Driver: Michael Waltrip
Team: Waltrip-Jasper Racing
Equipment and support by Bill Davis Racing
Owner: Doug Bawel
Sponsor: NAPA
Crew Chief: Derrick Finley
Michael Waltrip UAW-DAIMLERCHRYSLER 400 Fast Facts...
NAPA AUTO PARTS driver Michael Waltrip has enjoyed good success at
Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway (LVMS)in both the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup and
Busch Series. But what stands out among his successes is his ability to
qualify. In eight Cup qualifying attempts, Waltrip has three top-five
and five top-10 starts.
Everyone who travels to Las Vegas has their own "Sin City guilty
pleasures". Waltrip said he enjoys the great restaurants, superb golf
and working out at the Bellagio. However, don't expect to see the NAPA
driver gambling away his life earnings. "I will occasionally play a
little blackjack, but not very often," said Waltrip.
Waltrip spent NASCAR's West Coast swing (California, Mexico, Nevada)
in Aspen, Colo., with his family and a few of his racing friends.
Waltrip enjoyed his time in the Rocky Mountains off the slopes, just
relaxing.
The NAPA team will race chassis BD 96 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
It is a brand new chassis at Bill Davis Racing and was NOT tested at
LVMS in January, 2006.
WALTRIP FEELS NEW TEAM IS STILL GROWING AND LEARNING
NAPA AUTO PARTS driver Michael Waltrip left Las Vegas Motor Speedway on
January 31, 2006 very concerned about what the future held for his No.
55 Waltrip-Jasper team. After posting the 49th fastest lap in the final
day of the test, Waltrip told everyone involved that the test was
unacceptable, even for a new team. Since leaving Las Vegas,
Waltrip-Jasper Racing has set a series of smaller goals, starting with
improving every week and finishing in the top-20.
"Daytona (Fla.) was acceptable," said Waltrip, regarding the first race
of the 2006 season. "We ran up-front, got in the top-five and finished
in the top-20. Certainly we were disappointed with our finish. We
thought we could do better than that, but we didn't. The problem (bad
spark plug) at California was disappointing. But we saw a great amount
of improvement from the test we had in Las Vegas with our California car
in January, to the actual race itself."
The improvement the NAPA team showed at California gives Waltrip
confidence that the No. 55 can be competitive at Las Vegas Motor
Speedway, a track which Waltrip really likes. "Ever since the first
race, I thought Las Vegas was a track you could really race on," Waltrip
said. "It's lost a lot of grip which has slowed the cars down a lot,
but that's fun for a race car driver because that means everyone is
sliding around and we're all egotistical enough to think we can slide
around better than the other guy."
NAPA AUTO PARTS driver Michael Waltrip on the UAW-DAIMLERCHRYSLER 400 at LVMS...
What are your thoughts on racing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this
weekend?
"I enjoy that track. We ran third there a couple years ago and I always
look forward to going to Vegas. I am optimistic that we can go to Las
Vegas and put ourselves in a position to run near the front, finish on
the lead lap and get a good finish while we learn each other and build
our team."
You tested at LVMS in the off-season. Is that a good indicator at how
this weekend will go?
"We have learned a lot since the Vegas test and the race in California.
We have improved the car quite a bit and we will continue to try to
improve it more. Our test was pretty much unacceptable based on the way
we performed. But we have improved already and I expect with the week
off on the Cup side, our guys can improve the car even more."
