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Sept. 26, 2007
HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. –Michael Waltrip and the NAPA AUTO PARTS team are coming off a solid run at Dover International Speedway after starting 43rd and finishing 15th. The respectable result not only gave the NAPA team an added confidence boost heading into this weekend’s LifeLock 400 at Kansas Speedway, but it also ensures Waltrip a starting spot in the race, if weather cancels qualifying.
Art Harris, the NAPA team’s gas man, is feeling better after being struck by a tire on pit road at Dover International Speedway. Harris is participating in Thursday’s pit practice with the crew and plans to fuel the NAPA AUTO PARTS Camry on Sunday. He says he is bruised and sore from where the tire hit him, but otherwise, he is fine and ready to go to Kansas.
NAPA AUTO PARTS driver Michael Waltrip:
How proud were you to have all three cars in the race last weekend, and then go on to have a really good run?
“To be honest, I cannot wait for the time when that is not a big deal anymore. I have never heard anyone congratulate Mr. Hendrick on that accomplishment. Realistically, that is where we are right now. Some day, I hope to have all three of my cars competing for a championship and in contention on a weekly basis to win races. My qualifying lap at Dover was way more eventful than it needed to be. I almost crashed. Fortunately, I had enough speed to get in. Then at one point during the race, I had one of the fastest cars on the track. I was able to go from 43rd to the top 10 and on to a 15th-place finish. It was a good day the NAPA team.
“My run at Dover really helped my team. If it had rained out qualifying at Dover, my team would have been sent home. With Sunday’s finish, if it rains out qualifying at Kansas, my team will compete. Usually I pray for rain, because all three of my cars would be in, but at Dover, I never mentioned the “R” word. If they are parched right now in Kansas, I hope they get a nice little rain storm on Friday. Don’t get me wrong, I have all the confidence in the world that my teams can make the race, but why take a chance? It reminds me of when I won the Daytona 500 in 2003. I dominated it. I led all those laps and was leading when it started raining. People were asking me, ‘Don’t you want to get back out there?’ My response was obviously, ‘No.’ If it rained out, I was 100 percent the winner. I was very happy with that rain shower, and I would be OK with it again.”
Thoughts on heading to Kansas Speedway and changing back to an intermediate car:
“I am really looking forward to Kansas Speedway. Going back to an intermediate car is really not a big deal. We are used to it. I think my team has been a lot more competitive in the intermediate cars than in the COT cars for the time being. David (Reutimann) has run in the top 15 with his intermediate car, as have I. We have qualified well. I was really impressed with David at California. He was able to drive his car right up into the top 10 and was really fast. Dale Jarrett is in Kentucky today testing for us in preparation for this weekend, so we are hoping all three teams can get in and have a great run on Sunday.”
Michael Waltrip Fast Facts
NAPA AUTO PARTS driver Michael Waltrip will attempt to qualify for his 685th NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race when the 29th event of the 2007 season, the LifeLock 400, is held at Kansas Speedway on Sunday.
Waltrip will attempt to start in his 7th Cup race at the 1.5-mile track. His best start is 4th (Sept. 29, 2002) and best finish is 11th (Oct. 10, 2004). Waltrip has completed 1,345 of 1,602 laps (84%) at the track. His average start is 29th and finish is 32nd.
In Busch Series competition, Waltrip has raced in six events and earned two poles (Sept. 28, 2002 and Oct. 4, 2003) at Kansas Speedway. He has completed 753 of 804 laps (93.7%) and has led 170 laps in competition. His average start is 10th and finish is 21st.
Entering this weekend’s NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series event, Waltrip is 49th in the driver standings and 44th in owner standings. The NAPA team will need to qualify for the LifeLock 400 on time since the No. 55 car is outside the top 35 in owner point standings. A total of 47 cars are entered at Kansas. Of the entrants, 12 are go-or-go-home teams. Waltrip will be competing for eight qualifying spots.
Waltrip is a two-time Daytona 500 champion. He was victorious in 2001 and 2003.
NAPA AUTO PARTS driver Michael Waltrip Kansas Speedway Statistics
| DATE |
START |
FINISH |
DATE |
START |
FINISH |
 |
| 9/30/2001 |
41 |
38 |
10/10/2004 |
26 |
11 |
|
| 9/29/2002 |
4 |
26 |
10/09/2005 |
36 |
40 |
|
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| 10/05/2003 |
31 |
39 |
10/01/2006 |
35 |
35 |
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NASCAR NEXTEL LifeLock 400 Broadcast Coverage
Live coverage of the LifeLock 400 at Kansas Speedway begins Sunday, Sept. 30 at 1 p.m. EDT on ABC. It can also be heard on your local MRN Radio affiliate starting at the same time.
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