(Left to right) Mark Martin, driver of the No. 55 Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota, Michael Waltrip, owner of Michael Waltrip Racing, Martin Truex Jr., driver of the No. 56 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota, and Clint Bowyer, driver of the No. 15 5-Hour Energy Toyota, pose for a photo during the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Media Tour hosted by Charlotte Motor Speedway on Monday in Cornelius, N.C. - Photo Credit: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images for NASCAR

Is there more pressure on your team with the changes this year? “I think if you break it down, there was more pressure last year because we basically had the same goals as we have this year. But, we didn’t have the equipment to go do the job with. So, now we still aspire to accomplish the same things but we have a better toy, you know — we have a faster car. We have a more aerodynamically designed, we have a better Toyota Camry to go race with. I’m glad our expectations are high and I’m glad they were this past season, but now we have a car I believe we can go win with. My answer would be no, we’re prepared and we’re ready. I believe we’re going to do the job.”

How important is Twitter to your organization and how was hard was it to get Mark Martin on Twitter? “I was a little unfair to Mark (Martin), I kind of tricked him. I think he’ll love it though. I know Mark, he loves this sport and he’ll see. For example, this morning there was something on Twitter about a sponsor going with another team that I hadn’t heard anywhere before. It’s what’s relative to me, it’s things that matter to me that I can get my news from. It’s instant. So, I explained that to Mark. I said, ‘You don’t have to be controversial, just follow along and let the fans have a peek into who you are. He was happy he signed up. (Clint) Bowyer hadn’t got there yet, but hopefully we can convince him to do the same. I get it, I can tell customers to go to NAPA and get a brake job or an oil filter on a cheap price, for the best price if I choose to. Or, I can tell them to watch a movie that I like. We can share all kinds of different stories. I like it because I think it keeps me in touch with the fans. I get to hear sometimes good, sometimes bad, but I get to hear what they’re thinking. I just enjoy it. Part of my daily routine is to check Twitter, check what’s going on in the world and also see what’s going on in my world which is NASCAR.”

Do you feel it’s important to have drivers that mesh well with your personality? “I just love my lineup. I think that Clint (Bowyer) is a very energetic, engaging guy. I like the way he likes to have fun. That’s a good step up for our organization. Then you have the respected, savvy, tough, committed, dedicated veteran Mark Martin who has had the most fun today making Aaron’s commercials. He never dreamed he could have so much fun making a TV commercial, but the commercials are funny and he was really into it. I like seeing his reaction to the silly things that we asked him to do today. I think both those guys will revive Martin (Truex Jr.). You know, Martin is a really fun guy and he’s a guy that is very popular and won the Nationwide championship twice and made the Chase early on in his career, but he hasn’t had a whole lot to smile about lately. Now, with the cars that we’re building and the way he ended the 2011 season, we’re giving him something to smile about and we’re surrounding him with guys that like to smile and like to have fun. That will help Martin as well. Really cool driver lineup and a lot of fun feelings. I’m not making this up when I tell you all, a year ago to this day I was nervous about where we were going into 2011. I didn’t like our direction, I didn’t like the way our cars were being built, I didn’t like our philosophy on building them. You can’t change things overnight and we cracked toward a new philosophy, we cracked toward partnering closer with Gibbs (Joe Gibbs Racing), we worked hard at using our relationship with Toyota more effectively. If you look where we are today, it’s facts, it’s science, it’s black and white. We have partnered with Gibbs on the engines. We’re going to have the same engines that they have. We couldn’t say that a year ago. Our aerodynamics have improved to where our cars are as good as theirs, we couldn’t say that a year ago. Our driver lineup, if you just look at the numbers, we have more wins than we’ve ever had before. We have more Chase appearances than we’ve ever had before, so I love our driver lineup. Everything is pointing towards us having a banner 2012 season and I’m confident in that and I couldn’t have said that a year ago.”

Do you think the economy is starting to turn around in NASCAR? “Well, we added a team. Not many people have been able to do that. So, 5-Hour Energy came on board and we were able to go from two teams to three here at Michael Waltrip Racing. Obviously, we know how challenging things are, but NAPA and Aaron’s, Toyota — our key sponsors, our key partners — they see the value in NASCAR Sprint Cup racing, they know how big of a sport this is and they continue to support our team. But, more importantly, they continue to be a part of this sport. Adding another quality partner like 5-Hour and going into this season with a more robust lineup from the number of cars to the number of employees, the commercials we’re making — everything we’re doing is good for our sport. I agree, I think that things are heading in a really positive direction and we ended the 2011 season on an up slope in the ratings as a whole. With the new fuel injection going into 2012 and the amazing battle we had for a championship, I think that momentum will continue.”

What would be a successful 2012 season for your team? “We have to win more than a race, we can’t just win a race and finish 16th in the points. I think we have to win multiple races and we have to make the Chase. We have to be right there fighting for it at least to make it. We’ll reassess our goals weekly, see what we did wrong and see how we can do them better and look at going from Daytona to Vegas, how we can do that the most effective way possible. As a whole in general, multiple wins for our cars and hopefully in the Chase.”

 What does Clint Bowyer bring to your team? “Just enthusiasm, excitement, but the main thing that he (Clint Bowyer) brings is a track record that is very impressive. A Nationwide championship, three Chase appearances in his few years that he’s been in Cup, race wins, sponsors love him, the media love him — he’s just a guy that you’d want on your team. I think it’s important what you are when you’re not behind the wheel. Obviously, it’s more important what you are when you’re behind the wheel, that makes up for a lot of stuff, but when you have the enthusiasm and the attitude that Clint has, he’s engaging, people want to talk to him, people want to hear what he has to say. Then that helps the organization as well. I couldn’t be prouder that he elected to come drive our cars. Personally, I have this desire to give all my boys the tools they need to go win the races with. I think that Clint will find that we have done a pretty good job over the last five years building these cars to the point where he can take them into 2012 and do some special things with them.”

How has Mark Martin been with your humor? “He’s (Mark Martin) perfect. He is just enthusiastic and he’s all in. He’s, ‘What do you need me to do Michael? What are we doing?’ And, I said, ‘We’re going to make these commercials and it’s going to be a little goofy, a little silly.’ ‘No problem, I love it.’ So, today with him being here and making the commercials, he just genuinely loves the experience. I look at him as being pretty versatile while he’s really tight and proper, he’s also very willing to do whatever it takes for the sponsor and team and that’s the kind of attitude that I appreciate as an owner. That’s the way I’ve always been, whatever they want, that’s what I give them. Mark’s the same way.”

How special is it for you to continue to drive part-time? “I’m blessed. I get to run a Ferrari at Daytona. I’m going to get to race in my home state of Kentucky in a car that can win that darn race. Of course, last fall I finished top-10 at Talladega in my last race out. I’m thankful, I’m happy. I’m glad I don’t do it every week. I think that we have a better driver lineup than it would be if I was in it week in and week out. I think that the fact that I get to still race, I get to own this place, I get to still be on TV and I get to participate in NASCAR, all that is a blessing. I will take it. I will take it to any extent I can get it and right now it’s about the perfect mix for me between TV and racing over in Le Mans in Europe and then being able to get behind the wheel of a car of this caliber — it’s special.”

How far has Michael Waltrip Racing come since 2007? “We started it up and it makes me a little sad today to look back and see how naďve I was and how unprepared we were and how much ground we needed to make up in order to be able to ever contend. We missed a ton of races in ’07, we made them all ever since. We’ve been able to make races and consistently and steadily get a little bit better. But I really believe in my heart that we never have gone into a season like we’re going into ’12, we’re ready. We have a great driver lineup, we have great crew chiefs. Our cars are better. The state of Michael Waltrip Racing is very, very positive because we added a team, we’re not two teams any more — we’re three. We added people. We added a great sponsor in 5-Hour. I’m looking forward to this season.”

CLINT BOWYER, No. 15 5-Hour Energy Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing

Clint Bowyer, driver of the No. 15 5-Hour Energy Toyota, speaks with the media during the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Media Tour hosted by Charlotte Motor Speedway on Monday in Cornelius, N.C. - Photo Credit: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images for NASCAR

What has Scott Miller brought to Michael Waltrip Racing as competition director? “That was a huge reason that I was so comfortable coming over here. A lot of the same thought processes — a lot of the same things that I have been used to over the last several years was already implemented in Scott Miller (competition director, MWR). He was the competition director at RCR (Richard Childress Racing). A lot of the things moving forward from here, I’m on the same page because of the relationship with him. I know his mentality, his work ethic, what he expects out of others, his organization — I know the things that are taking place because I’ve lived them out the last several years as he’s been a competition director at RCR. I guess the comforting factor of coming to some place new and not really knowing much about anybody there was kind of put to bed because I know the captain of the ship is somebody that I got confidence in and have a relationship with.”

Do you feel like you are starting over in your career? “In this sport anymore, the cars are so much the same that the only real thing you’re starting over with is the group of people. Sometimes change can be good and bad. There’s no question that last year, I didn’t have the success that I expected and that I wanted. It’s not good enough. That’s the way that I look at that. When you’re thinking about making a change — it wasn’t where I wanted to be standings-wise, statistics-wise — all that isn’t what I wanted and expected out of me and racing. Maybe it was time to make a change and I’ll be able to answer that in a year or so. I really see a lot of potential here — a lot of things coming together at the right time for me to make a change and ride that wave on into the future.”

What makes you feel good about being with Michael Waltrip Racing? “You see the speed in the race cars, the people on my team, the potential. We’ve got a good group of guys. We were able to take advantage of a not-so-fortunate time in this sport — a lot of teams and organizations pulling back. We were able to go out and pick the cream of the crop so to speak and I feel like we’ve done that with our group of guys on the 5-Hour Energy car.”

What is it like working with Michael Waltrip? “It’s been fun and we’re quite a bit the same. It’s kind of weird sometimes and it becomes awkward because it’s like we’re both very outspoken and we kind of hit the same thought at about the same time on something that’s funny that comes up in your mind that somebody said. There’s an awkwardness sometimes in our conversations because we’re stepping on each other about the same thing that we were going to say. It’s been a lot of fun. There’s some history there. I called him the worst driver in NASCAR and I knew that was going to come up at some point in time and it came up the very second that I walked in the door of his office. He was like, ‘Do you still think I’m the worst driver in NASCAR?’ I was like, ‘Well, good way to break the ice.’ That’s when I told him yes, but he could be a very good owner. I hope that he is.”

What did you learn at the Daytona test session? “I’m not 100 percent sure what we learned. I’m not 100 percent sure what they (NASCAR) learned. Only time will tell. I know they did a lot of learning, but I don’t know what they’re going to use and put in place. I’ve heard a lot of things — some things that might be changed and whatever else. I don’t get caught up in that. They’re going to give you a sandbox to play in and you have to go out and make the most of it and put on a show. They’re going to do the right decisions to make it the best show possible for our fans because ultimately, that’s what we’re in this business to do. Racing has always been a great show — it’s always been thrilling to watch. The Daytona 500 has always been an incredible race — always come down to the last wire to determine who is going to be the champion of the biggest race of the year. That’s got to be a good feeling if you’re NASCAR. It doesn’t really matter what you change — somehow, some way that race always comes down to a crazy, wild finish that everybody is like, ‘Oh my God, how are we ever going to top that?’ Every year they do.”

How big of a change is joining Michael Waltrip Racing for you personally? “Obviously, I’ve been with Richard (Childress Racing) since my very first start into NASCAR so it’s a big change and it’s another chapter in my life, my career — a fresh start, a new beginning — new way to prove myself all over again. The challenge is there and it’s fun. It’s nerve-wracking all over again, I’m nervous all over again and worried about things. A lot of times, I perform my best in the early stages of my career when I didn’t know what I was doing and I was nervous about it. Usually, somehow, some way I got some of the best results I’ve ever had. I see a lot of good things, a lot of positive things and a good direction that they are headed at MWR (Michael Waltrip Racing), TRD (Toyota Racing Development). There’s a lot of good things here and I think they’re all coming together at the right time. Timing in anything you do in life is so important, as it was when I got my start and my opportunity with Richard. This is a new opportunity to go out and to make things happen for myself again.”

What do you think of the current Chase format? “You can’t control what happens in that Chase. You can only put your best odds — if I’m NASCAR, you can only put your best odds of putting on a good show for your fans out there and the only way to do that is to put your best teams out there. To qualify for that Chase, you have to be the top-12 best teams out there. The Chase finally paid off and did what they expected of it and intended for it to do this year — what an incredible finish to our season that Tony (Stewart) and Carl (Edwards) had down there. How could you script a battle to a championship any better than that? It definitely made that Chase idea worth the wait and worth the effort.”

What have you learned about Brian Pattie? “I’ve learned a lot about Brian (Pattie, crew chief). I’ve learned that I’m super excited about working with Brian. I think that’s my best opportunity that I’ve ever had to work with a guy that I really, really can truly fit in with and get the most out of each other. Now it’s up to us to go out and make that happen, but from the very first time that I started talking to Brian, I just felt comfortable. I felt like the relationship was there right off the bat and can build so much more than I’ve ever had. I love Shane Wilson (RCR crew chief) to death and we’re very close, but we had a lot of differences. We just weren’t really the same person and didn’t share the same — he liked asphalt racing and I like dirt racing. Brian likes dirt racing — he speaks my language and we get along.”

MARK MARTIN, No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing

Mark Martin, driver of the No. 55 Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota, and Michael Waltrip, owner of Michael Waltrip Racing, unveil the 2012 Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota during the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Media Tour hosted by Charlotte Motor Speedway on Monday in Cornelius, N.C. - Photo Credit: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images for NASCAR

What made you choose to come to Michael Waltrip Racing? “This was the right opportunity because it gave me a chance to run the schedule that I wanted to run and they had really great people here and great equipment. Aaron’s has been a great sponsor of NASCAR for over 10 years, so that’s really important as well. Everything was just right. I never saw it coming. It happened really quick. Took me a minute to think about it, but when I started thinking about the cars, the people, the team and Aaron’s and Toyota’s support, every piece of it was the right fit for me.”

Is it hard for you to run a part-time schedule? “I love racing and I like to race for the events — kind of old school, like (David) Pearson and Cale (Yarborough) did back in the day. Most of their careers they picked the races that they wanted to run and they raced those races and I like doing that.”

Are you enjoying Michael Waltrip’s humor? “I hope that Michael (Waltrip) can rub off on me a little bit. I am very happy right now. I’m so satisfied with the situation. I feel so incredibly lucky to have an opportunity to work with this many great people and have an organization that wants you there, and to work with Aaron’s and everyone here. Maybe he (Michael Waltrip) can teach me how to win a Daytona 500 because he’s done it twice.”

Can you and Scott Miller work together to help Michael Waltrip Racing grow as an organization? “That’s one of the really fun challenges. Challenge is what life is all about. It’s what makes you get up in the morning and it’s what drives you every inch of the way or it does me anyway. It wouldn’t be any fun if it wasn’t a challenge. They have the people here, they have the equipment, they have the sponsors, which I’m very proud to have and support, and Michael (Waltrip) has poured his heart and soul into this place. I could not do what Michael Waltrip has done and would not do it. I’ve got to give him props. You look around here and just think about the payroll every week. He’s built up quite an organization here and they want to compete week in and week out with the big boys and they’re working hard to get there.”

What are your goals at Michael Waltrip Racing? “I want to help those guys build a strong foundation so that they can be competitive week in and week out and realize their potential. I want to be their guy. I want to be the guy that no matter if I’m in their race car or not, I’m out here pulling for them and trying to make their program and their car better and they know that and they support me in the same way.”

Was this one of the first offers you received? “I was not in a hurry to do anything because I didn’t really think that there was really anything perfect out there for me. I didn’t want to race the full schedule anymore. Had I wanted to do that I would’ve re-upped with Rick Hendrick when he asked me about it and I told him he needed to go and get Kasey Kahne, and that 2011 was going to be enough for me. I just waited and waited and waited and all of a sudden out of the blue I got a text from Michael (Waltrip) and a day later we were meeting on it and it just happened really quick. It’s the right fit for me. I really feel comfortable within this organization. I’ve embraced the challenge that we have to make that next step on the performance side and feel real lucky to have the opportunity to work with Aaron’s and Toyota and everybody that supports MWR (Michael Waltrip Racing).”

How long did it take for this deal to come together? “It came together — from first text to signed contract was two weeks. And, that was a signed contract. It took probably five days to get the contract or else it really would’ve been about 10 days, but there was a drag where there was some issues with timing where the attorney’s couldn’t get to it and then there was a weekend and then we were off, so there was some lag time in getting it signed. But, we agreed and shook hands in a week from the first text (from Michael Waltrip).”

Can you describe the difference between the atmosphere at Hendrick Motorsports and Michael Waltrip Racing? “It is a different feel, but it’s a fun change. As long as I live I will cherish my opportunity to be a part of Hendrick Motorsports as well as the opportunity to help Jack Roush build his organization from scratch and my time with Jay Frye and Dale Earnhardt Incorporated as well. This is another exciting challenge and challenges are what drive me. This is going to be fun. Michael’s (Waltrip) a different guy and if I smile a little bit more than usual that won’t be a bad thing.”

Why did you decide to join Twitter? “I’m new to social media and Twitter. I hope that I will not become obsessed with it, because I have plenty on my plate already and I know a lot of people really get into that. For me, I’ve got a full plate, so something has got to slide off the edge if I add a bunch more. I’m one day in and we’ll take it as it comes. I do want to connect with my fans. I’ve been so fortunate there’s so many great fans. I think we started a count at about 10 AM and as of 6 PM I think we had six-thousand followers already and that’s pretty amazing, but of course Michael (Waltrip) put it out there to his eighty-thousand followers. It’s growing really fast and I don’t think I’ll be the king of Twitter by any means, but I will try to do a good job. When I get a chance to thank some of the fans that are so supportive, I will because I believe in reaching out and touching the people that support me so much.”

How is your relationship with Rodney Childers? “I didn’t know Rodney (Childers, crew chief) personally and I hadn’t paid that much attention. I kept my focus on other things and I think possibly the biggest surprise of the whole organization or the whole deal for me has been my pleasure with getting to know Rodney. I think he’s got it and I really hope that I’m able to produce the kind of results that he deserves because he’s so committed. It’s been a while since I’ve noticed someone that was so far in — he’s all the way in and committed with everything that he’s got and I’d like to see that pay off for him.”

Have you set expectations for yourself this year? “I do, but they are different than most people would expect. I don’t set numbers or whatever. What I really hope to accomplish this year is that everyone within this organization, especially my teammates — the drivers, the crew chiefs and the upper management — I hope that when this year is over with they’re happy, they’re glad that I was a part of their team. If they are, then I will have done well on and off the race track.”

Have you noticed a big difference in the race car between a Toyota and a Chevrolet? “Sitting in the driver seat looking out you probably don’t see much difference unless you see the Toyota decal on the dash, but hardware-wise NASCAR has the box so well defined that there’s not a huge difference in the shape of the car on the outside. The power plants are all similar and NASCAR keeps it that way. If one gets an advantage, the other manufacturers usually get a little extra bump to keep them close together. With racing as it is today, very much like it has been in the past, it’s what you do with what you have that makes a winner. It’s not what you have, but what you do with what you have.”

How concerned are you about the future of NASCAR and the possibly of having less than a 43-car field? “I had a pretty grim outlook on the situation back in the summer and feel very fortunate to have such an incredible situation fall in my lap. I’ve never seen this kind of shrinkage before because it never got so big before. Racing was more like this until the time through the late 90′s and 2007 or 2008. It was more like it is now, so it’s not alarming to me other than everyone tends to get comfortable and used to a certain way and now it’s much tougher and things have thinned out and opportunities are tougher and you have to work harder. You have to work a lot harder for less – everybody does. Everybody has to do more right now because it’s tightened down on everyone. I’m not as grim on the outlook as I was then. I believe that it’s going to hold where it is. I don’t think it’s going to get euphoric again soon, but I feel like we’ve hit our lower threshold there of where the effect of the economy — it just took a long time for NASCAR to feel what happened with the economy because there were contracts in effect that last a long time, years out, and it just took a while for that. I think that has hit its floor and will go along probably where it is for a while. I’m not worried about short fields. I could be wrong, but I see an awful lot of teams and people viewing this as opportunity. You see a lot of new stuff springing up — a lot of them won’t last, but it is an opportunity for some people that they didn’ t see before. I think that will keep us from having short fields because of all of these new upstart deals because they are saying, ‘This is my chance to get in.’ From the drivers standpoint, there’s not a lot of rides. If you don’t have sponsorship strapped to your back, you may not get a ride. It was always like that before.”

MARTIN TRUEX JR., No. 56 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing

(Left to right) Clint Bowyer, driver of the No. 15 5-Hour Energy Toyota, Mark Martin, driver of the No. 55 Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota, and Martin Truex Jr., driver of the No. 56 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota, share a laugh during the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Media Tour hosted by Charlotte Motor Speedway on Monday in Cornelius, N.C. - Photo Credit: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images for NASCAR

Do you feel like you can make the Chase this year? “You have to look at some of the situations that I’ve been in — in ’08 — the team was kind of falling apart. We had some good runs and we were sitting on the cusp of making it and had a penalty, lost a bunch of points and didn’t make the Chase. In ’09 we switched teams and went to Ganassi and went to two cars, a lot of change and it was a horrible season filled with crashes, cars falling apart and just crazy things. Then I came here and it’s just taken a little more time than I expected it to. We had a performance easily last year to make the Chase. You look at our finishes, we had six finishes worse than 34th or 35th and without those we were in. I made just as many top-fives and top-10s at the start of the Chase as Dale (Earnhardt) Jr. did and he was sitting fifth or something. If you take a step back and really look at it — last year we had the performance to make it, we just didn’t do all the little things right. If you ask Michael (Waltrip, team owner) — he will tell you that we know what we did wrong and now it’s a matter of fixing it. I know what I’m capable of as a driver and I know what my team’s capable of. I know what we’re capable of here as a company and we can put fast race cars on the track, consistently. We just need to get the finishes consistently. That’s a whole different ball game. There’s a lot that goes into that. Every guy in here that touches that race car has to do a perfect job. You can’t have a bolt come loose — you can’t have a truck arm crack and a shock mount fall off. There’s so many little tiny things. I tell people all the time that it takes a million things to go right and only one to go wrong. It takes a million things to go right to win a Cup race, but one little thing goes wrong and you’re not going to win it. It takes a lot and that’s the parts that we’re working on is being consistent. If we can do that, then I have no doubt that we have the speed and the capability to challenge for wins, which we did last year. There was a few races where we had the speed to win and we threw it away so we need to do better at that. We need to be smarter, better prepared and I know what it takes to do it. We just need to do it consistently and we will work on that.”

How do you feel about your chances to win the Daytona 500? “I’m really looking forward to it — we’re not really sure of what the new rules will bring. I don’t know if we tested with the exact package that we’re going to race. At the end of the day, I think it’s going to be about hooking up with your partner and staying committed to somebody and hopefully we’ll have that worked out by that time and have a shot to put the NAPA Toyota in victory lane. It would be nice to start the year out with a win.”

How has your relationship with crew chief Chad Johnston evolved? “When you’re talking about the car and how you get better — let’s say you need two-tenths on the race track and things aren’t feeling right — he (Chad Johnston, crew chief) doesn’t say, ‘Well, are you tight or are you lose, I don’t understand.’ He goes deeper than that and pulls more out of me. He pulls more from me, he pulls information from me and he’s sitting at the computer and he understands how to take what I say and what the computer says and mesh them. That’s where we’ve really turned a corner with our engineering department, with the sims (simulation) stuff, which I feel like is one of the things that we do really, really well. He’s very good about transferring that information and putting two and two together. Integrating me with the computer and figuring out what we need to do to be faster. He’s done a good job at it. There’s been times where we’ve struggled throughout the weekend and he’s talked to me and asked the right questions and came up with the right solutions by doing that. In turn, making us run better on Sunday. That’s something that is hard to get. At the end of the day, the biggest thing for me is that I have a lot of confidence in his ability and how much he knows about race cars. I’ve never seen anyone who works as much or as hard as he does and that goes a long way too.”

How did you feel about testing with your new teammates? “I thought everything went well and obviously me and Mark (Martin) have been teammates along the way — at DEI (Dale Earnhardt Incorporated). We’ve got a bit of experience working together and I kind of know his deal and how he likes his cars and things like that. I think Mark’s going to bring a lot to the company with his experience and working with a new team and brining in some ideas and some of the feel that he’s looking for with what he has had over the last few years. The same thing with Clint (Bowyer) — we raced against each other for a championship in ’05 and he’s a great guy, fun to be around. Obviously, I think Brian Pattie (No. 15 crew chief) and his whole team that they put together — they have a great bunch of guys. Then Rodney (Childers, No. 55 crew chief) on the 55 — I think we have good team chemistry already. One of the coolest things about the testing we did — it normally takes a while with three teams getting together just to get along and trust each other and saying, ‘Okay, what do you think about this?’ Normally it’s just, ‘I will do my own thing and wait and see how this guy does it.’ It’s not like that here now. I think that’s probably one of the things that I’m most excited about this season is just the way our teams are already working together — hearing ideas, getting along, trusting each other and I think those guys are as excited to work together as we all are. We’re all excited about it. Obviously, the best I’ve felt over the seasons of being at MWR (Michael Waltrip Racing). We’re pumped and ready to go.”

Source: Toyota Motorsports, Press Release

Travis Pastrana Thumbnail

The action sports star originally was going to run seven Nationwide Series races in 2011 and then 20 in 2012. But after shattering his right ankle at the X-Games two days before he was scheduled to make his Nationwide debut last July, his 2012 plans have been in flux.

The tentative plan is for Pastrana to race in the Rolex 24 At Daytona, run the entire K&N Pro Series East season and at least seven Nationwide races, Pastrana Waltrip Racing co-owner Michael Waltrip said Wednesday.

“It all changed in L.A. when he fell off that motorcycle,” Waltrip said Wednesday at Daytona International Speedway. “We had hoped to run seven last year and 20 this year. The seven from last year have been moved into this year. If he can make progress and be competitive, maybe it turns into more than seven this year.”

Pastrana had hoped to make his Nationwide debut at Phoenix in March but it likely will be pushed back to at least April. Richmond International Raceway would be a likely track for it since he has competed in a K&N race there and is from Maryland.

- Scene Daily

Mark Martin and Michael Waltrip’s Toyota Camrys will carry the number 55 during the 2012 and 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series seasons.

Number Commemorates Aaron’s Founding in 1955

CORNELIUS, N.C. – Michael Waltrip Racing announced today that Mark Martin and Michael Waltrip’s Toyota Camrys will carry the number 55 during the 2012 and 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series seasons.

The number commemorates Charlie Loudermilk’s founding of Aaron’s, Inc. in 1955.

Aaron’s, Inc., the nation’s leader in the sales and lease ownership of residential furniture, consumer electronics, home appliances and accessories, grew from 400 to more than 1,900 stores since its initial race sponsorship of MWR in 2000.

“This is a new era for the Aaron’s Dream Machine,” said Aaron’s Chief Operating Officer Ken Butler. “Our new driver lineup with Mark and Michael created a good opportunity for us to make more changes, including the car number. Every one of our employees knows the significance of the number 55 in our company, and I know they will have pride watching that number compete on Sundays while flying our colors.”

Martin will drive in 25 Sprint Cup events each of the next two seasons, sharing the No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine with Waltrip who will drive seven events with Aaron’s sponsorship. Martin will join Clint Bowyer and Martin Truex Jr. in the MWR stable of drivers.

Martin will begin his tenure with MWR at the 2012 Daytona 500. Waltrip will run the remaining restrictor plate races plus the race in his home state of Kentucky. MWR plans to run a combination of drivers and sponsor partners to fill the remaining races when Martin and Waltrip are not behind the wheel.

“I love it, a new team, a new car and a new number,” said Martin. “The car number means a lot to the driver. We talked about a lot of different number options, but the number 55 means a lot to Aaron’s and to Michael, so I am proud to drive it.”

Waltrip raced the No. 55 at Bill Davis Racing in 2006 and 2007-2009, the first three years of MWR’s existence.

“This means a lot to me,” said Waltrip. “I know how far MWR has come since we started with the No. 55 NAPA Toyota and how much we’ve grown heading into 2012. To get back into the No. 55 Toyota in 2012 and share driving duties with a first ballot hall of famer in Mark Martin is certainly an honor.”

Aaron’s relationship with MWR began in 2000 when the Atlanta-based company sponsored six races for Waltrip’s Nationwide team. The relationship grew from a partial Nationwide program to one of the most recognizable Cup partnerships in the sport with aggressive activation and extensive usage of Waltrip and MWR in television and radio commercials.

About Aaron’s, Inc.

Aaron’s, Inc. (NYSE: AAN), the nation’s leader in the sales and lease ownership and specialty retailing of residential furniture, consumer electronics, home appliances and accessories, has more than 1,900 Company-operated and franchised stores in 48 states and Canada. Founded in 1955 by entrepreneur R. Charles Loudermilk, Sr. and headquartered in Atlanta, Aaron’s has been publicly traded since 1982. For more information, visit http://www.aarons.com/.

- Michael Waltrip Racing, Press Release

COO of Aaron's Ken Butler (left) Michael Waltrip (right) and Mark Martin (middle) announce Martin's Future with MWR

MICHAEL WALTRIP, owner, Michael Waltrip Racing Opening Statement:

How did your relationship with Aaron’s begin? “Mr. (Ken) Butler (chief operating officer) and I met in ’99, I think, at a Shania Twain concert. He said, ‘I like you on the race track. I think you should drive for me.’ It started in 2000 with us running six Nationwide races and we have progressed all the way to now, what will be 12 or 13 years together. Our agreement with Aaron’s, just like it’s been the last couple of years, is 30 races and, Ken, I just want to say thank you for that.”

What did it take to convince Mark Martin to join Michael Waltrip Racing? “First of all, this whole process I think is from the time it was mentioned until sitting here today has been less than three weeks. We didn’t take a lot of time to convince Mark (Martin). We got a lot of great things going on a Michael Waltrip Racing. He loves the commitment that Aaron’s has made to the sport, so it was kind of an opportunity for him to step back a little bit like you said, refresh his batteries and run a limited schedule. My schedule is perfect. I get to run a few races and I’ve gone to Europe and raced the Ferrari a few times. I expect that won’t change. The thing that Mark said that I find interesting, he said it will give him a chance to spend a little more time with his sponsors and the fans, and that’s what I love about what I’m doing now. I can go places. When my drivers are in Dover, I might be in Idaho or Oklahoma somewhere doing appearances or I might be oversees talking about Michael Waltrip Racing to folks over there. I’m really lucky.”

Who do you have in mind to fill in for the races that you or Mark Martin will not be competing in next year? “We have 30 (races) with Aaron’s, so that leaves six that are unsponsored and we don’t have a driver for. So, we’re open for suggestions and sponsors. Are you volunteering?”

Could you Mark Martin fill in other races next year on the Cup side with other teams besides MWR? “I know if anybody offers him a one-off or two, it will be us. So we still have six more.”

MARK MARTIN, No. 00 Aaron’s Dream Machine Camry (beginning in 2012), Michael Waltrip Racing Opening Statement: “Thank you, Michael (Waltrip). I really am excited about this opportunity that Aaron’s and Michael Waltrip have given me here. Not only to drive a race car, but the opportunity to join in on marketing partner that is second to none in motorsports. I really look forward and am anxious to get started with Aaron’s. I know that we’re going to have a whole lot of fun with Michael and Aaron’s and hopefully we can figure out a way to have some — make fun of myself and I think that we’ve got some good ideas already. I look forward to it, but even more than that, having an opportunity to come in and work with an organization that is willing to get me an opportunity to have some effect or some say in the direction of the competition program of the people is really exciting. The performance level is not where they would like to be right now, but they’re making a serious move toward stepping that up and I’m really excited to have a chance to be a part of that. And everybody knows I like to help people and so getting a chance to work with some of the young drivers that come along and come through the program, as well as young pit crew members, is something that really means a lot for me. I can’t wait to get started. This is an incredible opportunity. I really look forward to working with everybody and all the partners at Michael Waltrip Racing and Toyota’s commitment to NASCAR and to motorsports is going to be exciting, as well. I feel very fortunate to have this opportunity and I really look forward to it.”

How much will you enjoy the reduced schedule? “That’s a pretty interesting question. Oddly enough, it is the same schedule as I ran in 07 and 08, with the exception of Michael (Waltrip) running the Bud (Budweiser) Shootout. We both think that that’s a great idea. First of all, in my opinion, he’s the best restrictor plate racer in NASCAR today. Second of all, we can go to Daytona doing what we’re going to do all year and that’s sharing a car at the, you know, Daytona event. I’m going to be standing up cheering for him. It is the perfect schedule for me and it gives me an opportunity to catch my breath, to spend a little bit more time with the fans, a little more time with the sponsors and, hopefully, a good bit more time than I am able to now with the team and organization. They’re giving me an opportunity here to maybe, hopefully have an effect on the direction of the program. I’m really excited about that, because that could be a transition for me to continue to be involved in the sport the way I want to be by using the experience I have and the things that I’ve learned over the years that I’ve been in NASCAR.”

Will this limit your opportunities to run in the Nationwide and/or Truck Series next year? “It does, yes. I was working in all three divisions looking for an ideal situation. When we talked at Talladega, there was no clear path but I was starting to see more traction on the Cup side than I had seen in the Nationwide or Trucks. I’ve got plenty to do right here, I’m excited about the opportunity. I get to do what I really, really love to do and I’m not particularly looking at adding to this schedule with the other divisions, but I wouldn’t count it out, either. You never know what situation comes up that could be of interest.”

Could you fill in other races next year on the Cup side with other teams besides MWR? “No, I couldn’t see that scenario in any normal situation. You never know what happens and the possibility of injury or something or other. My commitment is solely to Michael Waltrip Racing and Aaron’s and the partners with MWR and I’m not looking to do more than what I’ve signed up for. It’s perfect — it’s the perfect schedule for me.”

How did this deal with MWR come about? “First of all, because I have a fairly good relationship in this room, Michael (Waltrip) is correct, this from the first contact is only three weeks. So, it hasn’t been in the works very long. Contracts got signed Wednesday afternoon, not Tuesday when the story broke. It moved pretty quickly. I did have some other options, but most of the options were wait and see if it materializes. This is certainly the best option that was on the table at the present time. I’m excited about it. I can’t tell you how exciting it is to have an opportunity to do more, do the things that I really love to do in addition to drive a race car. Work with great people who are interested in allowing me to assist along with the experience that I have had through all these years. This is a process that moved very quickly.”

What is your experience with the Electronic Fuel Injection and how will it change the current car? “I have not driven a fuel injected car yet. I know that it is in development and they are working out driver preference kinds of things, reaction, throttle reaction — all those things they can affect through different, I don’t know the technical stuff about it, but they can affect the (way) the thing responds to throttle and a lot of those things. I know that they are down the road with that process and have several more months to get where they would like to have it where the drivers would like to have it. I have not driven one yet.”

What changes have you seen take place at Michael Waltrip Racing? “First of all, they presently have a very good program and they have fast race cars. Like Michael (Waltrip) said, they haven’t gotten, probably their average finish doesn’t equal the speed of their race cars. But, they are making serious move. Bringing Clint Bowyer in, Martin Truex Jr. — both those guys are two of the brightest young stars in NASCAR. They have a lot of great people there and they are of course adding Scott Miller (vice president of competition) as well and they’re making a number of other serious moves to try to step that up. I think MWR is second to none on the marketing side of it. If you look at it, they’re the only team I know of in NASCAR that’s adding, not taking away or staying the same, so that tells you one thing. They’ve made a serious commitment to try to step it up on the race track as well. To be able to be a part of that is something that is really exciting. Sometimes for me, it’s very fun to take and get involved in a program and see it step up. When I went over, I probably have rarely had as much fun as I did especially the first five races over there (Hendrick) when we wound up with the point lead after five races and to see that team grow and see the enthusiasm and all that stuff. That means as much as any trophy to me to be able to help people realize their potential is very gratifying to me.” – more -

KEN BUTLER, chief operating officer, Aaron’s, Inc. Opening Statement: “It is my pleasure. Actually, the first time we did something together at the Shania Twain, I asked you if you had ever done a commercial. And he (Michael Waltrip) said, ‘Yeah, I can do a commercial.’ And we were going to sponsor this Busch (NASCAR Nationwide Series) race at Atlanta Motor Speedway and we added 12 extra miles because customers can own their product and I thought that was a big deal and NASCAR allowed us to do that, so I wanted a driver that would complain about the 12 miles. Low and behold, that first race Mark Martin won it and I went up to him and I said, ‘Did that extra 12 miles bother you?’ And he just went, ‘Nope.’ I was hoping he would give me a story with it, but nah, no big deal. So later on, a couple of years later Michael lost the race, because somebody added 12 extra miles and he ran out of gas.”

How did the idea of getting Mark Martin to race for Aaron’s come about? “We don’t talk about that too much now. We’ve always focused on performance at the track and we’ve also focused on our marketing plan because we have to connect with the NASCAR community and I think we’ve done a really good job with that. In our first campaign, we had Michael (Waltrip) driving the Aaron’s Dream Machine and his Darrell (Waltrip) wanted to drive it and we wouldn’t let him drive it. And we finally let him drive it and that finally came to an end and then Michael’s career was winding down and he was starting a race team and David Reutimann came through the ranks from dirt track racing. We knew him and we’ve been with David for four of five years through Nationwide and all the way up to Cup, so I’m very appreciative of everything David has done — created the old Lucky Dog to go with it — but our contract is up next year, so our thinking in our camp is, ‘What’s next? What’s the next big deal?’ And, you don’t want to ever run out of time that you’re not sponsor. They could get somebody else and we’re out. I kind of like staying in front of it and I went to Michael and said, ‘What can we do next? What’s the next big deal,’ and we started thinking outside the box and I said, ‘Well, what about that Mark Martin guy?’ I’m thinking driver development program right here, you know. So we went out and got him and he’s on the team and I can’t be more than happy. I’ve got some ideas. I’m not sure how they’re going to work out yet, but if you can just kind of look at these two cats driving the Aaron’s Dream Machine, I think you probably can see two opposites and I’m thinking we can have a lot of fun with that. We’re looking forward to putting it all together and, more importantly for you guys, to perform on the track. So, thank you, Mark.”

- Toyota Motorsports, Press Release

COO of Aaron's Ken Butler (left) Michael Waltrip (right) and Mark Martin (middle) announce Martin's Future with MWR

FORT WORTH, TEX.

Martin will drive in 25 Sprint Cup events each of the next two seasons, sharing the No. 00 Aaron’s Dream Machine with Michael Waltrip, who will drive five events with Aaron’s sponsorship. Martin will join Martin Truex Jr. and recently acquired Clint Bowyer in the MWR stable next season.

“Aaron’s has been a part of Michael Waltrip Racing for more than a decade and I’m proud that we will be racing together into the future,” said Waltrip, co-owner of Michael Waltrip Racing with Rob Kauffman. “This is a big day for our organization, announcing a sponsorship extension and adding a future first-ballot Hall of Famer like Mark Martin.

“It is very rare that a young organization gets an opportunity to hire a driver with Mark’s incredible talent, experience and insight into what it takes to be a winner. Mark will be competitive but also a great teammate to Clint, Martin and me. I’m thrilled he will be in our cars, but just as thrilled he will be in our meetings.”

Martin said he’ll play a role in shaping the future of MWR.

“Aaron’s and MWR have given me a chance to keep doing what I love with a competitive race car and a perfect schedule for the next two years. I have studied their program and, man, are they going in the right direction. I’m so impressed with what they are doing right now and I wanted to be a part of it. I want to help this organization. This is like a rebirth. I just can’t explain how excited I am to get to work.”

Martin will begin his tenure with MWR at the 2012 Daytona 500. Waltrip will run the remaining restrictor plate races plus the race in his home state of Kentucky. MWR plans to run a combination of drivers and sponsor partners to fill the remaining races when Martin and Waltrip are not behind the wheel.

Waltrip and Martin, with nearly 1,600 combined Sprint Cup starts, are the only drivers to have won races in four different decades in the Sprint Cup, Nationwide or Camping World Truck Series. Waltrip said both he and Martin will play key roles in evaluating and selecting a full-time driver for the Aaron’s Dream Machine in 2014.

“Pairing a future Hall of Fame driver in Mark Martin and two-time Daytona 500 champion Michael Waltrip really is a dream come true for Aaron’s,” said Ken Butler, Aaron’s chief operating officer. “We have a lot of plans for Mark that I’m sure Aaron’s customers will enjoy in the coming months. We welcome Mark to the Aaron’s family and can’t wait to see him behind the wheel of the No. 00 Aaron’s Dream Machine.”

Aaron’s relationship with Michael Waltrip Racing began in 2000 when the Atlanta-based company sponsored six races for Waltrip’s Nationwide team. The relationship grew from a partial Nationwide program to one of the most recognizable Cup partnerships in the sport with aggressive activation and extensive usage of Waltrip and MWR in television and radio commercials.

About Aaron’s, Inc.

Aaron’s, Inc. (NYSE: AAN), the nation’s leader in the sales and lease ownership and specialty retailing of residential furniture, consumer electronics, home appliances and accessories, has more than 1,900 Company-operated and franchised stores in 48 states and Canada. Founded in 1955 by entrepreneur R. Charles Loudermilk, Sr. and headquartered in Atlanta, Aaron’s has been publicly traded since 1982. For more information, visit http://www.aarons.com/.

- Michael Waltrip Racing, Press Release

Toyota Motorsports Logo

Camry drivers Kasey Kahne (sixth), Denny Hamlin (eighth), Michael Waltrip (ninth) and Martin Truex Jr. (10th) also claimed top-10 finishes in the 188-lap race.

The Camrys of Vickers (three), Kahne (four), Waltrip (one) and Kyle Busch (five) all led laps in the 500-mile race.

Other Toyota drivers in the field included David Reutimann (13th), Casey Mears (17th), Joey Logano (24th), Busch (33rd), Bobby Labonte (35th), Michael McDowell (40th), Joe Nemechek (41st) and Kevin Conway (43rd).

Busch dropped two positions and is now sixth in the unofficial NSCS point standings — 40 points behind leader Carl Edwards – after six of 10 Chase for the Sprint Cup races. Hamlin moved up one spot to 11th in the standings — 84 points behind the leader.

BRIAN VICKERS, No. 83 Red Bull Toyota Camry, Red Bull Racing Team Finishing Position: 5th

How was your race today? “It was a long day. This racing is nerve-wracking. It takes about two hours to go to sleep after this because your mind is going 100 miles-per-hour. The Red Bull Camrys did a great job working together today. Kasey (Kahne) and I — whether he was in the lead or I was in the lead — we had to go to the back four or five times, but we always got back to the front. We got hooked up there at the end and some of the guys got on our door and the 33 (Clint Bowyer) and the 31 (Jeff Burton) were able to get away. Them and the 42 (Juan Pablo Montoya) and the 1 (Jamie McMurray) were the only pairs that could pass on the outside so we knew they were all going to be strong today coming to the end.”

KASEY KAHNE, No. 4 Red Bull Toyota Camry, Red Bull Racing Team Finishing Position: 6th

DENNY HAMLIN, No. 11 FedEx Office Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing Finishing Position: 8th

How did the race play out? “It was one of those races where it was just one of those days. The guy we had worked out to work with didn’t work out at all, so obviously there’s 43 cars and I was the three — I was the odd one for the whole race. The best I can describe it is we were stuck without a date to the prom, so I was just hitting on everyone’s mom.”

MIKE FORD, crew chief, No. 11 FedEx Office Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing

What happened to your plans to partner with Ryan Newman? “You would have to ask them. That’s a question for them. We had a game plan going in and it didn’t work out that way, so you have to ask them.”

MICHAEL WALTRIP, No. 15 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing Finishing Position: 9th

MARTIN TRUEX JR., No. 56 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing Finishing Position: 10th

Did you feel like you had a chance at the win on the final restart? “We were right where we needed to be. I thought we had it. For whatever reason, David (Reutimann) and I just couldn’t stay together when it mattered most. We really needed this. We’ve had good cars this season, but not a lot to show for it especially over the last couple of races. I’m really happy. We almost had the win.”

DAVID REUTIMANN, No. 00 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing Finishing Position: 13th

How was your race today? “We had a pretty solid day in the Aaron’s Dream Machine. I thought we were going to be a little better there at the end, but we just couldn’t stay hooked to Martin’s (Truex Jr.) bumper in the closing laps and that hurt us a bit. We had good stops and a good strategy and the entire crew did their part to put us in contention at the end.”

CASEY MEARS, No. 13 GEICO Toyota Camry, Germain Racing Finishing Position: 17th

JOEY LOGANO, No. 20 Home Depot Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing Finishing Position: 24th

KYLE BUSCH, No. 18 M&M’s Halloween Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing Finishing Position: 33rd

DAVE ROGERS, crew chief, No. 18 M&M’s Halloween Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing

What caused the accident? “It looked like the 9 (Marcos Ambrose) car got a little impatient coming to the tri-oval and he’s trying to push his teammate, the 43 (AJ Allmendinger), which is the name of the game around here, but he jacked the 43 up pretty good, got his rear wheels of the ground it looks like and that turned the 43 across our nose. We were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. I wish there was a recipe that we could tell Kyle (Busch) to let him know where to be when we race in Talladega, but it’s so hard to say. The 99 (Carl Edwards) and 48 (Jimmie Johnson), they rode out back and finished. We were up towards the front and we got wrecked out. It’s so hard to know where you need to be and this race is so circumstantial, but our M&M’s Toyota Camry was really strong. I felt we were really good when we were hooked up with the 20 (Joey Logano) and then when we hooked up with the 11 (Denny Hamlin) we had really good speed. I thought we were going to be a contender at the end, but unfortunately we got taken out a little prematurely. Just really proud of this M&M’s crew. We had a lot of work to do and they got the car out there fairly quick and we picked up five, six spots just with our crash repairs, so that’s the silver lining of the day.”

What is your perspective moving forward? “The mindset doesn’t change. We sat down in December and we said, ‘We’re going to race every lap, every race as hard as we can and try to lead as many laps and win as many races as we can.’ That’s what it takes to win this championship. I don’t know — everyone asks that question, ‘How is the mindset? How is the mindset’ I’m a racer. I want to go to Martinsville and I want to sit on the pole, I want to lead every lap and I want to win the race. That was my mindset four hours ago and it’s going to be my mindset in six, seven days. We’re going to try to lead every lap and win every race from here on out and wherever that puts us in the points at the end of the year, we’ll take it.”

Are you proud of the way your crew fixed the car? “Yeah, I am. Absolutely. There were a lot of repairs to be done — all four corners of that car, the suspension and body were damaged. We got out there in a timely fashion and picked up spots. It was a team improvement and I was pleased.”

BOBBY LABONTE, No. 47 Scott Products Toyota Camry, JTG-Daugherty Racing Finishing Position: 35th

What happened in the accident? “It just a product of it sometimes when you get late in the race and pushing real hard like that, so got turned around. Couldn’t hold onto it at that point in time. That was not what we wanted to see.”

MICHAEL MCDOWELL, No. 66 HP Racing, LLC Toyota Camry, Gunselman Motorsports Finishing Position: 40th

JOE NEMECHEK, No. 87 AM/FM Energy Pellet & Wood Stoves Camry, NEMCO Motorsports Finishing Position: 41st

KEVIN CONWAY, No. 97 Extenze Camry, NEMCO Motorsports Finishing Position: 41st

- Toyota Motorsports, Press Release

Toyota Motorsports Logo

KEVIN CONWAY, No. 97 Extenze Toyota Camry, NEMCO Motorsports Starting Position: 20th

How was your qualifying lap? “We were real happy with the lap that we got for our Extenze Toyota Camry. For a small team like NEMCO Motorsports to come out and put an effort out against the mega teams — for a small handful of guys, it’s a really solid lap for us and we’re excited about tomorrow. It will give us a good starting spot and locks us into the show.”

BOBBY LABONTE, No. 47 Scott Products Toyota Camry, JTG-Daugherty Racing Starting Position: 21st

How was your qualifying lap? “It’s kind of one of these things at Daytona and Talladega — it’s what these guys do to it to make the car go fast. I feel like what they did in preparation and getting it to this point was obviously the key and that made it be faster than some other guys. The race is a whole different strategy and a whole different thing, but hopefully it will be good.”

How do you think the rule changes will affect the racing? “I don’t know — at least we have cool weather this weekend so it probably won’t make that much of a difference. I think that as the race evolve and NASCAR makes a change, the teams are really smart and they always come up with a way to get better when they are presented with an issue like water pressure. It’s going to be hard to say because in a pack of 40 tomorrow will be different than what we practiced yesterday.”

MICHAEL WALTRIP, No. 15 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing Starting Position: 23rd

How did your car feel in qualifying? “It’s good. I can tell it’s got great power — it never really runs out of power, which when you qualify at 170-something and race at 200 (miles per hour), you better not run out of power at 170 or something or you’re going to be in trouble when they throw the green because of the increase in speed. You can really feel the engine wanting to keep going and it’s a great feeling. Looking forward to tomorrow.”

What does it mean to run the special paint scheme this weekend? “It’s just an honor to say congratulations to my brother and it’s an honor to have shared some of the memories that we have together. I’ve never taken anything for granted. I’ve always just been a really thankful person. He (Darrell Waltrip) is the reason why I got to race cars. Maybe I would have thought of it on my own — I don’t know, but ever since I’ve been on this earth he’s been racing a car, so when I was born he was 16 and that meant he wa s out and on. I’ve admired him. I looked up to him. I respected him and I always wanted to be like him. The cool thing was that some 40 years later he never has let me down and he’s always been that guy that I wanted to be like. It’s just fun to say thank you.”

KASEY KAHNE, No. 4 Red Bull Toyota Camry, Red Bull Racing Team Starting Position: 26th

How was your car in qualifying? “It seemed alright. That was the first time we made a lap by ourselves. It feels so slow on this big of a race track. You just kind of go around. But I think that was a pretty good lap for a Toyota to this point. I think we are one of the better ones as far as just single lap speed. Feels good to have a good car. We were really good in the draft yesterday. I look forward to that tomorrow.”

What do you think about before the race Sunday? “Just how to make sure you do the best you can in keeping the cars hooked together. Just all the little things you learn throughout the year doing this type of racing. Just trying to do it right and not make mistakes or not put yourself in a bad spot to the best of your ability.” – more -

JOE NEMECHEK, No. 87 NEMCO Motorsports Camry, NEMCO Motorsports Starting Position: 27th

How do you feel about competing at Talladega? “I’ve got to thank all the guys on this NEMCO Motorsports Toyota Racing crew. This is the same car that we ran at Daytona — we started last in Daytona, drove up and took the lead, went back, came back to the front and on that last green-white- checkered, we got in a big sandwich there. Basically, we have a new body on our car. We haven’t been to the wind tunnel. Just tried to put it back like it was and we’re off a little bit from where it was, but we’ve had to work really hard and a lot of late nights getting this thing done. It’s fun coming here to Talladega. It’s a special place and I’ve got a lot of poles here. We just need some backing. If we can get some funding, we can get out here and compete with these guys. The way the plate rules are, I think it’s equal for anybody. You never know who is going to win and it’s like a chess match. Whoever can be in the right spot at the end is going to have a shot at winning. We’re doing all we can do.”

MICHAEL MCDOWELL, No. 66 HP Racing, LLC Toyota Camry, HP Racing Starting Position: 29th

BRIAN VICKERS, No. 83 Red Bull Toyota Camry, Red Bull Racing Team Starting Position: 30th

How was your qualifying lap? “It was fine. It was just qualifying at Talladega and you just hold it wide open. Doing 200 miles-per-hour is always fun, but it was a decent lap. We were hoping to do better, but I think the wind has picked up a lot and I think that hurt us a lot.”

DENNY HAMLIN, No. 11 FedEx Office Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing Starting Position: 31st

How was your qualifying lap? “They restrict us down so slow and we have such a big blade on the back of these cars slowing us down and such a small restrictor plate that you do everything you can to just keep wheel out of the car, make sure you drive a straight line, use all the race track as possible on that first lap to try to gain speed and that’s all you can do. We’re running such a slow speed that there’s not much to it.”

Would you be in favor of larger restrictor plates? “We need to go a long way. I just feel like if you opened it up a little bit to where we could run 185 (miles per hour) by ourselves or somewhere in that range — you’re not going to be able to use the two-car draft. Then the peak speed won’t be as high because we won’t be in a pack. I’m in favor of opening them up. Make handling be more of a factor and get away from the two-car draft.”

Who will be your drafting partner on Sunday? “We’ve worked with the 39 (Ryan Newman) for the last three years or so on superspeedways and even before this pairing up started, we were always working together. It’s a good combination. It’s interesting that he’s got a faster car than what we have, but he’s not as fast pushing as what I am pushing him. There’s just something to that and we’ve scientifically figured it out.”

KYLE BUSCH, No. 18 M&M’s Halloween Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing Starting Position: 34th

How does the back-up car compare to your primary car? “The back-up car is just as good. It didn’t feel much different at all when we got out there. The first couple laps when we got out there, we got hooked up with Joey (Logano) there and he pushed at the exact same speed and got pushed at the exact same speed as the other car. The fast time in the other car came from a pack of cars where we sucked up on them and got a good run with them. Overall, we feel comfortable with this M&M’s Camry and it should be good for tomorrow. We will get teamed up with Joey and see how our day unfolds.”

Do you think about qualifying near Joey Logano so you can get hooked up early? “Not really — not at all. If Joey (Logano) ends up qualifying 12th and we end up 35th, it doesn’t really change anything. It’s just a matter of running at it the first little while in the race and then getting hooked up eventually. If we get separated a little we’re not worried about it. It’s the end of the race that you don’t want to get separated too much.”

Are Chase contenders more conservative in this race? “Typically, you want to get a good result out of here too. There are 22 or 25 cars that finish on the lead lap here so you certainly don’t want to be at the tail end of that. You still have to run hard and finish with a good top-10. I think if we can come out of here with a top-10, it would be like a win for us. Just to be able to move on.”

JOEY LOGANO, No. 20 Home Depot Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing Starting Position: 35th

Are you pleased to be starting near Kyle Busch? “We’ll be really close. We’ll work our way up there once the race starts. We didn’t expect to qualify very well and it is what it is here. It doesn’t really matter a whole lot where you qualify — we’ll just work our way up there and position ourselves and see how the race plays out at that point.”

What can you do to adjust on the cars during the race? “There is not actually too much that we can do. Maybe when you are pushing, you can try to make the car a little more stable or maybe some little things you can do to maybe get a little more speed in the car. For the most part we are just wide open and mainly just trying to find a way to work with the guy that you are working with and be able to work with Kyle (Busch) better. With the way we’re pushing and trying to find more speed doing different things with the driver in the car more than what you can do with the chassis of the car.”

DAVID REUTIMANN, No. 00 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing Starting Position: 36th

How was your car in qualifying? “It was okay. It’s really hard to tell anything. You’re out there by yourself and there is nothing exciting going on. I will try to have some meetings and stuff with the guys before the race and figure out some different scenarios that may happen during the course of the day and how we will react to them. Other than that, there is really not much else you can do.”

MARTIN TRUEX JR., No. 56 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing Starting Position: 37th

How do you think the rule changes will impact the race? “Honestly, I don’t think it’s going to be a whole lot different. We could push just as long yesterday as we could in the spring. I think NASCAR changed the rules to keep us from pushing as long, but we’ve worked on our cars since then so it kind of equaled out and I don’t think it will be a whole lot different.”

CASEY MEARS, No. 13 GEICO Toyota Camry, Germain Racing Starting Position: 42nd

How are you able to move up during the race at Talladega? “Depending on how well you can work with somebody — that really determines how you can do in the race. Not so much whether you have the fastest car, but who works well together and who can stay connected the most. It will be interesting to see how the first half of the race goes, but at the end if you have the right car then you can definitely get to the front. This is definitely one of those places where in five laps you can be leading this race if you get connected with the right guy. That’s the big thing tomorrow is to stay out of the mess and hopefully be connected to the right person and get to the front.”

- Toyota Motorsports, Press Release

Photo on the hood taken after Darrell’s first Sprint Cup victory at Nashville Speedway in 1975.

CORNELIUS, N.C. -

Michael’s Talladega paint scheme includes a large photo on the hood taken after Darrell’s first Sprint Cup victory at Nashville Speedway in 1975. The deck lid carries a picture of “DW” during the 1989 Daytona 500 victory lane celebration as the three-time series champion dances the “Ickey Shuffle.” Waltrip honored Darrell’s first victory with an orange and white scheme at the inaugural Kentucky Speedway race in June. Rain cancelled qualifying depriving Waltrip the chance to start the race despite posting a fast qualifying speed before NASCAR halted the session and set the field by points.

MICHAEL WALTRIP: “This is really a huge honor and something that I certainly don’t take lightly so I certainly want to thank Aaron’s. To be able to go to Talladega in a replica of a car that Darrell raced there for the first time and started his march toward the Hall of Fame, it is a special feeling. We both won at Talladega and based on how I’ve run in those races – even though I’m pretty much retired – I feel like I can win again. I’m going there with a car that has so much meaning to our family and being able to leave the pit area feeling like I can win that’s pretty cool. Some of my earliest memories of Darrell and his NASCAR career were at Talladega. I’ve been going to Talladega since the mid ‘70s. I wasn’t around for that first one, I was probably nine. Darrell was not only my childhood hero and brother but someone who helped shape me into what I am today.”

The deck lid carries a picture of “DW” during the 1989 Daytona 500 victory lane celebration as the three-time series champion dances the “Ickey Shuffle.”

NOTES

· Michael’s paint scheme features a photo on the hood taken during the May 10, 1975 victory lane celebration at Nashville Speedway. It includes 28-year-old Darrell Waltrip and wife Stevie atop the car next to two-time champion crew chief “Suitcase” Jake Elder. Wearing the Goodyear hat is legendary racer Robert Gee (grandfather to Dale Earnhardt Jr.) Next to the car are the Waltrip’s grandparents Lee and Odie Phillips. At the bottom left is 12-year-old Michael Waltrip.

· Waltrip won an emotional victory in the Camping World Truck Series race at Daytona on Feb. 18. The win came 10 years to the day of his first Sprint Cup Series victory and the tragic death of friend and then car owner Dale Earnhardt.

· Waltrip’s book “In the Blink of an Eye” spent 11 weeks on the New York Times best-seller list soaring as high as fourth. Sony Pictures plans to bring the story to the big screen soon.

· Sunday’s race is Waltrip’s 1,054th combined start in the Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series. Only Waltrip, Richard Petty and Mark Martin own more than 1,000 combined starts. Only Waltrip and Martin have won in those series in four different decades.

- Michael Waltrip Racing, Press Release

Clint Bowyer Named Driver of the Michael Waltrip Racing No. 15 5-hour ENERGY Toyota Camry for 2012

The announcement ends months of speculation for the highly valued free agent.

“This has been a very long summer, but I think for everyone involved, the best decision was made to be at Michael Waltrip Racing,” said Bowyer.

“I am a big fan of 5-hour ENERGY so I was really happy when they approached me about putting a deal together. We were diligent in working through our options and finally found the right fit. I have been so impressed with what’s going on at MWR. Then when the 5-hour ENERGY executives met with Michael and his people, we knew this was going to be our home.

“I’ve been with one organization for my entire Sprint Cup career and leaving there was the hardest part of the decision. But now I’m ready to start the next chapter in my racing career.”

Bowyer, 32, is a six-year veteran with four victories, two pole positions, 30 top-five finishes and 90 top-10s in Sprint Cup competition. MWR is finishing its fifth season competing in the Sprint Cup series and has scored two wins.

“This is a watershed moment for our young organization,” said Michael Waltrip, who co-owns MWR with Rob Kauffman. “Clint is a proven winner and consistent Chase participant. He had a lot of options and it makes me proud that Clint and 5-hour ENERGY chose to race with us.

“This announcement continues to show our partner Toyota, our sponsors, our employees and the entire NASCAR community that MWR is serious about success and dedicated to winning.”

Bowyer, of Emporia Kan., unveiled the No. 15 Toyota in front of his home state fans at Kansas Speedway on Friday.

“Michael Waltrip Racing is a growing team that is hiring a lot of the right people and on the brink of breaking out. I know I’m joining it at the right time,” he said.

Waltrip welcomed 5-hour ENERGY to the MWR partner family that includes primary sponsors NAPA AUTO PARTS, Aaron’s and Toyota.

“It is an exciting time in our company as we make the transition into the Sprint Cup series”, said Scott Henderson, president of 5-hour ENERGY. “The chance to add a top notch driver and an avid 5-Hour ENERGY consumer like Clint Bowyer was one we felt like we could not pass up.

“As we both looked at options it became clear that MWR provided us the best opportunity to win races and continue to grow the 5-hour ENERGY brand. Michael, Rob and the whole team understand the importance of helping our company reach our marketing objectives. We are excited to be working with them, and we can’t wait to see Clint and the 5-hour ENERGY Toyota in victory lane.”

- Michael Waltrip Racing, Press Release

Pastrana-Waltrip-Racing Thumbnail

JERRY BAXTER – “I’m sorry for what happened after the race on Saturday and I take responsibility for my own actions. I called Steve (Wallace) today and apologized. I was just very frustrated and let my emotions get to me. That was Patrick’s (Carpentier) last race and we wanted to make it special. We really thought he had a shot for the win and everything boiled over when that chance went away in the wreck. Everyone was just racing hard and there was no intent to wreck anyone. There’s no excuse for what I did after the race and I apologize to everyone.”

MICHAEL WALTRIP – “Pastrana Waltrip Racing prides itself on racing hard, but we always want to be good sports. Jerry Baxter is very passionate about our race team, but what Jerry did after Saturday’s race was wrong and he knows it. I talked to him about it that night and again today. Believe me, I understand how emotional you can get behind the wheel or up on the pit box, I’ve been there. But, you have to draw a line and Jerry crossed that line. It’s not what we are all about. I apologize to Steve Wallace and all his fans as well as all NASCAR fans.”

- Pastrana Waltrip Racing Press Release

Michael Waltrip

The Toyota/TTC 150 marks Waltrip’s fifth career West Series start.

“Some of the best racing in NASCAR is in the K&N Series,” Waltrip said. “I love racing those cars and I love racing those guys. You have guys racing that are just getting started in their careers and guys who’ve been racing forever like me. This gets me back to the roots of racing. Running Saturday night under the lights on a short track with families in the grandstands, that’s how I started and its always cool to be able to do it again whenever I get a chance.”

Waltrip said there was a little extra incentive as well.

“How can you turn down a trip to Montana? It’s one of the most beautiful places on earth. I know that there are awesome race fans out there so I can’t wait to meet them.”

Waltrip knows he’ll have a chance for victory. He has one win and three top-five finishes in his four K&N Pro Series West starts. The McAnally team won the 2010 K&N Pro Series West championship with driver Eric Holmes. Holmes and BMR teammate Moses Smith rank fourth and second in the Pro Series West points race.

Thornton Technology Corporation is a global leader in the Aerospace Industry for Aviation Life Support Systems. Associate sponsors for Waltrip’s car will include NAPA AUTO PARTS and Kalispell Toyota.

- Michael Waltrip Racing Press Release

David Reutimann - Photo Credit: Chris Graythen/Getty Images for NASCAR

CORNELIUS, N.C. — No. 00 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota driver David Reutimann won’t have his father with him this weekend at Michigan International Speedway for Father’s Day. Instead, Emil “Buzzie” Reutimann, 70, will be behind the wheel of his own Aaron’s Dream Machine race car at the Ocala Speedway dirt track in Florida racing for the $1,000 top prize on Saturday night … and David wouldn’t have it any other way.

DAVID REUTIMANN QUOTES

IS YOUR FATHER BUZZIE GOING TO BE IN MICHIGAN FOR FATHER’S DAY? “No. He was thinking about it, but then he checked the Ocala (Fla.) Speedway schedule and saw that there’s a race that pays $1,000 to win, so he changed his plans and told me he is going racing. I think that’s great though. We spend a lot of time together at the racetrack, so really most weekends are like Father’s Day to us. I mean, he’s 70 years old now, if the old man wants to go racing that’s where I want him to be too. I tell him if he’s going to miss Father’s Day to go racing he better bring back the hardware! Actually since he’s driving for me I tell him he better bring me back a check or trophy anytime he goes out. I expect wins in the cars that I build for him.”

WHO IS THE BETTER DRIVER—YOU OR BUZZIE? “My Dad is by far the better driver. Any time he walks through the gate to the garage I know that he’s the best driver there. I don’t care if it’s at East Bay or Ocala down in Florida or the NASCAR garage—when he walks in there is no one better. He has over 1,200 documented race wins in his career. He didn’t always have the best equipment like he does now, but he taught me how to take care of my car and get the most out of it. I didn’t idolize guys like Richard Petty or David Pearson when I was growing up—I idolized my Dad. Buzzie Reutimann was and is my idol.”

BUZZIE REUTIMANN ON HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH DAVID: “We aren’t like most people. We don’t hunt, we don’t fish, we don’t golf and we’ve never been to a baseball game or played catch. We race! We always have. We’ve traveled up and down the East Coast, raced against each other, slept at rest areas when we didn’t have enough for a hotel after a tough race. We spend more time together than any father and son I know. I wouldn’t change one thing. We give each other a hard time any chance we get, but we have a great relationship.”

ADDITIONAL NOTES OF INTEREST

• · Reutimann at Michigan: In eight career NSCS starts at Michigan, Reutimann has one top-10 and three top-15 finishes. His average starting position is 18th and finish is 19th. He led four laps in the 2009 fall race. In 2010, Reutimann finished 18th in the spring and 16th in the fall.

• · Testing, Testing: David Reutimann is road course testing in driving school cars this Tuesday and Wednesday at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif. in preparation for next week’s visit to the first road course track of 2011. Reutimann also spent time testing at Virginia International Raceway on May 24.

• · Meet The Driver: Reutimann will sign autographs at the MWR merchandise hauler at 9:30 on Sunday morning.

• · Social Winning: Fans can win an autographed Reutimann hat from Aaron’s when the No. 00 logs a top-10 finish. To win you must follow @aaronssports on Twitter or become a fan of Aaron’s on Facebook www.facebook.com/aaronssports.

• · Doing the Double: Reutimann is making his third Nationwide Series appearance of 2011 in the No. 64 Toyota for Rusty Wallace Racing. Reutimann is making his first start for sponsor Aspen Dental. Reutimann has three NNS starts in 2011 – all top-15 finishes including one top-five and two top-10s. Reutimann also made one NNS appearance in the No. 99 Toyota for Pastrana-Waltrip Racing.

- Michael Waltrip Racing, Press Release

Cole Whitt

The 19-year-old Whitt will make his third Nationwide start in the Top Gear 300, having competed in two events late
last season.

“This is an awesome surprise. I had no idea this would happen,” Whitt said. “I’ve been having a blast learning
the tracks in the truck, but this is great. It’s my dream to get to the Cup Series, and now I’m a little closer.

“I can’t thank Red Bull enough for helping me make these steps. They’ve been with me since I was 14 racing sprint
cars, and now I’m getting another chance to show what I have in a Nationwide car. I’m looking forward to driving the Pastrana-Waltrip Racing car. They’ve had a lot of success so far, and I hope to add to it.”

Whitt finished 15th in his Nationwide debut last November at Phoenix and followed up with a 17th-place showing a
week later at Homestead. He currently ranks third in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series points standings with
four top 10s in six races. He finished a career-best second May 13 at Dover.

Ty Norris, PWR vice president and general manager, said Ryan Truex will drive the No. 99 at Iowa Speedway on
Sunday and at Chicagoland Speedway on June 4.

“This is a case of two teams helping each other out,” Norris said. “Red Bull wants to see their young phenom compete
against NASCAR’s best, and PWR has top-notch equipment and crew but needed the sponsorship. This is a true win-
win-win scenario for Red Bull, PWR and Cole Whitt. We’re thrilled to be able to help.”

Michael Waltrip, David Reutimann and Truex have raced the No. 99 in 2011.

Action sports star Travis Pastrana will race seven times this season with Boost Mobile sponsorship beginning at Lucas
Oil Raceway on July 30. Patrick Carpentier will race for PWR on Aug. 20 in Montreal with NAPA AUTO PARTS
sponsorship.

Michael Waltrip Racing, Gary and Blake Bechtel and Travis Pastrana own Pastrana-Waltrip Racing that fields Toyota
Camrys out of the MWR shop in Cornelius, N.C.

- Red Bull Racing Press Release

Michael Waltrip Racing Logo

TRUEX JR. NOTES:

· Truex started eighth and finished eighth.

· Earned a bonus point for leading lap 110

· Broke into the top five on lap 170

· Ran as high as first and as low as 14th

· On final restart, drove from 14th to eighth.

TRUEX QUOTE: “I’m satisfied. I’m not happy. I was looking for more. We got up to third about the mid-point (of the race). We just lost the handle a little bit. I think some guys got a little bit better. We didn’t really fight a major balance issue, we just didn’t have the overall grip and the car was bouncing back and forth between loose and tight, and it was hard to tell them what I needed. One lap it would try to spin out and the next lap it plows. So, it was just real hard to hit it just right. It was very, very hard to drive. It was hard to know what to ask for other than more grip, and a little bit of a smoother ride. It just got real bouncy out there on the rubber build-up.”

Do you think you had the car ‘right’ when you were running third? “That was the best we were. That was the longest run I think we had all day long and that seemed to help us. It was weird because we weren’t very good on the short go with new tires. Then we would kind of — with 15 laps in we would hit a point for about 10 laps where we were really good. Then we weren’t good for 20 or 30 more laps. Then, right at the very end of the longest runs we were good again. It was really strange how much the car would go back and forth between too tight and too loose. Really, I think they did a good job adjusting on it just to get me some more overall grip. But, really we fought all day just being a little tight in certain spots and a little loose in certain spots. Every time we try to fix one, we hurt the other. We just kept going back and forth on both sides. So, it was real difficult. It was honestly the toughest race I think I’ve ever run here, as far as being line-sensitive. You would run two or three laps okay and then on lap four you almost spin out and just about wreck. And, then you’d run three or four okay, and almost wreck again. It was very, very crazy. Glad we make it alive.”

Could you ever determine how to best fix the handling? “I think we were just off a little bit on our set-up — overall grip-wise. If we could get some clean air, we could run as fast as the leader. But, we really struggled in traffic. I know a lot of guys did. You could tell, even at the end, it was hard to pass. I think that was part of what we were fighting. But, overall it was a solid day and a good job by all the guys on the team.”

DAVID REUTIMANN SUMMARY: No. 00 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota driver David Reutimann finished 15th in Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Dover International Speedway. The Michael Waltrip Racing driver started 17^th after rain cancelled qualifying on Saturday. Reutimann immediately raced his way into the top-15 until handling issues dropped him to 20th before he lost a lap to the leaders on lap 143. The No. 00 team raced the majority of the day one lap down battling for the “Lucky Dog” position. The Aaron’s Dream Machine finally returned to the lead lap via the “Lucky Dog” during the final caution on lap 363. Reutimann raced from 19th to 15th in the final 35 laps. Reutimann drives the No. 00 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota in his second consecutive appearance in the Sprint All-Star Race on Saturday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Reutimann qualified for the All-Star Race by winning at Chicagoland Speedway in July.

REUTIMANN NOTES:

· Reutimann started 17th and finished 15th

· Fought an ill-handling car for most of the race

· Fell a lap down to the leaders on lap 143 while in 20th position

· Earned the “Lucky Dog” on lap 363 to get back on the lead lap

· Raced from 19th to 15th in the closing laps.

REUTIMANN QUOTE: “We battled today. The Aaron’s Dream Machine got pretty loose early in the race and we got down a lap, but I’m proud of all the No. 00 guys. They really gave it their all today. We had some great stops and eventually got our lap back toward the end and picked up a top-15 finish. We’ve had some tough luck this year, but this team never quits and we always battle for everything we get. We’ll try to keep it going next week during the Sprint All-Star Race in Charlotte.“

RACE NOTES

• · Matt Kenseth won the Sprint Cup Series at Dover International Speedway
• · Mark Martin, Marcos Ambrose, Kyle Busch and Brian Vickers rounded out the top-five
• · Carl Edwards is the Sprint Cup Series points leader
• · The race featured 23 lead changes among 11 drivers
• · Six cautions slowed the race for 26 laps
• · The race lasted approximately three hours, 11 minutes in front of an announced crowd of 82,000 fans

RESULTS

FIN DRIVER

1 Matt Kenseth

2 Mark Martin

3 Marcos Ambrose

4 Kyle Busch

5 Brian Vickers

6 Clint Bowyer

7 Carl Edwards

8 Martin Truex Jr.

9 Jimmie Johnson

10 Kevin Harvick

11 Jeff Burton

12 Dale Earnhardt Jr.

13 Brad Keselowski

14 Kurt Busch

15 David Reutimann

16 Denny Hamlin

17 Jeff Gordon

18 Bobby Labonte

19 Greg Biffle

20 Jamie McMurray

21 Ryan Newman

22 David Gilliland

23 Casey Mears

24 Paul Menard

25 Mike Bliss

26 Dave Blaney

27 Joey Logano

28 David Ragan

29 Tony Stewart

30 Landon Cassill

31 Travis Kvapil

32 Juan Montoya

33 Andy Lally *

34 Regan Smith

35 Tony Raines

36 Kasey Kahne

37 A.J. Allmendinger

38 Scott Wimmer

39 Joe Nemechek

40 J.J. Yeley

41 Mike Skinner

42 David Stremme

43 Michael McDowell

Point Standings

RANK DRIVER POINTS BEHIND

1 Carl Edwards 416 Leader

2 Jimmie Johnson 392 -24

3 Kyle Busch 379 -37

4 Dale Earnhardt Jr. 364 -52

5 Kevin Harvick 362 -54

6 Matt Kenseth 342 -74

7 Ryan Newman 340 -76

8 Clint Bowyer 336 -80

9 Kurt Busch 336 -80

10 Tony Stewart 328 -88

11 Mark Martin 324 -92

12 Greg Biffle 311 -105

13 Denny Hamlin 304 -112

14 Jeff Gordon 299 -117

15 Juan Montoya 296 -120

16 A.J. Allmendinger 295 -121

17 Paul Menard 291 -125

18 Kasey Kahne 286 -130

19 Martin Truex Jr. 282 -134

20 Marcos Ambrose 281 -135

21 David Ragan 270 -146

22 Jamie McMurray 267 -149

23 Jeff Burton 258 -158

24 Brad Keselowski 251 -165

25 Bobby Labonte 251 -165

26 David Reutimann 244 -172

27 Brian Vickers 238 -178

28 Joey Logano 238 -178

29 Regan Smith 226 -190

30 David Gilliland 202 -214

31 Dave Blaney 174 -242

32 Casey Mears 168 -248

33 Robby Gordon 144 -272

34 Andy Lally* 127 -289

35 Tony Raines 109 -307

Max Gresham Thumbnail

When asked if the whole experience had worn him out right after Sunday’s ARCA race, Gresham responded “no, I’m fine, let’s go again somewhere.”

You couldn’t blame Gresham if he was just at least a little tired.

At Richmond, Gresham spent more than eight hours in a racecar and sped on foot between garage areas throughout the day.

The results were spectacular as Gresham wheeled the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota to the pole position, led nearly half the race, and finished fourth in the Blue Ox 100 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East event.
“We had an awesome lap to win the pole – two-tenths of a second faster than anyone else,” said Gresham. “It carried over into the race where we led a bunch and were fast over the first 60 laps. We ran in the top two the whole race until the car fell off really bad at the end. The finish definitely helped us in the points. Any top-five finish we can get is going to help us in the points at the end of the season.”

The solid effort jumped Gresham to seventh in the K&N East standings after three races – just 65 markers out of first.

The soon to be Woodward Academy high school graduate had little time to catch his breath as he immediately jumped into the No. 71 FedEx Freight / ARGO Group Toyota for the Hamlin ‘Showdown’ event.

The race, which featured top NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers Tony Stewart, Bill Elliott, Michael Waltrip, Joey Logano, Kyle Busch and Hamlin, saw Gresham rocket from his eighth starting position to swapping the lead several times with Busch, the sport’s current top star at the race’s halfway point.

Gresham saw his shot at winning the race go up in smoke when a crash not of his making while running fourth with less than 10 laps to go saddled him with a 14th-place finish.

“It was great racing Kyle for the lead,” said Gresham. “I absolutely love Richmond. You can really have fun doing the kind of side-by-side racing that Kyle and I did. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the result we wanted, but our FedEX Freight / ARGO Group Toyota was definitely the fastest car here tonight. I really have to thank Jamie Yelton and Fat Head Racing for that. I had a blast, a really amazing day. I can’t wait to come back here to Richmond and race again.”

After a half-day back in his native Georgia to regroup, Gresham flew to Indiana to make his 2011 ARCA Series debut in the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200 at Salem Speedway. There, Gresham drove to the front by the halfway point of the race and was running fifth with a fresh set of tires waiting for him in the Venturini Motorsports pit box when a tangle with a lapped car severely damaged his No. 25 Gresham & Associates Toyota Camry.

Undaunted, the Venturini crew repaired the car in time to get Gresham back on track for a respectable 15th-place finish.

“We had a good run going and got swept up into somebody else’s mess,” said Gresham. “We led some early in the race. These Venturini Motorsports guys put a great car under me. They set up two great race cars today – one won and the other one should have won. I can’t wait to drive one of their cars again.

“This weekend was good for me,” Gresham concluded. “It showed I could drive three different cars on three different days. Hopefully, I can one day be like Kyle (Busch) and run three different cars every weekend. I can do it physically. Maybe after this weekend, some other people will see that in me.”

Gresham will now hit the testing trail with sessions at Bowman Gray Stadium , the site of an upcoming June 4 NASCAR K&N event, and he will also get some testing in at Michigan Speedway on Wednesday, May 25. The Jackson, MI two-mile oval will be the site of Gresham’s career superspeedway debut as he will wheel the No. 25 Venturini Motorsports Toyota in the ARCA RainEater Wiper Blades 200 on June 17.

Gresham’s next K&N race will be on Saturday, May 21 at Iowa Speedway in Newton, IA. He and his No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota are the defending champions of the event.
To see photo galleries of Max Gresham’s weekend at Richmond and Salem, please visit the Images section of www.MaxGresham.com. Max Gresham post-race videos from Richmond and Salem can be viewed on the YouTube section of www.MaxGresham.com.

- Max Gresham Motorsports Press Release