire problem on lap 39 during Sunday night’s Sharp AQUOS 500 at California Speedway. Debris from the tire cut an oil line, causing the No. 55 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota Camry to catch fire. Waltrip was able to climb out of the car unscathed, but the NAPA Camry was damaged beyond repair and finished in 42nd place. Jimmie Johnson won the Sharp AQUOS 500.

“I was trying to get by Ricky Rudd and he moved over. That caved in our left-front fender,” said Waltrip. “The tire rubbed and the left-front tire blew off. When it blew, it took some oil lines with it, and those caught fire. The car filled up with smoke and fire. The crew does such a great job at sealing off the interior of the car. I saw just a little bit of flame by the shifter – nothing much.

“I’m bigger than the car, so if I try to get out of the car in a hurry, it is disastrous. I just took my time and took off my stuff. Right there at the end is when it started to flame and smoke up. I had to then get out in a hurry. That is why I am so thankful for the Car of Tomorrow because I just can’t get out of these cars in a hurry. Basically, I have to take my helmet off to get out of these cars in a hurry.”

Friday saw the NAPA team qualify 25th for the Sharp AQUOS 500. His lap of 40.149 seconds (179.332 mph) was a great improvement for Waltrip, who ran a 41.310-second lap in practice. The gain of over a second in qualifying put him on the inside of row 13. Kurt Busch won the Bud Pole.

“It was a bad day,” commented Waltrip after qualifying. “We were really slow earlier.  I just couldn’t get the car to stick at all. I’ve always prided myself on telling the guys it’s either tight or loose -- I don’t do ‘it’s both.’  Today, it’s been both all day. We made some changes -- some good adjustments -- and that Toyota engine really helped pull me through. I think that’s the most powerful engine we’ve had. I was able to get my foot in it and I knew that was going to be my biggest ally. I was desperate to get my foot in it and was able to get it in there.  I look liked I was swatting flies in there, but we were able to hang on and leave the gas down and we made it.”

On Saturday, the NAPA Camry participated in two practice sessions. Both practices saw Waltrip record the 34th-fastest lap (41.971 seconds/171.547 mph – practice 1) and (41.792 seconds/172.282 mph – practice 2). Waltrip was pleased with the overall handling of the car and was looking forward to Sunday night’s race. Fastest in the first session was Jimmie Johnson (40.086 seconds/179.614 mph). In the second, Carl Edwards was on top of the speed chart (40.280 seconds/178.749 mph).

On Sunday, Kurt Busch led the 43-car field to the green flag in blistering hot temperatures. The race was quickly slowed on lap nine when Joe Nemechek lost an engine. Waltrip came over the radio to say his Camry pushed on entry and was loose on the gas. The pit crew made air-pressure and track-bar changes on lap 11. When the race resumed on lap 13, Waltrip was in 30th and John Andretti was the leader.

Elliott Sadler brought out the second caution flag of the evening for a spin. Waltrip came over the radio to say his car was handling much better but the engine in the NAPA AUTO PARTS Camry was not as powerful as the one he had in Michigan. Director of Competition Bobby Kennedy called his driver back in for a four-tire change. The pit crew completed the service in 12.6 seconds. Waltrip returned to the track in 33rd place while Kyle Busch was the leader.

It was during the next green-flag sequence that Rudd make contact with Waltrip, culminating in the fiery crash and the fourth caution of the night on lap 40. “It’s a shame that this happened to us,” Waltrip concluded. “It was a short day for the NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota. It was pretty good before the crash happened.”

Following Johnson to the finish line and rounding out the top-10 were Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch, Jeff Burton, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Martin Truex Jr., Matt Kenseth, Brian Vickers, Kurt Busch and Kasey Kahne.

A total of five Toyota teams participated in Sunday’s race. Besides Waltrip in 42nd, teammate David Reutimann finished 32nd after running most of the event in the top 10. Unfortunately, he was caught up in an accident that was triggered by contact between Jeff Gordon and Jeremy Mayfield. Dave Blaney earned 38th, A.J. Allmendinger was 18th, Brian Vickers scored eighth and Jeremy Mayfield finished 36th.

Next week, Waltrip and the NAPA AUTO PARTS team return to Saturday night racing at Richmond International Raceway.

Next Up:
Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway
2006 Winner: Kevin Harvick
2006 Pole Winner: Denny Hamlin
Television: ABC at 7 p.m. EDT
Radio: MRN

Sharp AQUOS 500 Results:
http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2007/25/data/results_official.html