NAPA RACING PRESS BOX FEATURING MICHAEL WALTRIP
What do you like about racing at Texas Motor Speedway?
“When you head to a place like Texas, the most fun you have is when you see the smiles on the race fans. Texas fans are happy to see us. I tell everyone all the time that the toughest thing about racing is the other 42 cars on the track. We can go anywhere and race. It’s fun, but when you go to Texas, it is really an event. It’s a spectacle, and we really appreciate how the track and the fans welcome us.”
In comparison to other 1.5-mile tracks, do you find Texas to be more technical?
“Yes, especially when looking at Turn 2. It seems to tighten up more off that corner than any other track that we go to on the entire circuit. You carry a lot of speed, and when you get ready to exit off of Turn 2, you really have to hit your mark early on the exit so that you are positioned properly when you get out onto the back straightaway.
“Qualifying is a whole different deal when you are talking about the technical aspects of Texas. There’s nothing technical about it. You are running wide open and hammering it as hard as you can. When you get done, all you care about is the time you ran. Sunday, however, lap after lap, to make 500 miles, you better be technical.”
Do you anticipate the same type of race at Texas or something new because of the new car?
“I think we will see a totally different race because of the new car. I think as we get use to this new car, it’s going to be more about the car than the drivers who have run well in the past. It’s going to be that way for some time until we get it all sorted out. I think it will be interesting to see how it all plays out.”
There have been several first time winners at Texas. What is it like to win your first race, especially when you have two drivers in David Reutimann and Michael McDowell who could contend for their first win at Texas?
“Drivers are extremely passionate, and we get caught up in what we do week in and week out, but when it comes to going to victory lane, it’s really special. I am looking forward to the time that I can stand back and enjoy watching the experience that Reutimann and McDowell will have. The expression of gratefulness is awesome to watch because you know how hard they have worked, and it all was able to finally come together.”
Michael Waltrip Fast Facts
- NAPA AUTO PARTS driver Michael Waltrip will be competing in his 696th NASCAR Sprint Cup race when the seventh event of the 2008 Sprint Cup season, the Samsung 500, gets underway at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas.
- He will start in his 13th race at the 1.5-mile track. His best TMS start is fourth (April 8, 2002) and best finish is sixth in his NAPA machine (April 17, 2005).
- During his career at Texas, Waltrip has earned three top-10 and six top-25 finishes. His average start is 28th and average finish is 23rd.
- Waltrip has completed 3591 of 4013 laps (89.5%) at Texas and has led a total of 14 laps in competition.
- Entering this week’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event, Waltrip is 32nd in driver points and 33rd in the owner points standings. He is guaranteed a starting spot in Sunday’s race.
NAPA AUTO PARTS driver Michael Waltrip Texas Motor Speedway Statistics
2008 NAPA AUTO PARTS PIT CREW
Front Tire Changer: Gus Hinton
Front Tire Carrier: Chris Hall
Jackman: Kevin Kreutzer
Rear Tire Carrier: John Gaynor
Rear Tire Changer: Colin Fambrough
Gas Man: Art Harris
Catch Can: Shawn Soules
EVENT FACTS
Race: 7 of 36
SAMSUNG 500
Track: Texas Motor Speedway
Length: 1.5-Mile Oval
Distance: 334 laps/501 miles
Date: Sunday, April 6
Time: 1:30 p.m. ET
TV: FOX
Radio: PRN
2007 Winner: Jeff Burton
2007 Pole: Jeff Gordon
Television Tidbits
Sprint Cup Qualifying
Fri., April 4 at 4:30 p.m. ET
SPEED
Sprint Cup Practices
Fri., April 4 at 1 p.m. ET
SPEED
Sat., April 5 at Noon ET
SPEED
Sat., April 5 at 1 p.m. ET
SPEED |
