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Oct. 8, 2007
TALLADEGA, Ala. – NAPA Racing driver Michael Waltrip started from the pole and never dropped lower than 20th during Sunday’s Talladega 500 before a right-front tire failure on lap 175 brought a premature end to an impressive weekend. He was classified 25th.
“I’m not sure what exactly happened,” said Waltrip. “I think I just ran over something, because the inside of the tire was fine. I brushed the wall on that big crash, and I thought something was rubbing, but the guys said it was nothing. And then, with no warning, it went flat. I was having fun, and I thought I was in pretty good shape, but it was not to be. It was unfortunate for the NAPA Camry. The car was good. It was fun to be up front again. It is a much better view from up there.”
Jeff Gordon won the Talladega 500 to earn his fifth win of the season and his sixth at Talladega in 30 races.:
On Friday, Waltrip and the NAPA team practiced twice in preparation for Saturday’s Bud Pole qualifying session. All of the go-or-go-home teams completed single-car runs, while the teams in the top 35 ran in the draft. In the first session, Waltrip was second quickest of the “star” cars with a time of 50.863 seconds (188.270 mph). The time was good for 36th, with only Scott Riggs quicker with a lap of 50.734 seconds (188.749 mph). The fastest car on the leader board was Tony Stewart, with a time in the draft of 49.118 seconds (194.959 mph). In final practice, Waltrip was first in his single-car group with a time of 50.713 seconds (188.827 mph). The fastest car in the draft once again was Tony Stewart (49.347 seconds/194.054 mph).
On Saturday, 51 cars took part in Bud Pole qualifying. Waltrip drew 24th and posted the fastest lap with a speed of 189.070 mph (50.648 seconds) to earn the fourth Bud Pole award of his NASCAR NEXTEL Cup career and his 11th top-10 start in 43 races at Talladega.
“I felt confident after practice that we would make the race,” said Waltrip after qualifying. “All the boys that worked on this NAPA Camry just did a great job. When we tested here, we drafted a little bit, and then we worked on our car for speed for two days. After that, we got back in the draft, and I liked my car best then. This is not a qualifying setup. It’s ready to go. We concentrated on qualifying more than the others, so I know that’s why we’re faster than them at this point, but this car is ready to go. We tested down here a couple of weeks ago, and we got our car as good as we wanted it speed-wise. After that, I got in the draft and was able to drive to the front and ride around in the middle of it, and I was happy. I told my guys last night that if we made the race, I think we can win. Now that we did, I have to show them we at least have a chance to win.”
Rounding out the top-10 qualifiers were Dave Blaney, Brian Vickers, Joe Nemechek, David Reutimann, Jacques Villeneuve, John Andretti, Bobby Labonte, Kasey Kahne and Elliott Sadler. Seven of the top-10 qualifiers were drivers who needed to make the race on time since they were outside the top-35 in owner points. For the third week in a row, all three Michael Waltrip Racing entries made the race. Dale Jarrett recorded the eighth-fastest lap but lined up 43rd due to NASCAR’s qualifying rules.
On Sunday, Waltrip led the 43-car field to the green flag and diced it up in the draft before the caution-flag flew on Lap 18. The driver came in on lap 20 for four tires and the removal of his windshield tear-offs, which had been causing a visibility issue. When he returned to the track, Waltrip was in 20th place and Denny Hamlin was the leader.
The green flag waved on Lap 23. Waltrip wasted no time moving back up through the field, and on Lap 28, the No. 55 was posted fifth on the leader board. The first green flag pit stops began on Lap 56. Waltrip pitted on Lap 62 for right-side tires and fuel. He returned to the track in seventh position before the second caution flag flew on Lap 63. Competition director Bobby Kennedy chose to keep his driver out on the track, but told him that a minor air-pressure change was in the works in order to improve tire wear on the left-side tires. The race resumed on Lap 68 with Hamlin in the lead and Waltrip in seventh place.
Lap 88 saw the NAPA Camry back in the top spot before the third caution flag flew when Chase contender Jeff Burton’s engine expired. The NAPA pit crew went back to work on Lap 94 to complete a two-tire stop in just 9.48 seconds. The fast stop kept Dale Earnhardt Jr. behind Waltrip when the race resumed on Lap 97.
Two more services were completed under caution on Laps 115 and 139. Both stops were for two tires and fuel. During this sequence in the race, Waltrip had a drafting partner in Dale Earnhardt Jr. Unfortunately their partnership ended when Earnhardt Jr. caused the fifth caution of the event when he lost an engine. Waltrip continued to persevere without him, running in the top-five. Waltrip went on to dodge the so-called “Big One” when an 11-car crash occurred in Turn 4 on Lap 145. The NAPA driver brushed the wall in order to avoid contact with Robby Gordon. Two laps later, the NAPA pit crew inspected the damage, which was minor, and bolted on four fresh tires. Waltrip returned to the track in 10th place.
During a caution that claimed Kyle Petty’s car on Lap 163, Waltrip came over the radio to say he did not like the set of tires that were on his NAPA Camry, but chose to stay out to maintain track position. The race resumed on Lap 167 with Waltrip in 12th place and Tony Stewart in the lead. Unfortunately, eight laps later, a blown right-front tire sent Waltrip into the wall and ended his day. Despite the disappointment, the NAPA team was proud of their pole and the way that the NAPA Camry performed in the race. Waltrip was credited with leading four times for a total of six laps.
Following Gordon to the checkered flag and rounding out the top-10 finishers were Jimmie Johnson, Dave Blaney, Denny Hamlin, Ryan Newman, Casey Mears, Kurt Busch, Tony Stewart, Tony Raines and Reed Sorenson.
A total of six Toyota teams participated in the race. Besides Waltrip, MWR teammates David Reutimann scored 22nd and Dale Jarrett finished 41st. Dave Blaney, Jacques Villeneuve and Brian Vickers finished 3rd, 21st and 39th, respectively.
With the win, Gordon moved into the points lead in the Chase for the NEXTEL Cup, nine points ahead of teammate Johnson.
Next week Waltrip and the NAPA AUTO PARTS team visit their home track, Lowe’s Motor Speedway. The Bank of America 500 is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 13 at 7 p.m. Eastern on ABC and PRN radio.
Talladega 500 Results:
http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2007/30/data/results_unofficial.html
Chase for the Championship:
http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2007/data/standings_unofficial.html
Lap-by-Lap:
http://www.nascar.com/2007/races/lapbylap/10/07/lap.by.lap.talladega2/index.html |
