NAPA RACING PRESS BOX FEATURING MICHAEL WALTRIP
Do you feel the test session at Phoenix earlier this year is an indication as to who will be fast during qualifying?
“There’s two ways to look at it. Juan Pablo Montoya ran a very fast qualifying run. He’s got to feel good about that. Most everyone else was primarily there to see how they were in race conditions. I wouldn’t necessarily go by those test speeds, but if testing means anything, Juan Pablo should be right at the front.”
What is it that you like about PIR?
“My favorite thing about Phoenix International Raceway is both ends are different. If I built a track today, it would have different ends. The crazier the track is, the more entertaining the racing becomes. You have to accept what the conditions are and adapt to those conditions. The key to Phoenix is it takes a different setup for both ends. You will see guys who are fast in one end, and there will be guys faster in the other.
“Another thing I like about this track is Phoenix will require us to race our butts off. It’s going to be all about a guy’s foot getting that gas down and how he applies the brake. It’s going to be all about the driver when we get to Phoenix.”
The race will start in the day, and end in the night. Will conditions change?
“Yes, and that’s what I like about Phoenix. It’s just another element you have to be able to adjust and adapt. I think that is the most important thing to being successful in NASCAR. The good cars will be able to figure out how to start in the sun and be good. They’ll also be able to finish in the dark and be good.”
Your new rookie Michael McDowell has had two action-packed weeks on the track. What is your take on him?
“Last week he made you forget he was a rookie. He raced hard. He raced solid. He was performing well. I think his youthful enthusiasm is what got him in trouble during qualifying at Texas. He ran a lap. He didn’t like his lap. He went in thinking he was going to do better on the second. Unfortunately, he was wrong. McDowell said he thought there was something wrong with his car and I said, “We’ll never know now, will we?” Then on Sunday, I was watching him. He is good enough, and smart enough, not to spin it out and hit the wall. I was proud of him for that.”
Michael Waltrip Fast Facts
- NAPA AUTO PARTS driver Michael Waltrip will be competing in his 697th NASCAR Sprint Cup race when the eighth event of the 2008 Sprint Cup season, the Subway Fresh Fit 500, gets underway at Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale, Ariz.
- He will start in his 21st race at the 1-mile track. His best PIR start is 11th (Nov. 6, 1988 and Nov. 1, 1992) and best finish is 2nd (April 23, 2005).
- During his career at Phoenix, Waltrip has earned two top-five, four top-10 and 10 top-25 finishes. His average start is 28th and average finish is 24th.
- Waltrip has completed 5564 of 6243 laps (89.1%) at the track and has led a total of 25 laps in competition.
- Entering this week’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event, Waltrip is 32nd in driver and owner points standings. He is guaranteed a starting spot in Saturday night’s race.
NAPA AUTO PARTS driver Michael Waltrip Phoenix International Raceway Statistics
DATE START FINISH DATE START FINISH
11/6/1988 |
11 |
28 |
11/7/1999 |
41 |
33 |
11/5/1989 |
23 |
9 |
11/5/2000 |
42 |
32 |
11/4/1990 |
29 |
43 |
10/28/2001 |
26 |
23 |
11/3/1991 |
30 |
24 |
11/10/2002 |
38 |
20 |
11/1/1992 |
11 |
11 |
11/2/2003 |
17 |
5 |
10/31/1993 |
23 |
9 |
11/7/2004 |
19 |
17 |
10/30/1994 |
25 |
36 |
4/23/2005 |
28 |
2 |
10/29/1995 |
37 |
34 |
11/13/2005 |
42 |
33 |
10/27/1996 |
31 |
16 |
4/22/2006 |
42 |
42 |
11/2/1997 |
30 |
26 |
11/12/2006 |
19 |
42 |
2008 NAPA AUTO PARTS PIT CREW
Front Tire Changer: Gus Hinton
Front Tire Carrier: Chris Hall
Jackman: Scott King
Rear Tire Carrier: Dwayne Moore
Rear Tire Changer: Colin Fambrough
Gas Man: Art Harris
Catch Can: Shawn Soules
EVENT FACTS
Race: 8 of 36
Subway Fresh Fit 500
Track: Phoenix Intl Raceway
Length: 1.0-Mile Oval
Distance: 312 laps/500K
Date: Saturday, April 12
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
TV: FOX
Radio: MRN
2007 Winner: Jeff Burton
2007 Pole: Jeff Gordon
TELEVISION TIDBITS
Sprint Cup Qualifying
Thurs., April 10 at 7 p.m. ET
SPEED
Sprint Cup Practices
Thurs. April 10 at 3:15 p.m. ET
NASCAR.com
Fri., April 11 at 6:45 p.m. ET
SPEED
Fri., April 11 at 8 p.m. ET
SPEED
To access the NAPA Racing media guide online, please visit: www.napasponsorship.com |
