NAPA RACING PRESS BOX FEATURING MICHAEL WALTRIP
Talk about last weekend’s race at Dover.
“It was a tough day for us. That’s the second engine we’ve lost in three races. I don’t find that to be very acceptable. Our car wasn’t great, but it wasn’t bad in the middle of the race. At the start, it was really loose. We got it tuned up and I was pleased with how it was running. David (Reutimann) started out great and his car went away. We all know that these cars are really difficult to keep on top of. When you have one that starts out in the race good, it is easier because you just tweak on it. If you have one that’s off in the beginning like mine, or goes away like David’s did, it makes for a hard day. David finished 18th and he is still in great shape to make The Chase. That’s really our focus – to make sure David has all the resources – parts, pieces and people he needs to race his way into The Chase because that boy can drive. It is fun to watch that kid drive his car. We want to get him in The Chase.”
Pocono is one of your favorite tracks. Why?
“If you look in the Pocono stat book, it says the front straightaway is 3,740 feet. I am pretty sure a mile is 5,280 feet. If you measure the time when you mash your gas and until you let off the gas, you are on it for over a mile. What an awesome feeling coming off that third turn with your foot on the floor and looking at that long straightaway. Growing up racing on the quarter-mile tracks back in Kentucky, you have never seen anything like Pocono. Pocono is unique. The Tunnel Turn is awesome. The third turn leading on to the long front straightaway is certainly something you don’t see every day. I just love Pocono.
“A couple of years ago, they put a patch in the track so we went up there a few years ago and tested. It took just 10 minutes to figure out that the patch was stickier than the regular track. We just ran around the outside of that patch through turns three and four and it turned out to be the fastest way around. If you have a good car during the race, it is because you can go down low and find enough grip to pass someone up there on the patch. The key to Pocono is being able to go wherever you need to go. You have to adjust your line and be able to drive your car wherever the competition isn’t because it makes it really hard to pass a guy if you are following them.”
Michael Waltrip Fast Facts
EVENT FACTS
Race: 14 of 36
Pocono 500
Pocono Raceway
This Week in NASCAR
Monday, June 8 at 8 p.m.
Only on SPEED
Talk about last weekend’s race at Dover.
“It was a tough day for us. That’s the second engine we’ve lost in three races. I don’t find that to be very acceptable. Our car wasn’t great, but it wasn’t bad in the middle of the race. At the start, it was really loose. We got it tuned up and I was pleased with how it was running. David (Reutimann) started out great and his car went away. We all know that these cars are really difficult to keep on top of. When you have one that starts out in the race good, it is easier because you just tweak on it. If you have one that’s off in the beginning like mine, or goes away like David’s did, it makes for a hard day. David finished 18th and he is still in great shape to make The Chase. That’s really our focus – to make sure David has all the resources – parts, pieces and people he needs to race his way into The Chase because that boy can drive. It is fun to watch that kid drive his car. We want to get him in The Chase.”
Pocono is one of your favorite tracks. Why?
“If you look in the Pocono stat book, it says the front straightaway is 3,740 feet. I am pretty sure a mile is 5,280 feet. If you measure the time when you mash your gas and until you let off the gas, you are on it for over a mile. What an awesome feeling coming off that third turn with your foot on the floor and looking at that long straightaway. Growing up racing on the quarter-mile tracks back in Kentucky, you have never seen anything like Pocono. Pocono is unique. The Tunnel Turn is awesome. The third turn leading on to the long front straightaway is certainly something you don’t see every day. I just love Pocono.
“A couple of years ago, they put a patch in the track so we went up there a few years ago and tested. It took just 10 minutes to figure out that the patch was stickier than the regular track. We just ran around the outside of that patch through turns three and four and it turned out to be the fastest way around. If you have a good car during the race, it is because you can go down low and find enough grip to pass someone up there on the patch. The key to Pocono is being able to go wherever you need to go. You have to adjust your line and be able to drive your car wherever the competition isn’t because it makes it really hard to pass a guy if you are following them.”
Michael Waltrip Fast Facts
- NAPA AUTO PARTS driver Michael Waltrip will be competing in his 739th NASCAR Sprint Cup race when the 14th event of the 2009 Sprint Cup season, the Pocono 500, gets underway at Pocono Raceway in Pocono, Pa.
- Waltrip will start in his 46th Cup race at the 2.5-mile track. His best start is first in the NAPA machine (June 12, 2005) and best finish is second (June 19, 1988). In total, he has three top-five and six top-10 finishes at Pocono.
- Waltrip has completed 7,747 of 8,908 laps (87%) at the track and has led a total of 64 laps in competition. His average start is 21st and average finish is 22nd.
- Entering this week’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event, Waltrip is 32nd in driver and owner standings. He is guaranteed a starting spot in Sunday’s race.
EVENT FACTS
Race: 14 of 36
Pocono 500
Pocono Raceway
This Week in NASCAR
Monday, June 8 at 8 p.m.
Only on SPEED
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love mwr go get them in pa
ReplyDeletedoes any one know if Mikey will be at his trailer on sunday
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