After a respectable qualifying time, it seemed the No. 55 NAPA AUTO PARTS team had cured the headache still lingering from last week’s lackluster performance. But late attempts to correct a loose race car only disturbed the concrete Monster Mile at Dover International Speedway during the Neighborhood Excellence 400. Michael Waltrip finished in 32nd position, three laps down to winner Matt Kenseth, and remains 35th in the NEXTEL Cup driver points standings heading into Sunday’s race at Pocono Raceway.
Radio chatter in the No. 55 NAPA AUTO PARTS pit box was minimal in the early laps of the event; however, on Lap 35 Waltrip radioed, “The car was a little free on exit at first, but then it started pushing in the center as the tire pressure changed.” Waltrip was currently driving his No. 55 NAPA Dodge hard through the one-mile oval to post laps nearly as fast as leader Mark Martin. On Lap 36, a caution allowed the NAPA team to adjust the air pressure in the inner liners of the tires. The adjustments proved ineffective as Waltrip radioed, “This is worse. It’s plowing.”
Lengthy green flag runs allowed Sunday’s leaders to lap slower cars on the scorching concrete embankment throughout the event, and on Lap 113 Waltrip was fighting to remain on the lead lap as Jeff Gordon approached his rear quarter-panel. Fortunately, NASCAR officials spotted debris on the track to bring out a caution, saving Waltrip and signaling relief for the NAPA team. The relief was short-lived though, as Waltrip went a lap down to leader Matt Kenseth 38 laps later.
At the halfway mark of the event, Waltrip was in a race-high 28th position and remained one lap down. A lengthy green-flag stop on Lap 212 led to Waltrip being lapped for the second time by leader Jeff Burton on Lap 225. Only 15 cars were on the lead lap after 232 had been completed.
Crew Chief Joe Shear radioed to Waltrip on Lap 263 to update the condition of No. 55 NAPA Dodge. Waltrip responded, “We made it loose in the center and loose off. Everything we did was a negative. Undo everything we did before and let’s think of something else. It’s pushing more than it has all day. It’s nothing like what we had at the start of the race.” Debris on the track resulted in another caution on Lap 264. Waltrip steered the No. 55 NAPA Dodge onto pit road for a fresh set of tires and adjustments to the car’s track-bar and wedge.
“I’m afraid it’s going to be too tight judging by the fact I was not loose at all. I’m sure we can do something to the left side to help it. It’s not bad, but I don’t know what I’ll be able to accomplish,” Waltrip radioed to Shear. Eight other cars were two laps down at this point and the NAPA AUTO PARTS team focused their efforts on competing against them. Waltrip was lapped one final time by Jamie McMurray in the waning laps on his way to a 32nd finish. He collected 67 NEXTEL driver points for the effort.
Matt Kenseth, driver of the DeWalt Ford, passed teammate Jamie McMurray with three laps to go in the Neighborhood Excellence 400 to take the checkered flag for his second win of the season and 12th in his career. McMurray held off Kevin Harvick for second place making it a 1-2 finish for Roush Racing. Kevin Harvick settled for third place followed by Jeff Burton and Kyle Busch who rounded out the top five-finishers of the Neighborhood Excellence 400 at Dover International Speedway.
Next week’s Pocono 500 will take place at Pocono Raceway on Sunday, June 11, 2006. Coverage will begin at 1:30 pm on FOX and MRN.
