/noticias.info/ (Bristol, Tenn.) – Bristol Motor Speedway plays no favorites. It doesn’t care if you are a rookie or a seasoned veteran. And even the greatest of drivers have had a day they would like to forget at the “World’s Fastest Half-Mile.” The latter was the case for NAPA driver Michael Waltrip. A series of misfortunes which were out of the Owensboro, KY., natives control left the No. 55 car battered and bruised. Waltrip finished 32nd in the Food City 500 – 19 laps down.
It was an odd weekend at Bristol for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series. Rain cancelled Bud Pole qualifying on Friday and the field was set by 2005 owner’s points. The Waltrip-Jasper team was posted 34th on the grid, due to the 2005 points of Jasper’s No. 77 team.
On Saturday, the weekend’s “happy hour” practice barely finished up before a massive snowstorm hit the track. The snow delayed the start of the afternoon NASCAR Busch Series race and made many wonder if the same thing could happen on Sunday morning as well. Sure enough, the NAPA team was greeted by snow flurries as they entered the garage area on Sunday to begin preparations for the Food City 500. But in true NASCAR fashion, the weather cleared up and the race took the green flag on time.
The early stages of the race were tough for Waltrip as he battled a race car that just didn’t seem to have any front grip. The No. 55 pushed up the track in the center of the corners, which made it difficult for Waltrip to stay down in the preferred lower groove. On lap 67, the NAPA car was lapped by leader Tony Stewart. “The car just has no front grip at all,” said Waltrip. Five laps later the caution waved for the first time, allowing the NAPA crew a chance to adjust the car. They changed all four tires, making a significant air pressure adjustment to both the left and right front tires.
Food City 500 Final Results
1. Kurt Busch
2. Kevin Harvick
3. Matt Kenseth
32. Michael Waltrip Miller Lite Dodge
GM Goodwrench Chevrolet
USG Sheetrock Ford
NAPA Dodge
The adjustments helped Waltrip during the first 20 laps of a run, but then the car would return to a tight position. However, it was obvious that crew chief Derrick Finley and the NAPA team were making strides to get the car better. But while the crew prepared to make the front of the No. 55 turn better, it was the unexpected that turned the day for Waltrip. On lap 160, smoke plumed from the back of the NAPA Dodge due to damage to the oil cooler. The No. 55 had to go behind the wall for nine laps while the trouble was repaired.
With victory out of grasp, the new goal for the NAPA team was survival. However, the 2006 version of the Food City 500 was a grueling test for nearly all of the cars involved. The race was slowed by 18 cautions, and unfortunately for Waltrip, several happened just in front of him with little or no room to avoid them. In the end, the NAPA team persevered while others fell aside. Waltrip took the checkered flag in the 32nd position. Kurt Busch won the Food City 500, with Kevin Harvick and Matt Kenseth finishing out the top-three.
The 32nd place finish dropped Waltrip four positions in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series driver’s standings. The NAPA team is currently 33rd in points, 385 markers behind leader Matt Kenseth.
Next week the NAPA team heads to Martinsville Speedway for another edition of short track beating and banging. The race can been seen next Sunday on FOX and heard on MRN Radio and XM channel 144 at 1 p.m. ET. Check local listings for exact times for your area.
