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PRESS RELEASE
Michael Waltrip Goody's Cool Orange 500 NSCS Race Preview
Wasserman Media Group For NAPA Racing, Press Release
NAPA RACING PRESS BOX FEATURING MICHAEL WALTRIP
Paul Andrews and Bobby Kennedy have switched managerial roles at Michael Waltrip Racing. What are your thoughts on Paul heading up your test team and Bobby returning as your crew chief?
“Paul did a great job in helping us reach our top-35 goal, and I know he will continue his diligence with our test teams for the betterment of our organization. Bobby has always been there for me and my NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota Camry team to help with our decision making process. We have known each other for a very long time, and I guess you can say that we are made for each other. Going to Martinsville with Bobby knowing we have the luxury of being in the top 35, is a relief. Now, it is all about being successful in the race.”
How does it feel to be back in the top 35 in points?
“It’s been two years since I went to the track knowing I was going to race on Sunday. I am very happy that it has come around again … finally. It has been miserable for me on Fridays. I worry about qualifying. No one knows how bad it feels until they are in the situation. I think you are going to see a lot of people at Martinsville who are on the outside feeling pretty stressed. Martinsville is not an easy place to qualify. It is very technical. It doesn’t take much to send you home. You fly into the corner and give it all you got, but if that car doesn’t stick a little bit, or you lock the right front tire, your day is over.
“Michael Waltrip Racing has come a long way from a year ago. We’ve got all three cars in the top 35 heading into Martinsville. Last year we did not have any. Looking at some of our statistics, I am happy to say we are way far ahead of where we were last year at this time, but we still have room for improvement. Bristol was an example of that. David Reutimann finished 20th and I finished 23rd. Both of us felt we had a lot better cars than what our results showed, and we need to change that. Regardless, I’m real proud of the accomplishment. It is all about being surrounded by good people. We didn’t quit. We didn’t stop believing. I like the direction we are heading.”
What does it take to be successful at a tough place like Martinsville?
“Being successful at Martinsville has everything to do with your team. Looking at the results, Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon have dominated Martinsville. It is safe to say Hendrick Motorsports has a good Martinsville package. My brother Darrell was amazing at Martinsville. He could win there all the time. Even when he was struggling, he was still doing well. It takes a special talent and technique to tickle that gas pedal. You have to be able to fly down that corner, and let off the gas, and get on the brakes hard, and just tease the gas pedal to get going off the corner. Driving at Martinsville is controlled chaos. What we ask these cars to do and how we ask them to do it is not natural.”
Michael Waltrip Fast Facts
NAPA AUTO PARTS driver Michael Waltrip will be competing in his 695th NASCAR Sprint Cup race when the sixth event of the 2008 Sprint Cup season, the Goody’s Cool Orange 500, gets underway at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Va.
He will start in his 44th race at the .526-mile track. His best Martinsville start is seventh, three times (Sept. 25, 1988, Sept. 23, 1990 and April 24, 1994) and best finish is third (April 9, 2000).
During his career at Martinsville, Waltrip has earned one top-five and five top-10 finishes. His average start is 25th and average finish is 21st.
Waltrip has completed 19,837 of 21,362 laps (92.9%) at the track and has led a total of 17 laps in competition.
Last fall, Waltrip started 29th and finished 18th in the NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota.
Entering this week’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event, Waltrip is 30th in the driver and owner points standings. He is guaranteed a starting spot in Sunday’s race.
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