Fontana Frustrates NAPA AUTO PARTS Team

Loose Toyota Bogs Down Waltrip's Run with Reutimann

FONTANA, Calif. - The NAPA Racing team had a tough go-of-it on Sunday night at the Pepsi 500 at the Auto Club Speedway. Driver Michael Waltrip battled a very loose handling NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota Camry throughout the 250-lap event to finish in 33rd place. The challenge kept Waltrip from running with teammate David Reutimann, who was able to earn ninth place, the best Sprint Cup finish of his career.

"We were just terribly loose all night," said Waltrip, who started the race in 30th place. "Our weekend started with a disappointing qualifying effort. The car drove better and we should have gone faster. I got into Turn 3 and turned in quicker than I thought, and I got down on the apron and messed my lap up.  I'm real proud of the guys because the car is way better than that. I've been qualifying poorly over the last couple of weeks and I wanted to straighten that out and I didn't. Once the race started, we had some problems to deal with. My NAPA car was really loose and it remained that way the whole night.

"It's great to see David get up there and mix it up. I was real proud of David. He had a solid car. He drove up to the top five. He told me on Saturday afternoon that he was a little bit scared about his car. He couldn't figure out if it was going to be good or not. He just didn't have the feeling that he was looking for. Obviously, (crew chief) Ryan Pemberton and the guys got him tuned up because he was able to go up high and low on the track. I know the parts and pieces we have at Michael Waltrip Racing. In our brief history, I know where we are running. On a good day, we are in between 15th and 20th. A bad day, like for me, we were 33rd. David took his car and he made himself a top-10 guy. That means a lot to me. It means we are getting better. Last year, we couldn't say we could win anything. This year, I can say we had a shot at two victories so far. MWR is gaining on it. It is really gratifying after the tough start we had last year."

Crew chief Bobby Kennedy and the NAPA pit crew worked hard throughout the race to improve Waltrip's car. Pit stops were completed on laps 5, 21, 45, 72, 113, 148, 163, 183 and 220. Major adjustments were made over the course of the event that included shock and multiple spring rubber changes. Kennedy did all he could to bring the NAPA Camry in line with Reutimann's setup, but a difference in shock packages proved to be a challenge.

Despite all the adjustments made during the 500-mile race, Waltrip's car remained extremely loose. The condition hampered Waltrip and prevented him from breaking into the top 25 on the leader board despite turning respectable lap times during the race and gaining five bonus points for leading a lap on circuit 71.

Pole sitter Jimmie Johnson dominated the Pepsi 500 by leading the most laps -- 228. It was his third victory of the season as well as his third win at the Auto Club Speedway. Rounding out the top-10 finishers were Greg Biffle, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth, Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch, Kasey Kahne, Reutimann and Clint Bowyer.

Mike Skinner, subbing for rookie Michael McDowell, ended his three-race consulting effort with a 35th-place result.

This Saturday the Sprint Cup Series competes at the Richmond International Raceway. Richmond is the final event before the Chase to the Sprint Cup Championship gets underway. Broadcast coverage starts at 7 p.m. ET on ABC and the Motor Racing Network.