SPRINT ALL-STAR RACE – LOWE’S MOTOR SPEEDWAY

NAPA RACING PRESS BOX FEATURING MICHAEL WALTRIP
The Sprint Fan Vote is really important to you this year. Many people assume you are already in the All-Star Race because you won it back in 1996.
“I thought I was in it too. We talked about the format and I was wondering where we would start, but Bobby Kennedy kindly told me I didn’t have a starting spot. I am a champion of it, but unfortunately, it expired. We are going to try and race our way in on Saturday night in the Sprint Showdown. I just really want to be in it so there is also the Sprint Fan Vote. I would love my fans to vote for me and vote often. Please vote.”

The All-Star format has been tweaked over the years. How important is the format?
“As the years have gone by, the format has become more and more significant. We all study about when we might pit. I remember when I won the All-Star Race; I called Eddie Wood on the radio and asked, “What do we do? What’s next?” We really did not strategize. We just got in the car and followed NASCAR’s instructions. Now, everybody really studies it closely. Everyone understands all the nuances and what they might be able to do to trick the system. NASCAR’s had to adjust the rules a couple of times to make sure we can’t do that. I think those days are about over. But it sure helps to know the format inside and out. It also helps to be out front too.”

What do you think the best format would be for the All-Star Race?
“I actually like what they have going on now. I think it is different. We’ll just have to wait and see how well it works on Saturday night. I also think that NASCAR should keep the race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Every once in awhile, there is talk about moving the All-Star Race, I am not in favor of it. It needs to stay in Charlotte. It’s home.”

The All-Star Race is also important for one of your teammates, why?
“The All-Star Race will be the last official race for Dale Jarrett. Saturday night we are all going to celebrate the wonderful career of DJ. We have a section of grandstands for all of the Michael Waltrip Racing employees to cheer him on. We are going to celebrate with the UPS folks over the next several days. We want to send Dale off in what has been a wonderful career. He is a great champion, competitor and teammate.”

The All-Star race was created for the fans and you have always been a big advocate of that.
“I have, and what’s really great about it -- the teams do not lose sight of it. We all know what the All-Star night is all about. It’s about having a good time. It’s about a bunch of people -- a hundred thousand or so who are sitting in the stands cheering and watching what the drivers and teams do. That’s a huge part of why a driver wants to win it. On Saturday night, I would love to repeat what Kyle Busch did in Darlington. I would love to get up on top of my NAPA Camry after doing a burn out and say, “Yes, we did it! Our NAPA team is number one tonight!”

What did you think about the race at Darlington especially with the new surface?
“I thought there was a lot of good racing. We finished 24th. Reutimann finished 19th. I have to give a shout out to Michael McDowell. I continue to be impressed by him. He qualified top 20. He ended up finishing 28th. He was the top finishing rookie of the race. I thought it was a solid performance by him. He’s a kid that had never seen Darlington before. He asked me if the walls were crooked like they are in his video game. I told him they were. I thought that was pretty interesting.”

Vote for Mikey! Fast track Michael into the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. Sprint customers, vote on your phones by texting “NASCAR” to 7777 and your vote counts double. Visit participating Sprint retail stores or visit sprint.com/speed for more information. Vote Now! Vote Often!

Michael Waltrip Fast Facts

• NAPA AUTO PARTS driver Michael Waltrip will be attempting to qualify for his 15th Sprint All-Star Race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.

• Waltrip has competed in 14 All-Star events. In 1996, he won the race. He is the only driver in the history of the All-Star event to win after earning the final transfer spot in the Showdown. His very popular victory came when he started in 20th place. It was his first victory in a Cup car.

• Waltrip has two opportunities to qualify for the All-Star Race. He can race his way in by finishing first or second place in the Sprint Showdown or earn the Sprint Fan Vote.

• Drivers eligible for the Sprint All-Star Race: race winners from the 2007 and 2008 season, the top-two finishers in the Sprint Showdown, the winner of the Sprint Fan Vote who finishes on the lead lap of the Showdown, past winners of the All-Star Race from the last 10 seasons, and Sprint Cup Series champions from the past 10 seasons who have competed in at least one series event during the 2007 and 2008 seasons.

2008 NAPA AUTO PARTS PIT CREW
* * Front Tire Changer:          Shannon Myers
     Front Tire Carrier:            Chris Hall
     Jackman:                         Scott King
     Rear Tire Carrier:             Dwayne Moore
     Rear Tire Changer:            Andy Thurman
     Gas Man:                          Art Harris
     Catch Can:                       Shawn Soules
** New Crewmember

EVENT FACTS
Sprint All-Star Race
Track:Lowe’s Motor Speedway
Length: 1.5-Mile Tri-Oval

All-Star Distance: Four segments totaling 100 laps/150 miles
Showdown Distance: Two segments totaling 40 laps/60 miles

Date: Saturday, May 17
Time: 7:30 p.m.  ET (Showdown)
Approx. 9 p.m. ET (All-Star)
TV:SPEED
Radio: MRN

2007 Winner: Kevin Harvick
Showdown Winner: Martin Truex Jr.
Fan Vote: Kenny Wallace

TELEVISION TIDBITS
Sprint Showdown Practice
May 16 at Noon ET on SPEED

All-Star Practice
May 16 at 1:30 p.m. ET SPEED

Sprint Showdown Qualifying
May 16 at 5:10 p.m. ET
SPEED

Sprint All-Star Qualifying
May 16 at 6:15 p.m. ET
SPEED