HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. -- Vernon “Lefty” Gomez, an all-star, fire-throwing left-hander of the legendary 1930s Yankees, perhaps more than any sports figure in history saw deeply into life. The Hall of Famer is best known for coining the phrase “I’d rather be lucky than good.” However, baseball is not the only sport where success and luck are synonymous. The same applies to auto racing; a sport in which teams allocate budgets to research and development large enough to bank role third world countries. In a sport governed at times by happenstance more so than skill or strategy, it’s not always the best car or driver that crosses the finish line first. A driver can sometimes get more out of luck than a fresh set of tires on a long, green-flag run.
Although a driver may claim to have expertly navigated through a blinding cloud of tire smoke to avoid an on-track collision, Lady Luck was there to guide him through. It is luck that gives way to cinderella teams and dark horse contenders. She alone tears down dynasties and elevates the underdog. Michael Waltrip, driver of the No. 55 NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge, will aim to win her affection as he suits up for the season’s 13th race, the Neighborhood Excellence 400 at Dover International Speedway on Sunday, June 4, 2006.
The day he ended NASCAR’s most infamous winless streak, Dale Earnhardt, Sr. taped a penny to his dashboard prior to winning the coveted Daytona 500. A young girl had given him the coin for good luck before the race began. Much like his former owner, Michael Waltrip hopes Lady Luck shines her fortune on him this weekend with the help of a child. Prior to each race as the cars sit idle on pit road, daughter Macy searches the nearby pit boxes for a Sharpie. The result, a good luck wish for her Daddy that sits on the yellow NAPA shield adorning the hood of the No. 55 NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge.
Michael Waltrip Fast Facts… NAPA AUTO PARTS driver Michael Waltrip will make his 21st start in the Neighborhood Excellence 400; Waltrip’s best finish in the event was sixth (2004) and his worst 43rd (2001).
Waltrip captured the first NEXTEL Cup pole of his career on 5/31/91 at Dover International Speedway; it was the 160th race of his career; among all modern-era drivers, Waltrip ranks 63rd in the number of poles won with 3
The No. 55 NAPA Dodge will feature Chassis No. 96 in Dover; this chassis was last used in Darlington in the Dodge Charger 500.
Waltrip’s average starting position in 40 starts at Dover International Speedway is 20.75; his average finish is 20.775.
Waltrip has won both the spring (1990) and fall (1988) race at Dover once.
Waltrip has led 27 laps at Dover International Speedway and 1,311 in his career.
Waltrip’s last win was at Talladega Superspeedway in the 2003 EA Sports 500; 88 races have passed since this event.
Waltrip’s best start of the 2006 season came at Talladega for the Aaron’s 499; he qualified in 21st position. Waltrip’s best finish of the 2006 season came at Daytona in the Daytona 500 where he finished in 18th position.
After twelve races, Waltrip’s 2006 earnings total $1,295,923; Waltrip has earned $33,517,387 in 654 starts averaging $51,249.83 per start.
NAPA AUTO PARTS driver Michael Waltrip on the Neighborhood Excellence 400...
What are your thoughts and expectations for racing at Dover? “Dover has been a place we’ve always enjoyed going. We won a pole there in 1991 in Cup and a few poles in the Busch Series. I won my first Busch race ever at Dover in 1988 while driving for my brother. Dover is a cool track. It was the first concrete track we raced on. At first it wasn’t the best place to race in the world, but now there are multiple grooves and great racing. We were decent in the fall race and we’ll try to take that information and be better this time. I think we learned some things in the course of the day and that will be to our advantage this race.”
NAPA AUTO PARTS driver Michael Waltrip Neighborhood Excellence 400 Stats...
