HUNTERSVILLE, NC –With the contenders for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Championship displaying an “out of sight, out of mind” mentality to the remainder of the field in Sunday’s race at New Hampshire International Speedway, Michael Waltrip, driver of the No. 55 NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge, hopes to reclaim the success he has experienced at NHIS. With two top-10 finishes at the track in the last two years, Waltrip feels confident of his chances at earning his first top-10 finish of the season in the Sylvania 300.
Waltrip’s average finish in the last four September races at NHIS is 14.5, better than his season-best finish of 16 th at Bristol Motor Speedway last month. Since the Chase for the NEXTEL Cup began, he has earned one top-10 and one top-15 finish at the track. With the drivers participating in the Chase for the NEXTEL Cup “big picture” racing this weekend, Waltrip is aiming for a top-10 position before the checkered flag waves at New Hampshire International Speedway
NAPA AUTO PARTS driver Michael Waltrip on
New Hampshire International Speedway ...
What are your thoughts and expectations for
the Sylvania 300
?
“When you’re in a situation like this NAPA AUTO PARTS team where you have to qualify on time each race, you need to be on every week, and we weren’t. Hopefully, we can rebound from Richmond and learn from our mistakes. New Hampshire is a track where we’ve had a legitimate shot to win over the last couple of years. It’s a much shorter and flatter track than what we’re accustomed to racing on, but I’ve grown to really like those types. It reminds me of Phoenix, and I’ve performed fairly well there in the recent past. Temperatures are beginning to cool down a lot, and we’re heading up North. I’m looking forward to a mild weekend at a track I’ve grown to really like over the years. This NAPA AUTO PARTS team has put what happened last week behind us, and we’re ready to move on and put ourselves into contention for a top 10 finish.”
| Sylvania 300 Broadcast Coverage… |
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Coverage for the Sylvania 300 will begin Sunday, September 17 at 12:30 p.m. EDT on TNT. If you can’t catch the race on TV, it can be heard on your local MRN 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 Fast Facts |
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- Waltrip’s average starting position in 23 starts at New Hampshire International Speedway is 20.695; his average finish is 23.695. He has four top-10 finishes at the 1.058-mile oval, two in the last three years.
- Waltrip’s best start at New Hampshire International Speedway is fourth and best finish is sixth; both came in the 2004 New England 300.
- Waltrip is among nine active drivers to compete in all 23 races at New Hampshire International Speedway.
- Waltrip’s best start of the 2006 season came at Daytona for the Pepsi 400; he qualified in 19 th position. Waltrip’s best finish of the 2006 season came at Bristol Motor Speedway in the Sharpie 500 where he finished in 16 th position.
- With 10 races remaining in the 2006 season, Waltrip is 36 th in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup driver points standings, 1,555 points behind leader Matt Kenseth. He is 17 points behind 35 th ranked Travis Kvapil.
- Waltrip’s No. 55 NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge will feature Chassis No. 99, the same chassis used last week at Richmond International Raceway.
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| NAPA AUTO PARTS driver Michael Waltrip at
New Hampshire International Speedway... |
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| Year |
|
Start |
Finish |
Year |
|
Start |
Finish |
| 1993 |
|
12 |
23 |
2001(Jul) |
|
18 |
28 |
| 1994 |
|
12 |
37 |
2001(Nov) |
|
29 |
40 |
| 1995 |
|
9 |
14 |
2002(Jul) |
|
16 |
20 |
| 1996 |
|
31 |
10 |
2002(Sept) |
|
14 |
8 |
| 1997(Jul) |
|
33 |
29 |
2003(Jul) |
|
5 |
28 |
| 1997(Sept) |
|
22 |
36 |
2003(Sept) |
|
5 |
26 |
| 1998(Jul) |
|
38 |
24 |
2004(Jul) |
|
4 |
6 |
| 1998(Aug) |
|
29 |
27 |
2004(Sept) |
|
16 |
9 |
| 1999(Jul) |
|
8 |
19 |
2005(Jul) |
|
28 |
17 |
| 1999(Sept) |
|
20 |
38 |
2005(Sept) |
|
36 |
15 |
| 2000(Jul) |
|
39 |
35 |
2006(Jul) |
|
39 |
36 |
| 2000(Sept) |
|
13 |
20 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
