AVONDALE, Ariz. (Nov. 12, 2006) – NAPA AUTO PARTS driver Michael Waltrip endured a constant struggle with an ill-handling race car and a leak in the oil cooler during the Phoenix 500 at Phoenix International Raceway before engine trouble finally forced the No. 55 NAPA Dodge out of the race at the desert mile.

Waltrip, who qualified 19th, took the green flag for his 20th start at Phoenix International Raceway, but would never take the checkered flag as troubles arose early for the veteran driver. “It’s pushing really bad,” Waltrip radioed on Lap 23 riding in 27th position. “Hang in there. We’ll get it straightened out,” crew chief Tommy Baldwin Jr. radioed. “That was a great lap there. You’re catching a lot of the guys in front of you.” Unfortunately, race leader Kevin Harvick caught the No. 55 NAPA Dodge, placing Waltrip a lap down on Lap 54.

“The front of the car feels like I’m riding around on a Fred Flintstone wheel,” Waltrip radioed. “It’s shaking that badly. I think a wrecked car would handle better than this.” Baldwin called Waltrip to pit road during the event’s first caution and made significant adjustments to the NAPA Dodge, including three (rounds) up on the track bar, four (rounds) out of the left rear wedge, and a rubber in the right rear of the car.

Soon after the restart on Lap 73, Waltrip encountered additional problems. “The front end is going away. It has no grip,” radioed Waltrip. By Lap 103 the car was beginning to come to Waltrip as he radioed, “That’s a pretty big difference from the first to second set of tires. We’ve made a lot of adjustments all year, but nothing has seemed to work as well as that last round.” At the halfway mark of the event, Waltrip was riding in 36th position and continued to be one lap off the leaders.

NASCAR officials forced Waltrip to enter pit road on Lap 186 as the No. 55 NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge began leaking fluid around the one-mile oval. Further inspection revealed a leak in the car’s oil cooler, and Baldwin brought Waltrip into the NEXTEL Cup garage for repairs. On Lap 216, Waltrip returned to action on the track in 42nd-place, fifteen laps down.

Several laps later Baldwin radioed Waltrip, “There’s significant smoke coming from the car.” As the clouds of smoke grew heavier, it was apparent to Baldwin that the No. 55 NAPA Dodge had blown an engine. “Bring it in Michael. We’re going to park it,” Baldwin radioed on Lap 252. Waltrip would finish in 42nd-place.

“Days like today are always disappointing. We’re still looking for a top-10 finish on the season, but we’re not giving up just yet,” Waltrip commented after the race. “We’ve got one more race before we break for the year. We’re just trying to end things on a positive note.”

Kevin Harvick, who won for the fifth time this year and swept the season at Phoenix, led 252 of the 312 laps and was out front for a series of late restarts. A short stoppage allowed Harvick and second-place finisher Jimmie Johnson to map out their final strategy, which called for Johnson to make a brief run at Harvick over the closing laps. Johnson smartly settled for second place, racing Harvick just hard enough over a final three-lap sprint to the finish to maintain his track position and keep the Nextel Cup title within his reach. Rookie Denny Hamlin finished third followed by Jeff Gordon and Carl Edwards to round out the top five.

The NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series will travel to Homestead – Miami Speedway next week for the Ford 400, the final race of the 2006 NEXTEL Cup season. Coverage will begin Sunday, November 19 at 2:00 pm Eastern on NBC and MRN.