Michael Waltrip crashed into a tire wall on lap 35, ending his run in the Telcel-Motorola 200. His #99 Aaron's Dream Machine finished 40th and 45 laps down in today's Busch Series race at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez road course, after enjoying five laps in the top 10.
After completing several laps in a European-style of qualifying, Mikey chose a lap that was 29th fastest. He started 25th after inside row-starters Reed Sorenson and Jon Wood dropped to the rear of the field with respective engine and transmission changes.
The command to start engines came at 2:09pm amidst 77-degree weather. The 44% humidity played a factor in today's race, as did the 7,300-foot altitude. The high altitude would affect the ways the engines would run, as well as the cars' set-up.
When the green flag dropped, pole-sitter Boris Said jumped ahead of Denny Hamlin. Mikey picked up a spot one lap into the run, and picked up another the next time around the track when Paul Menard bumped JJ Yeley off the track in Turn 1. Lap 4 saw Mikey drop back to 22nd as Jason Keller passed. Chris Cook got around the Aaron's Dream Machine one circuit later.
Toward the rear of the field, Stacy Compton's back-up #59 emitted smoke and drew the first caution on lap 6. Compton's soured engine took him out of the race after completing just four laps. Leaders pit under yellow. As Mikey pit, he narrowly dodged Hamlin's exitting #20. The close call cost the #99 positions on the track.
Said led the lap 8 restart, with Mikey in 32nd. The Aaron's Dream Machine fell another spot the next time around the track before passing Randy Lajoie's #0 one circuit later. Mikey got around Patrick Goeters for 31st on lap 11, and gained another spot the next time around the track when Kyle Busch pit. As drivers continued to pit, Mikey continued to gain positions on the track. He was 29th on lap 14, and gained another spot for Kenny Wallace's stop one lap later. Also on lap 15, Jamie McMurray and Adrian Fernandez tangled in Turn 1. Mikey advanced to 26th. More cars pit, allowing him to move up to 22nd on lap 17 and 17th one circuit later.
Danny O'Quinn spun through the grass, bringing out the second caution on lap 20. Fernandez received the free pass, and Mikey pit with other drivers who had not yet made stops - and some who had.
Said led the lap 22 restart, with Mikey running 6th. Two laps into the run, Kyle Busch got around the Aaron's Dream Machine. Ron Fellows' lapped #33 rammed into Mikey and knocked him back to 11th, just before the next caution.
The yellow flag waved for the third time on lap 26 for debris in Turn 2. A few drivers pitted, including Said.
Hamlin led the lap 28 restart, with Mikey now 10th. Kevin Harvick attempted to take the top spot, but did not stick to the inside line. He slid back in line behind Hamlin's #20.
Meanwhile, the Aaron's Dream Machine lost a spot one lap into the run. Three laps in, Paul Menard passed and dropped Mikey to 12th. John Andretti tried to come along with Menard too, but Mikey shut the door on him. He picked up another spot by passing Jorges Goeters' #66 by the next circuit.
Busch was all over Hamlin for the top spot on lap 34, one lap before the #99 spiraled off-course.
The fourth caution saw the end of Mikey's race on lap 36. His car hit the tire wall, crumpling the right side of the #99. Fellows received the free pass, and Mikey fell out of the race that Hamlin would go on to win.
Mikey goes to Las Vegas Motor Speedway next weekend. Coverage of the Nextel Cup's UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 begins Sunday at 4:00pm ET on FOX. He may also participate in the Busch Series' Sam's Town 300 on Saturday. Coverage starts at 6:00pm on FX.
