CONCORD, N.C. - Michael Waltrip's consecutive start streak of 261 races will get to 262.
Waltrip's Waltrip-Jasper Racing has bought the ride of the No. 74 McGlynn Racing Dodge and driver Derrike Cope for the Coca-Cola 600, according to a Waltrip team spokesman.
The car will have the NAPA logo on the car and might carry the No. 55. The owner points goes to McGlynn and not to Waltrip, whose team sits 36th in owner points and likely will drop following the race.
Waltrip likely will put a new engine in the car but must use the car Cope qualified in the event.
Waltrip was one of 18 drivers battling for the final eight spots in the field. He struggled in practice in the afternoon and his Dodge wasn't any better once the sun went down.
Waltrip ranks sixth in consecutive starts among NASCAR Nextel Cup drivers.
"It's just been a bad year. Things haven't gone well," Waltrip said after qualifying. "I felt like I was out there on the dirt track during qualifying. I gave it all I had."
Waltrip is going to field Toyotas next year and is racing this season in equipment provided by Bill Davis Racing.
