Catchfence

Pastrana-Waltrip Racing

DAYTONA NATIONWIDE RACE REPORT

2/19/2011

· Michael Waltrip, No. 99 Pastrana-Waltrip Racing Toyota Camry – finished ninth

Race Summary: No. 99 Pastrana-Waltrip Racing Toyota driver Michael Waltrip finished ninth in Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series season opener at Daytona International Speedway. After winning the truck series race on Friday night, Waltrip had a chance to grab his first win at Daytona in a Nationwide race. The two-time Daytona 500 winner cautiously ran the first half of the race to avoid the big wreck that normally takes out many cars at Daytona.

The strategy worked as Waltrip dodge all accidents then put himself in a position to win at the end of the 300-mile race. He lined-up third when the field took the green flag for the final three laps. Unfortunately, Waltrip was unable to find a drafting partner and crossed the finish line ninth. Ryan Truex makes his 2011 debut in the No. 99 Toyota at Phoenix International Raceway on Saturday. Travis Pastrana returns to NASCAR action when he races in the K&N Pro Series West race on Thursday.

Michael Waltrip, No. 99 Pastrana-Waltrip Toyota

· Michael Waltrip started 25th and finished ninth

· Cautiously ran the first half of the race. Moved to third with three laps remaining.

· Struggled to find a drafting partner throughout the race.

· Scored his 10th top-10 finish in 26 Nationwide starts at Daytona

· After Friday’s truck series victory, Waltrip became the first driver to win in four different decades in NASCAR National Series competition and he did it in all three national series

· When Waltrip takes the green flag for the Daytona 500 on Sunday he will tie Richard Petty for the most starts—74—at Daytona in NASCAR points races.

MICHAEL WALTRIP QUOTE: “It was disappointing. I should’ve helped Trevor (Bayne) at the end, but I just screwed up. I should’ve let him get in line and I didn’t and then I didn’t have anybody to draft with. Kasey (Kahne) got there, but it was too late. Yesterday was perfect and it felt awesome and today everything just seemed to keep going wrong. I had a shot, but I just made a mistake.”

NNS Racing Results

· Tony Stewart edged Clint Bowyer by .007 seconds to score his fourth consecutive February victory at Daytona

· Landon Cassill, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Reed Sorenson rounded out the top five.

· The race featured 35 lead changes among eight drivers.

· Five cautions slowed the race 25 laps.

· The race lasted 2 hours and 8 minutes.

· NASCAR estimated 82,000 race fans in attendance at Daytona International Speedway.

- Pastrana-Waltrip Racing Press Release