By Kellyanne Lynch, mikeypower.com
19 February 2006
A late race speeding penalty cost Michael Waltrip positions at the end of today's Daytona 500, the Nextel Cup season starter at Daytona International Speedway. His #55 Napa Dodge enjoyed fifteen laps in the top 10 and crossed the stripe 18th.
Before the race, Mikey enjoyed a Bon Jovi concert in the Daytona infield with his daughter Macy. Moments later, he set his mind to the task at hand - getting to the front of the field in a race where he has won twice. Once Mikey strapped himself into his Napa Dodge, his spotter Mike congratulated him on getting here today. This race marked Mikey's twentieth Daytona 500.
"The 55 will be part of the story here, so sit back and enjoy," Mikey stated over the team radio. He complimented his team on a great job in the pits yesterday. He said he didn't know if that was the best idea, but they'd made a good call.
The spotter reminded Mikey to turn on his fans and blowers.
"You're breaking up real bad," Mikey replied. He said he heard that last part, but would not be able to hear his spotter during the race and may need an antenna.
Although he was slated to roll off 30th, Mikey started 28th after Bobby Labonte was relegated to the rear of the field. As Labonte dropped to the rear, and Mikey claimed his new starting spot, static came over his radio.
"I can't hear y'all," remarked the driver. "Real staticcy."
"Is this any better, Michael?" spotter Mike asked. Mikey told him his antenna needed to be tighter, and that he couldn't hear his team on the backstretch. Crew chief Derrick Finley said they'd keep testing the radio.
"Be sure it's real tight," Mikey advised. "I can't hear you that well."
NASCAR delayed the start of the race due to a plastic bag on the roof camera of Kevin Harvick's #29 Goodwrench Chevrolet. After the extra pace laps, Finley returned to the radio.
"Y'all, one to go."
"Pace car's off," the spotter said as the field prepared for the start of the race. "Green flag, green flag.
"Clear on the front, got one inside.
"Two by two," the spotter continued. "Outside is moving. Clear."
Pole-sitter Jeff Burton led the first lap in his #31 Cingular Chevy, as Mikey dropped to 29th. Jeff Green's #66 Best Buy Chevy pit after the outer rim popped off one of his tires.
"Two by two," spotter Mikey observed. "Got the 88 pushing. You're all clear, bud."
Dale Jarrett's #88 UPS Ford continued to push the Napa Dodge. Another car drove along their outside, but within seconds, the spotter cleared Mikey by one car length. Kasey Kahne's #9 Dodge Dealers Dodge slid in line behind the #88, with Hermie Sadler's #00 Aaron's Ford moving along the outside. Mikey maintained the 29th spot.
"Just hang tough, buddy," spotter Mike encouraged his driver. "You'll be just fine."
"Don't worry about me, Mike," was Mikey's reply. "I'll be just fine."
He was still 29th on lap 4, as Jeff Gordon challenged for the lead along the outside.
"Single file behind you," Mikey's spotter relayed. "All the way back."
As Jeff Burton held onto the top spot, crew chief Derrick Finley asked, "What's your temps right there, Michael? Your temps?"
"180," was Mikey's response. "It's 190, actually. 190."
The #55 moved into 28th on lap 6.
"Coming with you," spotter Mike noted, speaking of the help that Mikey received from fellow competitors. "Still there inside.
"Still inside... All clear of the 32."
As Mikey held onto the 28th spot during lap 7, his spotter added, "Got a lot of help coming with you, bud." Despite the help, Mikey remained 28th.
At the front of the field, Elliott Sadler's #38 M&M's Ford travelled the inside groove and attempted to pass Burton for the top spot. The #38 ultimately fell into line behind the #31.
The next time around the track, Mikey had fallen to 32nd. Jarrett initially rode along his outside, until his spotter cleared him both high and low.
"Got the 9 and 32 working with you," spotter Mike noted. "32 working the bottom, and we can't here you."
"I didn't say anything," Mikey replied.
Finley asked about the car.
"Driving real good," Mikey answered. "Just trying to chill out here."
Travis Kvapil's #32 Tide Chevy passed him on lap 11, putting Mikey back in 33rd.
"Got the 9 and the 36 working with you there," spotter Mike said of Kahne and of Bill Elliott. Two laps later, Finley said he wanted to pit in twelve laps.
Lap 15 saw Mikey moving into the 32nd spot.
"Still two-wide," warned his spotter. "Clear by the 7."
"Joey, uh, rather, Mike," Mikey addressed his spotter. He then asked Mike not to tell him what he could see.
"Halfway through the run," Finley announced. "How is it, Michael?"
"Still good." Two laps later, he mentioned to his spotter, "Knowing about that smoke would have helped. You know?"
The first caution came on lap 18, after Brian Vickers squeezed Martin Truex Jr into the wall, emitting smoke. The leaders pit, and Mikey was set to take on four tires.
"You got it, dude," spotter Mike directed Mikey onto pit road. "'Round that 41."
"I've got it, Mike," Finley responded, and directed his driver to the stall. Once Mikey returned to the track, he mentioned, "After seventeen green laps, your tires are beautiful. Absolutely perfect."
"Okay," Mikey answered.
"One to go at the line," spotter Mike added.
The #61 AMP Energy Drink Ford of Kevin Lepage remained on the track to lead a lap. He pit with Dale Jarrett and Kirk Shelmerdine, who were each assessed pit penalties.
Elliott Sadler led the lap 21 restart, with Mikey marked 41st.
"Green flag, green flag," spotter Mikey announced. "All clear out the front."
Lap 22 saw Mikey being marked 26th.
"Are the wheels tight for sure?" he asked.
"I'm checking right now," Finley replied. After a pause, he said, "Front set good. Back set good. All set."
Dale Earnhardt Jr attempted a shot at the top spot, but lost a great deal of ground when he did not succeed.
Mikey was still 26th on lap 23. Spotter Mike told him a car ran outside with help, while Mikey had none.
"It's vibrating so hard, I can't even see," Mikey reported.
"Got one inside," the spotter replied. "10-4 on the vibration."
Mikey fell to 35th the next time around the track. At the front of the field, Jeff Gordon took the lead along the inside, with help from teammate Jimmie Johnson.
"Still there outside," spotter Mike told his driver. "96."
By lap 25, Mikey was down two more spots and was now 38th.
"Vibration getting any better, Michael?" Finley asked.
"Whooooooooa," Mikey's voice shook as he held that syllable. "Can you feel it? Is it hearable?"
"Do you need to pit?"
"I don't know what I should do," Mikey replied. "If it gets any worse..."
"Pit if it gets worse," Finley advised.
Matt Kenseth's #17 DeWalt Ford took the lead on lap 26. The next time around the track, Dale Earnhardt Jr jumped into the lead while Mikey advanced to 36th.
"Still there at your corner, outside," spotter Mike observed. "Clear."
Earnhardt Jr's #8 Budweiser Chevy led lap 28, with Mikey in 37th. Jarrett's #88 looked to pass the #55, as Tony Stewart's #20 Home Depot Chevy hopped into the lead with Jamie McMurray pushing. Stewart led lap 29.
Lap 30 saw Mikey pick up 35th.
"Still there, outside," spotter Mike said of Bobby Labonte's #43 Cheerio's Dodge. "Still out there. Coming back." Labonte got outside the Napa Dodge and dropped Mikey to 37th on lap 31.
"That's twelve green laps," Finley noted the next time around the track. "Twelve."
Mikey regained 36th on lap 33, and picked up another spot one lap later. Meanwhile, Jeremy Mayfield's #19 Dodge Dealers Dodge fell off the pace with a great deal of smoke. Mike Wallace had hit Mayfield into Greg Biffle, who also sustained sheet metal damage. Mikey complained when his spotter said nothing about the accident.
"Someone smoking?" Mikey asked. "Can you not see the back straightaway? That's two wrecks, and you haven't said a word."
"I can, but..." the spotter replied. "Biffle wants you to look at his right side."
Mikey was marked 33rd on lap 36.
"Seventeen green," Finley commented. "Any change with the vibration?"
"Two wide. No help," he added on the next lap. Meanwhile, Mayfield returned to pit road; the extensive sheet metal damage to his #19 had punctured his tire for a second time.
"Still vibrating," Mikey said of his car. "And it's pushing."
Stewart continued to lead, as Mikey moved into 32nd on lap 39. The next time around the track, he picked up another spot.
"41 on top, right up against the wall," the spotter noted on lap 41. "Clear... outside."
Mikey was up to 30th on lap 42 when his spotter said, "Two wide, no help on the bottom for you.
"Got Schrader coming to help you.
"Still two wide.
"Getting a little push now," his spotter continued. "Still got Schrader trying to help, still two-wide."
Despite the help, Mikey fell to 31st on lap 43. Ken Schrader's #21 Little Debbies Ford took to his outside and passed him the next time around the track.
"All right, Michael," Finley said on lap 44. "We'll be pitting in about five laps. Be thinking about what you need, if anything."
Mikey asked for four new tires, and a pound of air in the right rear. He was 33rd on lap 45.
"Derrick," spotter Mike addressed the crew chief. "We're getting a whole lot of mist." He said he didn't know if the mist was reaching pit road.
"Yeah, me too," was Finley's response.
The next time around the track, Mikey was 32nd. "It's raining," he commented. Finley told him he was talking about it with officials, and to pit in three laps.
"Where is it raining?" Finley asked.
"Off 2."
When Mikey picked up 31st on lap 48, his spotter said, "It's raining up here, Derrick, so I don't know."
Finley said they had better pit. They would be spared a green flag stop.
The second caution came on lap 49, after Jeff Gordon cut across the nose of Tony Stewart's #20 Home Depot Chevy for the top spot. Stewart sustained side sheet metal damage, and scattered debris. Truex Jr received the free pass back onto the lead lap.
"I just don't understand what happened to this car," Mikey complained. He said the wheels were hopping off the ground, the car was terrible, and he wasn't sure he had enough air in the inner liners.
"10-4," Finley responded. "We'll look." He added that he would look at the tires and would let Mikey know what he thought. When the leaders pit, Stewart spent much time in his box.
"It'll be one to go at the line," spotter Mike noted shortly thereafter.
Finley said he found "nothing obvious" as the problem with the tires. He suggested the Goodyears may just have been a bad set. Mikey was marked 26th after stops, with Ryan Newman as the leader. Spotter Mike relayed that everyone was complaining about the haze, which wasn't doing very good.
"Coming to the green," the spotter continued. "Pace car's off. Green flag, green flag. Clear out the front."
Mikey was 25th at the lap 52 restart. One lap into the run, Finley asked how the car was running.
"It's gone," Mikey said of the vibration on lap 54.
"10-4," was Finley's response. "It's gone."
Kenseth challenged for the lead on lap 55, but Kurt Busch pushed teammate Ryan Newman more solidly into the top spot.
"18 looking low," Mikey's spotter warned. "He's there. Got the 7 pushing him. No help on the outside.
"Still no help for you."
Mikey slipped to 27th on lap 56. After JJ Yeley and Bill Elliott passed the next time around the track, he was 29th.
"Got a little help coming," spotter Mike observed. "20 car behind you pushing."
Mikey regained 27th on lap 58, as Kyle Busch pushed Matt Kenseth into the lead.
"Not sure if that 20 will stick with you or the 18 as you go," the spotter commented, referring to the fact that Yeley in the #18 was teammates with the #20 of Stewart. ""Right now, he's staying with you."
Kenseth was marked with the top spot on lap 59. Mikey remained 27th.
"Got the 18 working up top," spotter Mike noted. "20 coming outside. He's clear.
"Outside, 26," the spotter added as McMurray's #26 Crown Royal Ford trailed Stewart. "Clear."
Mikey dropped a spot on lap 61. He watched Kyle Busch bounce between Mark Martin and Casey Mears before his crew chief came over the radio.
"Ten green," Finley stated. "How's the car?"
"Two-wide," spotter Mike broke into the conversation. "18 was on the top. Outside."
"Car's fine," Mikey answered. "They're just gonna crash. I'm sure of it."
The Napa Dodge was 34th on lap 62, and lost another spot during the next circuit. Mikey rallied back to 31st on lap 64, and 30th one lap later.
"Still got the 32 working the top," the spotter noted on lap 65.
"Fourteen green flag laps," Finley noted.
Mikey got pushed back to 32nd on lap 66.
"24 working the top about three back," spotter Mike said. The #55 was 33rd the next time around the track.
"Outside 24, by himself. 45 working the top now. 86 is going to go with him," spotter Mike passed along the information. "01 working high side at your corner. He's still there."
Lap 68 saw Mikey back in 36th.
"Seventeen green," Finley commented. "How's the car?"
"Pretty good," Mikey answered. "Just still a little bit too tight."
"10-4."
On lap 70, spotter Mike said, "36 working the bottom. All clear."
Mikey gained 34th the next time around the track, passing Yeley and Joe Nemechek.
"24 looking outside," the spotter observed. "Inside the 18."
With Yeley and Nemechek repassing him, Mikey found himself back in 36th on lap 72.
"01 in the middle now."
"Twenty-two green, Michael," Finley tapped into the radio. "We'll pit in seven."
Mikey was 37th on lap 74. "Raise that track bar some," he told his crew. "It helped the other day."
"10-4," replied Finley.
Passing Terry Labonte put Mikey back in 36th on lap 75.
"All clear," spotter Mike said. "clear low, if you need it."
As Mikey popped up to 35th on lap 76, his spotter said, "Two wide. Still out there. All clear. Good job. Hang tough, man!"
"Pit in four," Finley added. "Track bar up."
"Still got the 18 outside," the spotter continued. "Bottom three, back to two wide."
Mikey popped up to 32nd on lap 77, as Kenseth continued to lead. His spotter repeated that he was at the bottom of three-wide. When the #55 went back to two-wide, the spotter observed that Biffle was on Mikey's outside but that Nemechek was still on his outside corner. Mikey was back to 35th on lap 78.
"We need to pit in two," Finley noted.
Carl Edwards, Ken Schrader, and Bill Elliott worked the bottom groove as Mikey rode 36th on lap 79. Finley told Mikey to pit two laps from now, because nobody would be coming in the next time around the track. Jeff Gordon rode to Mikey's outside when the next caution came.
The yellow flag waved for the third time on lap 80 for a wreck that unfolded in front of the Napa Dodge. Jeff Green's #66 had made contact with Elliott's #96, turned up the track, and hit Yeley's #18 and Nemechek's #01. Edwards' #99 dove to the bottom to avoid the accident, and collided with Kyle Petty in the #45 Wells Fargo Dodge. Mikey told his team that he could barely see, and he was sure the others had the same trouble. He was marked 32nd, with Kenseth occupying the top spot. Finley said he could go another lap after this one under yellow.
Mayfield received the free pass, and was permitted to regain one of his five laps down.
Everyone hit pit road when it opened. Jeff Gordon's #24 Dupont Chevy had to return with a flat right front tire.
"Good job, boys," Finley complimented his team after the stop."
"Good job, fellahs," Mikey added.
Finley noted that the right sides were pretty much "tapped out". He said the tires looked good, but asked Mikey if he'd slid them.
Mikey said he slid his tires during the accident. He said they were all wrecking, and that's what he did. "I did the best I could."
Finley told his driver he knew that.
"He slid them," the spotter confirmed. "He did exactly what he needed to do." He then told Mikey he had one lap to go before the restart.
"Coming to the green," he added.
Racing resumed on lap 85, with Kenseth in the lead and Mikey in 23rd.
"Backing up a little," the spotter noted before clearing Mikey.
Kevin Harvick jumped into the top spot, leading the field into the next circuit. Dale Earnhardt Jr's #8 dropped inside Harvick's #29 for the top spot, but lost momentum when dodging the lapped #01 of Joe Nemechek. Harvick gave Earnhardt Jr room as the #8 wiggled from the #01. Earnhardt Jr took the lead, as Harvick was hung out and lost ground.
Earnhardt Jr led lap 87, with Mikey in 22nd. His spotter cleared him past Casey Mears' #42 Havoline Dodge.
"Good job!" he exclaimed, then said that Mears was still inside. He cleared him, said Mears had returned to the bottom, and then cleared him again.
Lap 88 saw Mikey taking 20th. Mears was now pushing the #55, but nobody was behind the Havoline Dodge.
At the front of the field, Kenseth challenged Earnhardt Jr for the top spot, but ultimately fell back into line behind the #8.
Mikey picked up two spots by lap 90, and lost three just before the yellow flag waved.
NASCAR brought out the fourth caution on lap 92 for debris on the backstretch. Mikey was marked 22nd, and Finley asked him about the car.
"It's fine," the driver responded. He asked Finley about his pressures and got his answer. Mikey said he wanted to drop the left side tire pressure by a pound. He expressed that the car was a little too tight. The leaders pit, and Kenseth went through the grass to avoid contact with another car. Finley observed that some cars took on just two tires.
"Let me know if it starts raining," Mikey requested.
"Michael, Doug," co-owner Doug Bawell came on the radio. "You're doing a great job." He talked about just needing to get through the field. Mikey said they'd figure it out, and complimented the team for a good job in the pits.
Earnhardt Jr led the lap 96 restart, with Mikey running 24th.
"All clear up the front," spotter Mike noted. A couple laps later, he said the field was single-file behind him, and that Nemechek was smoking up ahead.
Mikey moved into 21st on lap 100.
"Not a lot of help coming behind you," said his spotter. He added that Burton's #31 was still at his quarter. "All clear, bud. Nice job!"
Mikey advanced to 18th on lap 101. Jarrett's #88 was at his quarter, along the inside. The field around him went two-by-two before Mikey got stuck in the middle of a three-wide bunch.
"All clear," the spotter said when Mikey broke away with 15th on lap 102. "Great job!" He told Mikey he had help coming. The next time around the track, the Napa Dodge was 14th. The spotter noted that Robby Gordon's #7 Jim Beam Chevy was coming to help. Casey Mears jumped in between the pair and pushed Mikey to 12th on lap 104.
At the front of the field, Kenseth looked to move into the lead, with Jimmie Johnson's #48 Lowes Chevy pushing his #17. Mark Martin took Kenseth and Earnhardt Jr three-wide and came out with the top spot.
Mikey broke into the top 10 when Mark Martin was credited with the lead on lap 105. Mikey dropped back to 11th and remained there for the next two laps before the yellow flag.
The fifth caution came on lap 108 after Kenseth and Stewart tangled. Mikey told his team he wanted to drop a pound out of the right front liner of his tire. He pit with the leaders. Earnhardt Jr was the first off pit road, with Mikey returning 10th.
"Good stop, boys, good stop," Finley complimented his team.
"Way to do it, boys!" Mikey added. "Great job!"
Finley told his driver that the crew requested Mikey hold the brakes a little harder during stops.
"Okay," was Mikey's reply. "10-4."
Spotter Mike commented that the weather was looking a bit better now, and Finley announced that Stewart was sent to the rear of the field for aggressive driving.
"He'll have to be really aggressive to get back up there," Mikey commented. He picked up 9th with Stewart's drop.
A piece of debris in Turn 1 delayed the restart.
Earnhardt Jr led the lap 112 restart, with Mikey in 9th. NASCAR immediately black-flagged Kenseth's #17 for cutting close to Stewart's #20 when Stewart returned to the track. Kenseth contested the call long enough that he delayed in getting to the pits to serve his penalty. As a result, NASCAR did not score the green flag lap before his stop. Kenseth would lose two laps as a result of the incident.
On the track, Mikey jumped outside and ran side-by-side with Kyle Busch's #5 Kellogg's Chevy. Kyle Busch, his brother Kurt, and Dale Jarrett formed a single-file line that attempted to charge past the #55. Mikey hung beside Kurt Busch's #2 Miller Lite Dodge. Meanwhile, Biffle jumped outside Earnhardt Jr. With a push from Mark Martin, Biffle's #16 moved into the top spot.
Biffle led lap 114, with Mikey in 12th. While Jamie McMurray was working with the #55, spotter Mike said that Robby Gordon expressed his intentions to work with the Napa Dodge. Mikey ducked behind the #7.
"You're doing a great job," Finley encouraged his driver.
Earnhardt Jr reclaimed the top spot along the inside to lead lap 115. Mikey was 9th. He was running the outside line, and Ken Schrader's #21 was attempting to reach him and help.
Lap 116 saw Mikey dropping to 10th, and a three-wide battle for the lead. Kyle Busch got around Biffle and Earnhardt Jr and took the top spot, while Mikey hung with Kurt Busch along the outside groove.
Busch led lap 118, with Mikey in 11th. The inside line was gaining momentum, causing Mikey to fall to 12th on lap 119 and 13th on 120. His spotter reported that Kurt Busch's #2 was working the bottom of Mikey's inside. Mikey gained ground to Burton, but was soon back side-by-side with Kurt Busch. Kasey Kahne took to the low groove and tried to get by Mikey too.
The #55 was 15th on lap 122, as Jimmie Johnson took the lead.
"Slow on the bottom," the spotter warned. "Give him room."
Mikey advanced to 14th on lap 123, passing Kahne. He was back to 12th the next time around the track.
Debris from Robby Gordon's shredding tire drew the sixth caution on lap 125. Mikey reported that the car was now loose. He wanted to lower the track bar, and said he thought the air pressures were good. He pit with the leaders, and Finley reminded him to hold the brakes firm. After the stop, the crew chief reported that the tires looked good. Bill Elliott was marked as the leader, with Mikey 18th. Meanwhile, NASCAR penalised Stewart for running over his jack while leaving his box.
Bill Elliott, Kevin Lepage, and Hermie Sadler pit before the restart, moving Mark Martin into the lead. Mikey was 15th.
"Coming to the green," spotter Mike said before the lap 129 restart. Johnson challenged Martin for the top spot, but Martin's #6 held its ground. Johnson's #48 slipped back with little help from the #5 of Kyle Busch, as Earnhardt Jr pushed the #6.
"Still got them in line with you," Mikey's spotter said on lap 131, one circuit before the Napa Dodge moved into 12th. Mikey passed Dave Blaney along the outside and picked up 12th on lap 133. Sterling Marlin's #14 Waste Management Chevy pushed the #55, as Mikey pushed Reed Sorenson's #41 Target Dodge. Passing Newman on lap 136 put Mikey in 11th; however, Newman repassed the next time around the track.
"31 getting hung in the middle," the spotter commented on lap 137. "Top of three, top of two."
Riding the inside groove, Mikey moved into 10th on lap 138.
"Still loose," he reported. He asked for a pound out of the right rear before passing Sorenson for 9th at the stripe. One lap later, Sorenson repassed him.
Mikey fell to 15th on lap 141.
"Inside and out," the spotter directed. "Middle. Still middle of three. No help in there for you. No help.
"Still in the middle with no help." Spotter Mike cleared Mikey low, told him Jeff Gordon was working the outside groove, and then cleared him again. Mikey maintained 15th, as his spotter told Jeff Burton was trying to come to help.
Earnhardt Jr shot in front of Martin, grabbing the lead on lap 143. The pack rode two-by-two, and Vickers challenged the #8 for the top spot.
Mikey was up to 13th the next time around the track.
"31's not much help behind you right now," spotter Mike observed.
The race for the lead went three-wide as Vickers, Earnhardt Jr, and Johnson scrambled for the top spot. Vickers shot out in front, and the top six cars slid into a single-file line. Vickers led first at lap 145.
"Still two wide," Mikey's spotter mentioned. He said Biffle was running the top line, and that Bobby Labonte was coming to help along the inside. Still without help from behind but drafting Blaney on lap 146, Mikey advanced to 11th. Gordon got behind the #55 before jumping outside. Mikey was 12th on lap 148, then back to 11th the next time around the track. His spotter reported that Gordon was going with him.
With Robby Gordon running to the outside, Mikey popped back into the top 10 on lap 150. He was back to 11th one circuit later. Dave Blaney relayed to the #55 team that he planned to pit on lap 157.
Mikey was 12th on lap 152, with Marlin running to his outside.
"157 on pit road," Finley announced.
Mikey grabbed back 11th the next time around the track, and spotter Mike reported that Gordon and Kahne were trying to get to him. Finley discussed wanting to take a pound out of the right rear, and wanted to know if Mikey needed anything else. The driver did not have time to respond before caution came over Daytona.
The yellow flag waved for the seventh time on lap 156 for debris on the frontstretch. Mikey said he wanted to take out half a pound, and headed for his stall when pit road opened.
"Okay, I got you, Michael," Finley said. "5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Wheels straight, put on the brakes."
After the stop, Mikey praised his crew. "Good job, guys!"
"Good job, man!" was Finley's reply.
NASCAR assessed a penalty to the #55 team for speeding off pit road. Finley said they would pit for a gas-and-go with one to go. "We have to go to the end anyway."
Lepage led lap 158 under yellow.
"What's the 6 doing on pit road?" Mikey asked.
"He was already rolling when I saw him," Finley responded.
"Did anybody else get penalysed?"
"Nope," the spotter told his driver. "I didn't hear of anybody." He commented that NASCAR probably noticed Mikey's "little spirt" off pit road. Mikey said he hadn't meant to do that, but he was trying to get by Kyle Busch's #5. He said he shouldn't have pushed it. The #55 pit for a splash-and-go before dropping to the rear of the field for the restart.
With one lap before the restart, Mikey asked his spotter to tell Hermie Sadler's spotter he'll draft with him. He wanted Sadler's #00 Aaron's Ford to drop behind him. After assuring Mikey that he'd look ahead to see if anybody wrecked, the spotter said he had relayed the message.
Earnhardt Jr led the lap 160 restart. The #55 was 34th, and with his drop at Mikey's request, Hermie Sadler was 35th. Spotter Mike reported that Kirk Shelmerdine's #27 Chevy was really slow along the bottom.
"We still got 35 laps to go," Finley noted on lap 162. The next time around the track, Newman shot along Earnhardt Jr's outside as the pair led the field in a double-file line. Newman jumped in front of the #8, then dropped to the inside groove. Earnhardt Jr got back around Newman and retained his lead going into lap 164. Newman then jumped to the outside and was marked the race leader the next time around the track. Mikey remained 34th.
"The 18 said he'll work with you," spotter Mike announced.
"He's trying to hit me," Mikey replied.
"There's front end damage after that push."
Hermie Sadler slowed and pitted on lap 171, two laps before Mikey gained 33rd. The Napa Dodge popped up to 29th two laps after that, but lost two spots the next time around the track.
Kvapil's #32 lost a tire and hit the wall on lap 177, drawing the eighth caution. Kenseth received the free pass back onto the lead lap, and the leaders made stops. Newman and Schrader narrowly avoided contact on pit road. After taking on just two fresh tires, Vickers picked up the lead. Mikey was 19th.
Racing resumed on lap 181. Mikey picked up three spots in two laps, and one more the next time around the track. On lap 185, he advanced to 11th with Tony Stewart pushing him. Mikey fell to 14th on the next circuit, and 18th one lap later.
Lap 188 saw the nineth caution after Jamie McMurray ran into the back of Kurt Busch and sent him into the wall. Both had been riding in the top 10. The pair scattered debris, and Mikey ran high around the pair to avoid contact. Marlin sustained right front damage, and Blaney picked up damage too. Mikey was one of few drivers who pitted under the yellow flag.
Johnson led the lap 191 restart, with Mikey riding 27th. The front runners remained single file for the first couple laps of the run, and Mikey held onto the 27th spot. The #55 passed Kirk Shelmerdine on lap 194 for 26th, as Kyle Busch and Tony Stewart bounced off one another. While Mikey moved into 25th on lap 195, NASCAR black-flagged Busch's #5 for aggressive driving and issued him a drive-through penalty. Mikey was 21st the next time around the track.
Jeff Burton nudged Jamie McMurray into the wall during a block on lap 198, bringing out the tenth caution. Bobby Labonte and Denny Hamlin also sustained damage, and Mikey just missed involvement. He was marked 19th under yellow. Busch's #5 served its drive-through penalty during the caution, as the field prepared for a green / white / checkered finish.
Johnson led the field to the lap 201 restart, with Mikey in 18th. The pack rode single-file throughout the entire first lap back to green. With one lap to go, Mikey was 20th. Ryan Newman darted outside Johnson on the backstretch, but with a push from friend Casey Mears, Jimmie Johnson won his first Daytona 500.
Off Turn 4, a wreck ensued. Greg Biffle had bounced off the wall, and despite crossing the track, did not tangle with any other cars. The race ended under caution, leading to confusion regarding the finishing order. NASCAR assessed that Mikey had crossed the stripe 18th.
Unofficially, Mikey sits 19th in the standings. He will compete at California Speedway next week. Coverage of the Auto Club 500 starts February 26th at 3:30pm ET on FOX. Mikey may also compete in the Busch Series' Stater Bros. 300 the day before, in his #99 Aaron's Dodge. Coverage of the Busch Series race begins the 25th at 6:00pm on FX.
