/noticias.info/ Richmond, Virginia – Frustration continued for Michael Waltrip as the No. 55 NAPA team battled a tight race car for the majority of the Crown Royal 400 at Richmond International Speedway only to finish in the 31st position. Waltrip finished three laps down to winner Dale Earnhardt Jr., and remains 35th in the NEXTEL Cup driver point’s standings heading into Saturday night’s race at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway.
Forced to qualify for the race on time, Waltrip got all he could Friday to put himself 30th on the grid. However, when the green flag dropped on the 300-mile event, the No. 55 NAPA Dodge struggled through the turns of the .75-mile oval. Loose off the corners, Waltrip steered the No. 55 car onto pit road on lap eight during the first caution. Interim crew chief Larry Carter made the first of many adjustments to the right rear of the car. “The car’s getting better,” radioed Waltrip late into the next green flag run on lap 55; but he found himself one lap down to leader Kevin Harvick three laps later.
Fortune shined on Waltrip momentarily after a caution on lap 65 as the recipient of NASCAR’s lucky dog. Waltrip restarted in the 37th position after receiving four tires and six rounds of wedge into the right rear. The No. 55 NAPA Dodge would again go a lap down to Harvick, who dominated early, on lap 148. Problems continued for the NAPA team as adjustments to the track bar and right rear of the No. 55 Dodge would not compensate for the tightness.
Crown Royal 400 Final Results
1. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
2. Denny Hamlin
3. Kevin Harvick
31. Michael Waltrip
The NAPA Dodge was in 36th position at the halfway mark of the Crown Royal 400. A battle emerged between Waltrip and the No. 19 car of Jeremy Mayfield that would continue through the rest of the event. By Lap 224, the race leaders had caught both cars, placing them two laps down.
“The car’s the worst it’s been all day. I have no brakes,” radioed Waltrip during a caution on lap 286. The No. 55 NAPA Dodge was three tenths slower than the leader, so the six rounds of wedge were taken out of the right rear and put into the left along with a track bar adjustment during the stop. Waltrip radioed, “I haven’t had any luck with the brakes this year.”
More problems arose on lap 338 as Waltrip was lapped by the leaders for the third and final time. During a 16.38 second pit stop on lap 348, Carter made more adjustments to the car in hopes it would give Waltrip more traction in the turns. Waltrip later radioed to Carter, “I’ve got my brakes all the way out and my track bar all the way up. I don’t know what else to do.”
Unfortunately, the problems would never be solved and the No. 55 NAPA Dodge finished in the 31st position, one spot ahead of the No. 19 car.
Dale Earnhardt, Jr. earned his first victory of the 2006 season followed by rookie Denny Hamlin. Despite dominating three fourths of the race, Kevin Harvick settled for third place after a controversial pit strategy. Greg Biffle and Kyle Busch rounded out the top five-finishers of the Crown Royal 400 at Richmond International Speedway.
Next week’s Dodge Charger 500 will take place under the lights at Darlington Raceway on Saturday, May 13, 2006. Coverage will begin at 6:30 pm on FOX and MRN.
