3M Performance 400 - Michigan International Speedway

NAPA RACING PRESS BOX FEATURING MICHAEL WALTRIP

Is Michigan in your top five of favorite tracks?
"It is definitely on my list. MIS is one of those tracks that a lot of drivers consider one of their favorites. It's simple why they feel that way, just watch the action on Sunday. There will be guys running up high, down low, all over the place. It's entertaining for the fans, and for a race car driver. All you want to do is have an option when you get to the corner. Go where they ain't. You can pick another line and Michigan definitely offers that."

Your career stats at Michigan boast nine top-10 finishes so the NAPA team should be pretty geared up.
"I can't wait for the race either. Our NAPA AUTO PARTS car will be good. We are taking a brand new NAPA Toyota. It is a Gen-3. We are very optimistic about our chances. Obviously, it is a track that I have done well at over the years. The run that we had back in the spring was impressive. Toyota sends out lap tracker where every lap of the race is tracked for every car. For the first three-quarters of the race, my car was from fourth to seventh fastest. We started near the back, but we drove toward the front. We had a chance to have a really good run, and then we were spun out on the last lap and that cost us some spots. I love the place so I can't wait to go back to MIS."

Your team made the announcement that Mike Skinner will be in the No. 00 for the next three races. What are you looking for Skinner to accomplish?
"We have as much faith in Michael McDowell today as we did when we signed him. We feel like he is a star of the future. We believe that he is going to take that No. 00 car and do some good things with it. However, we really want to learn as an organization. We want our growth to be as fast as possible. We want to know everything right now. Unfortunately, that is not possible. We know Mike Skinner getting into that car can give feedback to that team that they desperately need. Ultimately, it will help me. It will help Reutimann. I think this move will make all of MWR stronger. I mean, look what Mike Skinner did for Red Bull. He really made a difference over there. McDowell hates being out of the car, but he's also thinking that the move could really help him and his entire team. I appreciate McDowell's positive attitude. I appreciate him being all in. We are using this experiment to make things stronger for him when he returns."

MWR and NAPA will be back together in 2009.
"I am proud to have them back on board with me for another season. Our business at Michael Waltrip Racing is on the verge of being very competitive. We just needed a little bit longer runway to make our success happen, and I am so glad that NAPA was willing to lengthen our runway. We have to perform at a level they require, and I believe we can meet NAPA's expectations with the people we have in place. David Reutimann and Ryan Pemberton are showing signs of strength. I really feel good about our team, and I am really thankful that NAPA said we are going to go ahead for another year. NAPA is kind enough to give me a chance to prove that I am right. If I am right, then we have a good shot at being together for a long time. They are expecting results and we are going to make sure that the NAPA Toyota will be back up front like it was a few years ago."

• NAPA AUTO PARTS driver Michael Waltrip will qualify for his 712th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race when the 23rd event of the 2008 season, the 3M Performance 400, is held at Michigan International Speedway on Sunday.
• Waltrip will start in his 47th Cup race at the two-mile track. His best start is first (June 23, 1991) and best finish is fourth (June 16, 2002) in the NAPA machine. In total, he has two top-five and nine top-10 finishes at Michigan.
• Waltrip has completed 8,556 of 9,091 laps (94.1%) at the track and has led a total of 16 laps in competition. His average start is 22nd and average finish is 21st.
• Waltrip has raced in 11 Nationwide Series events at MIS. He has collected one win, two top-five and six top-10 finishes. He has led 68 laps in Nationwide Series competition at the track.
• Back in June, the NAPA Racing team was on mark for a top-10 finish in the LifeLock 400 at MIS. Unfortunately on the final lap, Martin Truex Jr. made contact with Waltrip causing him to spin and finish in 23rd place.
• Entering this week's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event, Waltrip is 32nd in the driver points standings and 33rd in the owner standings. He is guaranteed a starting spot in Sunday's race. A total of 44 cars are on the preliminary entry list.

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