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NAPA RACING PRESS BOX FEATURING MICHAEL WALTRIP
The NAPA team had a shot at the win at Talladega. Are you pleased with the showing?
“We really had a great day. It was fun to race with Jimmie Johnson for most of the day. I made a half-hearted effort to make a run at the front after starting 27th. I got up there early on and realized it wasn’t going to work so I went to the back and who did I find back there? Jimmie Johnson. We raced together all day long and coming to the white flag, there we were racing for the win. Unfortunately, my motor broke. I know it was disappointing for Jimmie and his crew chief Chad Knaus. They have won a few lately whereas I have not in five years. Quite frankly, my clock is ticking. I am not sure how many more I have in me. Talladega was one race where I know we had a really good chance at the win. All I needed to run was one more lap and we would have won the race. We’re getting over it and we’ll go to Richmond and try to persevere.”
What is it that you like about racing at Richmond International Raceway?
“It has options and that is all a driver really wants – options. I can run high. I can run low. Talladega is the same way. We can get in the high line or the low line. We just want options. Richmond offers more options than any other track you can think of. You can run right up next to the wall. You can dive low.
“I like the way the new car responds to this track. Your car may not handle right at certain places here but you can deal with it. You may have hammered the throttle and it didn’t stick. That’s OK. You can then take a longer line and make it squeeze the throttle. It will allow you to keep the momentum up. That’s what I like about Richmond. We will try a ton of things out there so it will be important for the crew chiefs to listen to what is going on and then make the right adjustments.
“When the race starts at Richmond, you will see guys up high. You will see guys down low. Inevitably, the guy that is going to win the race will be on the bottom. “
Michael Waltrip Fast Facts
NAPA AUTO PARTS driver Michael Waltrip will be competing in his 699th NASCAR Sprint Cup race when the 10th event of the 2008 Sprint Cup season, the Crown Royal 400, gets underway at Richmond International Raceway in Richmond, Va.
Waltrip will start in his 42nd race at the .75-mile track. His best start is second (Sept. 9, 1990) and best finish is ninth in the NAPA machine on May 14, 2005.
During his Cup career at RIR, Waltrip has earned two top-10 and 21 top-25 finishes. His average start is 23rd and finish is 25th.
Waltrip has completed 14,586 of 16,393 laps (88.9%) at the track and has led a total of 81 laps in competition.
In Nationwide Series competition, he has one victory, 5 poles, 6 top-5 and 10 top-10 finishes.
Entering this week’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event, Waltrip is 31st in driver and owner points standings. He is guaranteed a starting spot in Saturday’s race. A total of 46 cars are on the entry list.
NAPA AUTO PARTS driver Michael Waltrip Richmond International Raceway Statistics
DATE START FINISH DATE START FINISH
2/23/1986 |
21 |
25 |
3/2/1997 |
14 |
27 |
9/7/1986 |
19 |
14 |
9/6/1997 |
29 |
35 |
3/8/1987 |
14 |
12 |
6/6/1998 |
33 |
40 |
9/13/1987 |
7 |
19 |
9/12/1998 |
31 |
26 |
2/21/1988 |
26 |
31 |
5/15/1999 |
38 |
22 |
9/11/1988 |
6 |
12 |
9/11/1999 |
36 |
38 |
3/26/1989 |
22 |
13 |
5/6/2000 |
38 |
19 |
9/10/1989 |
9 |
23 |
9/9/2000 |
40 |
43 |
2/25/1990 |
23 |
27 |
5/5/2001 |
12 |
35 |
9/9/1990 |
2 |
14 |
9/8/2001 |
41 |
20 |
2/24/1991 |
15 |
17 |
5/5/2002 |
27 |
24 |
9/7/1991 |
31 |
30 |
9/7/2002 |
26 |
36 |
3/8/1992 |
7 |
34 |
5/3/2003 |
37 |
12 |
9/12/1992 |
23 |
33 |
9/6/2003 |
33 |
32 |
3/7/1993 |
26 |
23 |
5/15/2004 |
18 |
10 |
9/11/1993 |
15 |
19 |
9/11/2004 |
19 |
13 |
3/6/1994 |
5 |
31 |
5/14/2005 |
23 |
9 |
9/10/1994 |
20 |
26 |
9/10/2005 |
28 |
31 |
3/5/1995 |
35 |
23 |
5/6/2006 |
30 |
31 |
9/9/1995 |
19 |
28 |
|
|
|
3/3/1996 |
35 |
36 |
|
|
|
9/7/1996 |
22 |
14 |
|
|
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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: Andy Thurman
Gas Man: Art Harris
Catch Can: Shawn Soules
EVENT FACTS
Race: 10 of 36
Crown Royal 400
Track: Richmond International Raceway
Length: .75 –Mile Oval
Distance: 400 laps/300 miles
Date: Saturday, May 3
Time: 7 p.m. ET
TV: FOX
Radio: MRN
2007 Winner: Jimmie Johnson
2007 Pole:Jeff Gordon
TELEVISION TIDBITS
Sprint Cup Qualifying
Fri., May 2 at 5:30 p.m. ET
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Sprint Cup Practice
Fri., May 2 at 11 a.m. ET
Tape Delayed -1:30 p.m. ET
SPEED
This Week in NASCAR
Mon., May 5 at 8 p.m. ET
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