NAPA Racing Records Top-20 Finish at Michigan

Team Rebounds After Three Tough Weeks

BROOKLYN, Mich. - The NAPA Racing team was finally able to put three frustrating weeks being them by finishing 19th-place in Sunday's 3M Performance 400 at Michigan International Speedway (MIS). The result was very respectable considering driver Michael Waltrip had to overcome a disappointing qualifying effort that saw him start from 42nd position. Waltrip moves up one position in the driver standings to 31st and remains solidly in 33rd in owner points - just 61 markers out of 30th place.

"We did well," said Waltrip who finished 23rd at MIS earlier in the season after being spun on the final lap of the LifeLock 400. "I wish we could have gotten more, but it was a decent run. My NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota wasn't the best car out there today, but my guys worked hard and we made some nice gains in the pits. We did what we needed to do and that was to get a good solid finish."

Waltrip was in good company for the start of the 3M Performance 400 as drivers Kevin Harvick, Kasey Kahne, Clint Bowyer and Denny Hamlin all had to drive up through the field to make a run at Brian Vickers, who was on the pole. Waltrip wasted no time and by the first caution flag which was thrown for a blown motor on lap 19, he was in 29th place and just a little loose through the corners. Crew chief Bobby Kennedy called his driver in for an air pressure adjustment along with taking on four fresh tires and fuel. The team completed a 13.5-second stop that enabled the driver to maintain his track position when the race went back to green on lap 25.

Shortly into the next run, Waltrip came over the radio to say the air pressure adjustments were not helping the NAPA Camry. It was extremely loose on the restart causing the driver to drop to 36th position by lap 35. Despite the challenge, Waltrip was able to climb back up to 23rd position by the time the team's first green-flag pit stop was completed on lap 65. This time, Kennedy ordered the pit crew to make more air pressure changes along with a track bar adjustment. As soon as the driver returned to the track, he told his team he could breathe again as the second round of changes helped the NAPA Toyota. Waltrip's lap times started getting faster and by lap 80, his car was one of the fastest on the track.

The second caution of the day came out on lap 85 for an accident on the backstretch involving Ryan Newman and Dave Blaney. Waltrip brought his NAPA Toyota down pit road for a small air pressure change, four fresh tires and more gas. The driver returned to the track in 28th position and Carl Edwards was the leader.

By the halfway mark, Waltrip was on the verge of breaking into the top 20. His car was still not perfect on setup, but if he drove the high groove, his times and track position significantly picked up. A tense moment for the team happened on lap 125 when Waltrip notified the team that his engine was running hot at 250 degrees. Upon further evaluation, it was discovered that trash was on the grill of the NAPA Toyota. Waltrip dropped behind drivers Tony Stewart and Mike Skinner in hopes the move would remove the debris, and by lap 132, the maneuvering paid off and the engine temperature started to go back to normal.

With 40 laps to go, Waltrip lost a lap to leader Kyle Busch while running in 18th position. The NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota kept pace and was on Busch's tail when the fourth caution of the day came out on lap 165 for debris. The No. 55 team was one car short of getting its lap back as Martin Truex Jr. was the benefactor because he was passed by the leader as the caution flew. Waltrip assured his team that the car was fast and they would earn the lost lap back so Kennedy brought his driver in for just four fresh tires and fuel. No adjustments were made. Waltrip returned to the track in 19th place and Brian Vickers was the leader.

As the green flag waved on lap 169, Kennedy told his driver, "It's all you. Go get it." The remainder of the race, Waltrip battled Jimmie Johnson, Casey Mears and Sam Hornish Jr., for position. The driver turned fast laps, but lost the final lucky dog pass on lap 188 to reigning Cup champion Johnson, who was just a few feet in front of him. The driver forged ahead and continued his competitive pace to end this season's Cup visit at Michigan International Speedway in 19th place.

The winner of the 3M Performance 400 was Carl Edwards. Edwards completed the weekend sweep by winning both the Nationwide and Sprint Cup events. Sunday's Cup win was Edwards' fifth of the season. Rounding out the top-10 finishers were Kyle Busch, David Ragan, Greg Biffle, Matt Kenseth, Mark Martin, Brian Vickers, Kevin Harvick, Elliott Sadler and Jamie McMurray.

As for Michael Waltrip Racing, David Reutimann finished 14th. Mike Skinner, subbing for Michael McDowell, battled a very loose-handing Toyota to earn 35th place.

The NAPA boys will be racing next weekend at one of NASCAR's most popular venues, the Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee. The Sharpie 500 will get underway Saturdya night at 7 p.m. on ESPN and the Performance Racing Network.