Michael Waltrip finished 23rd in the GFS Marketplace 400, today's Nextel Cup race at Michigan International Speedway.
"Hey, bud," spotter Ross was the first one on the #55 radio at 2:27pm ET. When he was acknowledged, he added, "I talked to him at the driver's meeting. I'm just doing green flags, cautions, and wrecks. Just so you know, so you don't think I'm not doing anything."
"One, two, hello," Mikey spoke over the team frequency a couple minutes later.
Crew chief Tommy Baldwin Jr said he had a copy. "Do you have a copy, Ross?"
"Yes, sir," replied the spotter.
The call to start engines came at 2:31pm.
"Okay," Ross said.
"All right, Mike," Baldwin Jr told his driver, "we have the 38 behind us and the 43 in front of us. So it's the 88, 38 and then the 43. Got it?"
"Yup." After a minute, the driver asked, "Hey, Tommy, did you see that little brownie car spin?"
"No, uh uh," Baldwin Jr answered.
"Maybe he'll come down to the pit."
"Oh, I'm sure him and about 300 other people will be here."
"10 away," broke in the spotter. "3, 2, right there."
"Do you hear me loud and clear back there, Mike?" Baldwin Jr asked.
"Oh, yeah."
The crew chief asked for pit road speed.
"Looks like 36."
"Yeaaah, maybe a little bit more. Maybe 47 will be good."
"Looks like 47."
"Yeah, 47's good. 4700.
"I know this place is historically known for debris," Baldwin Jr added. "I'm just telling you be aware."
"Well, just let me know if I need to look at it," Mikey replied.
David Gilliland's #38 dropped to the rear of the field during pace laps due to a practice session crash. His move did not affect Mikey's 22nd starting position. Jeff Burton rolled off from the pole.
"All right, man, it'll be one to go. Tug at those seatbelts and the steering wheel." Baldwin Jr gave his driver last minute instructions.
"Okay."
"Make sure you have your radiator fan on," Baldwin Jr adviced.
"Ready? Ready? Green flag," his spotter said when the race started at 2:42pm. "Still outside."
Reed Sorenson and Scott Riggs passed, dropping Mikey to 24th by lap 2. Ryan Newman had taken the lead. Jimmie Johnson dropped through the ranks with a right front flat, after getting into the wall. Johnson's #48 pit, allowing Mikey to regain 23rd. The #55 got back around Reed Sorenson's #41 on lap 4, and was back where it started.
"Caution's out," the spotter warned. The first yellow flag came on lap 6 when Robby Gordon's #7 lost his right rear tire and spun with no contact. Jimmie Johnson received the free pass, gaining back one of his two laps.
"Don't say 'up high, up high,' just say you've got one looking up high and then say clear. Get right to the point," Mikey adviced his spotter. When asked about the car, he said, "Feels really good." He commented on his position.
"I'm not scared, man. It's just the start. You're doing everything right."
"We'll be staying out, okay? Staying out," Baldwin Jr told his driver. Travis Kvapil did make a stop, gaining Mikey a spot.
"Be coming back to the green," Ross noted. "Hey, we've got the lucky dog coming outside. He's about ten back. Coming by now.
"Pace car's pulling off," the spotter continued. "Ready? Ready? Green flag."
Newman led the lap 9 restart, with Mikey in 21st.
"Got one looking high," Ross warned.
Matt Kenseth took the lead on lap 10.
"One coming on the bottom. He's there. Two more on the bottom," the spotter noted. "Clear."
Brian Vickers and JJ Yeley got around the #55, dropping Mikey to 23rd on lap 11.
"Caution's out. Back straightaway behind you, Michael," Ross told his driver.
The second caution came on lap 12. Bobby Labonte's #43 slid up the track, pushing Todd Kluever into David Stremme. Robby Gordon received the free pass. Mikey was 24th at the time; Clint Bowyer had just passed.
"Just a little bit too free to jam it," Mikey said. "After four or five laps, I think I'll be all right. Those guys got a run on me. One of them messed me up."
"10-4," Baldwin Jr answered. "It's all good." He told his driver they would not pit.
"Coming back to the green," Ross stated.
"When are we going to pit, Tommy, if this stays green?" Mikey asked his crew chief.
"About 45, 46," Baldwin Jr replied.
"Pace car's off. Ready? Ready? Green flag."
Kenseth led the lap 15 restart, with Mikey in 12th.
"Inside," the spotter warned on lap 17. One circuit later, Tony Stewart passed. "Another one, inside, on the bottom. All clear.
"Two of them coming."
"I told you very clearly, just tell me what's on top!" Mikey told his spotter.
"10-4. Sorry."
Denny Hamlin passed, dropping Mikey to 14th on lap 19. Jeff Burton went to pit road, and the crew put up the hood on the #31. Two laps later, Mikey rounded Stewart for 13th.
"Atta boy!" Baldwin Jr exclaimed.
"All clear, all clear," Ross said. "Checking up ahead. He's going low. All clear."
"Good job, man!" Baldwin Jr exclaimed.
The third caution came on lap 23 when Kevin Harvick spun, as he got loose under Matt Kenseth; he was trying to pass for the lead. David Stremme received the free pass, and Mikey was marked in 11th. Baldwin Jr called for a four tire stop.
"Stop him short, guys. Stop him short," Baldwin requested. "And make sure you get a good angle out, Mike."
"Okay. Straight in, right?"
"Straight in.
"3, 2, 1. Clean the grill, please." After the stop, Baldwin Jr said, "Go go go go go! All the way to the wall! 14.80, boys. 14.80."
Although Mikey was the tenth driver off pit road, he was 17th when he returned to the track.
"Good job there, guys! You picked up two spots in the pits. Good job!" Baldwin praised. "Seven cars did not pit, Michael."
Jamie McMurray led the lap 26 restart. Mikey was 17th. One lap into the run, he lost a spot to Carl Edwards' #99. Lap 30 saw Mikey regain 17th by getting around Paul Menard's #15, which dropped ten spots during the first three laps back to racing.
Kyle Busch passed McMurray along the outside, taking the lead going into lap 33. Mikey passed Jeff Green for 16th on the same lap.
"Clear," said the spotter.
One circuit later, Mikey was back to 17th when Reed Sorenson's #41 got around his #55. When Dale Earnhardt Jr took the lead on lap 36, Mark Martin and Tony Stewart got around the Domino's Dodge. Mikey was now 19th. Getting back around Mark Martin on lap 37 gained him back 18th.
"Clear," Ross declared. "All clear."
Martin got back around the #55 on lap 38. Static came over the #55 radio as Mikey spoke and his car dropped.
"Tighter off," Baldwin Jr answered.
Lap 39 saw Mikey fall to 23rd. Jeff Green, Ken Schrader, and Martin Truex Jr had passed. He passed JJ Yeley and Truex Jr during the next circuit, regaining 21st.
"Getting a little bit tight off, Tommy," Mikey repeated. He passed Scott Riggs on lap 41 and was up to 20th.
"All clear. Good job, man," Ross said. A moment later, he added, "Got one up by the fence in Turn 2. There's no caution yet. Oop, caution's out now."
Lap 43 saw the fourth caution for Kyle Busch hitting the wall. Baldwin Jr said they would pit and would go up on the trackbar and put half a pound in the right rear.
"Something to drink?" Baldwin Jr asked. When Mikey said no, he added, "Having fun out there?"
"Yeah, I'm having a lot more fun than usual," Mikey replied. "It's amazing. One guy shows up, and I know how to drive again."
"Aw, it's a group effort, man," Baldwin Jr replied. He called for four tires and fuel.
Drivers pit under yellow. After the stop, the crew chief said, "Steve, let's figure out what happened here. Let's get that fixed."
Kyle Petty was marked as the leader after stops, as he stayed on the track.
"There's brake rotor parts laying in Turn 2 on the bottom," Ross warned.
"Some guys took two there, and the first two guys still haven't pit yet," Baldwin Jr reported. Hermie Sadler led when Petty pit.
"All right, man, coming back to the green," Ross said. "Pace car's pulling off. Ready? Ready? Green flag."
Carl Edwards led the lap 50 restart, but Jeff Gordon immediately drove around him for the top spot. Mikey was 25th, but lost a spot to Brian Vickers. The #55 gained back the spot from Vickers' #25 one lap later. On lap 52, Mikey dropped to 27th; Robby Gordon and Vickers passed.
Edwards took back the lead and was credited with the top spot on lap 53. Jeff Gordon got back ahead just before the yellow flag waved.
"Debris in Turns 3 and 4," Ross noted.
David Gilliland's #38 hit the wall, drawing the fifth caution on lap 54.
Mikey said he was pushing off the turns. "I just don't have good grip right now. It's just real skaty everywhere.
"It's just lacking overall grip, mainly," he continued. He suggested changes.
"You'll have to come around the 38. He's in his stall, all wrecked," Baldwin Jr warned.
Mikey stopped under yellow for adjustments to fix the tight condition of his car.
"Go go. Half a lane, half a lane. All the way to the wall," his crew chief guided. "We'll have an opening behind us the rest of the day here, so make sure you stop short the rest of the day."
"One to go," Ross observed.
Baldwin Jr told his driver that most cars only took two tires, so he'd blow right past them. "Everything's cool, man. Keep doing what you're doing."
"That 88 got two tires. Did anybody else got two?" Mikey asked.
Baldwin Jr said most guys didn't get any.
"I meant on that last run."
Baldwin Jr replied, "I know, but he held his own."
Gordon led the lap 57 restart, with Mikey in 31st.
"Backing up in front of you, but everybody's rolling," Ross warned.
Kurt Busch took the lead from Gordon to lead lap 58, but with a bobble, fell back to third. Carl Edwards led going into lap 59. Mikey had passed Riggs for 30th.
"Clear," Ross noted.
The #55 got around Tony Raines one lap later. Getting around Dale Jarrett and Bobby Labonte advanced Mikey to 27th on lap 61. He got around Travis Kvapil one lap later.
"Caution's out. Debris on the front straightaway," Ross reported on lap 63, calling the sixth yellow flag. Baldwin Jr said they would stay out.
"I didn't hear anything you said," the driver replied.
"How's the car feel, Mike?"
Mikey said the car got in better and turned good but was bouncing off the corners. Most cars pit, but Mikey stayed out with the first and second place drivers, Carl Edwards and Jeff Gordon.
"One to go at the line," Ross announced.
Lap 66 saw the restart. Edwards led, and Mikey was in 7th.
"Got one coming outside," Ross noted. "All clear."
Jeff Gordon and Bobby Labonte passed, dropping the #55 to 9th on lap 68. Biffle and Kenseth got around Mikey one circuit later. Bowyer and Sadler passed next. Mikey was now 13th on lap 70. Four laps later, he picked up a spot by getting around Casey Mears.
"Good job, man! All clear. Great job!" Baldwin Jr exclaimed.
On lap 76, he lost spots to Joe Nemechek and Mark Martin.
"Got one, outside corner. Two of them. Got two outside," Ross told him. "One more. Clear."
Tony Stewart, Casey Mears, and Reed Sorenson all passed, dropping Mikey to 17th on lap 77.
"All clear," Ross said.
Lap 78 saw Mikey lose a spot to JJ Yeley.
"Car's losing grip in the right front," Mikey reported. Kurt Busch got around him the next time around the track, and Jimmie Johnson passed one lap later. The #55 was 20th on lap 80. Martin Truex Jr dropped him another spot on the next circuit.
"42.60, 55 in front of you," Tommy Baldwin Jr said on lap 85. Earnhardt Jr took the top spot at the stripe, going into the next circuit.
"22 car is one back, leader's in Turns 1 and 2," Ross noted.
On lap 87, Mikey dropped to 22nd when Dave Blaney's #22 passed. Four laps later, Jeff Green got around the #55.
"Ten laps 'til we pit, man. Ten. Keep digging," Baldwin Jr told his driver on lap 92.
Two laps later, Edwards retook the lead when Earnhardt Jr got stuck behind Lepage's lagging #49. Green flag pit stops began on lap 96 with race leader Edwards and with Gordon, allowing Earnhardt Jr to retake the lead. Dale Jarrett passed the Domino's Dodge.
"Really losing my right front," Mikey commented.
"10-4, man. Got about six more laps," Baldwin Jr acknowledged.
Mikey was 21st on lap 97, as drivers made stops.
"Was that lap better or worse or the same right there?" Mikey asked on lap 101.
"The same," Baldwin Jr replied. "Slowing up a couple tenths the last few laps there."
"That's because I'm trying different lines, and if y'all give me some lap times, I'll know what works or not."
"All right, pit next time by. One out, and right side wedge," Baldwin Jr told the team. "Get all you can to the line. 4600. 4700. 4700."
Mikey pit on lap 102 for a scheduled green flag stop. He was guided back onto the track when he returned. On lap 105, he was 34th and one lap down. Green flag stops continued to cycle.
"Clear of the first one," Ross observed. "All clear."
Mikey was marked in 30th and still lapped on lap 106. Earnhardt Jr pit at the end of the lap, giving Matt Kenseth the top spot. Baldwin Jr gave times.
"41.90, leader 41.50," Baldwin Jr read on lap 109. Kenseth pit two laps later. Sorenson was scored as the leader before he made his stop, completing green flag stops.
Jeff Gordon assumed the top spot on lap 112. Mikey was 23rd, back on the lead lap. Ken Schrader passed one lap later.
"Just plowing," Mikey reported.
"You saying you sliding it over there?" Baldwin Jr asked.
"Yeah, plowing the right front, and when I get in the gas, I feel like I'm going to spin out."
The seventh caution was on lap 115. Kurt Busch got a flat tire and slid through the grass.
"Really need an overhaul, Tommy. You got me all screwed up," Mikey said. "I'm sliding the tires until they stop sliding, and then I go left."
Baldwin Jr called for two pounds out of the right front, four tires, and fuel. Mikey said he thought the right front was at the minimum. Baldwin Jr said to take three out on the right front and put back the spring.
"Yeah, we've consistently made it worse, so I like what you're saying," Mikey replied.
The crew chief wanted to go two pounds down on the right rear and to go one round up on the track bar. He said that would be one round up from where they started.
"Is it open?" Mikey asked.
"Come on, come on," the spotter said. The #55 made a stop.
"Yeah, I agree about that right front there, Mike," Baldwin Jr said to his driver. He reviewed the changes they'd made.
"Okay," Mikey replied.
"Doing a good job out there, man. You're sitting 21st out there right now," Baldwin Jr said to his driver.
"Okay," Mikey answered. "I'm proud of y'all. That was a good pit stop. Good job, everybody."
"What lap is it?" the driver asked after a minute.
"116. 116."
"Who's been leading this thing?"
"The 8 is back to the leader, and he's pretty much been the class all day," the crew chief replied.
"We'll be coming back to the green next time," Ross noted. "Lap down guys will be coming along the inside. The lucky dog car has already gone by.
"Not gonna go, Michael. Not gonna go. Coming back to one to go again."
Earnhardt Jr led the lap 120 restart. Newman, Robby Gordon, and McMurray restarted at the tail end of the lead lap, in front of the race leader.
"All right, pal, pace car's pulling off. Ready? Ready? Green flag," Ross noted. "Backing up in front of you a little bit. Everybody's rolling."
Schrader passed, moving Mikey back to 22nd on lap 122.
"All right, the front end's working now. The back end's not. I'm very loose, but I'm going to hang on," Mikey reported on lap 124.
"10-4, man," Baldwin Jr replied.
Vickers got around the #55, dropping Mikey to 23rd on lap 125. Two laps later, Kenseth took the lead, but Earnhardt Jr hung with him.
"Clear the 14," Ross noted. Mikey got around Casey Mears' #42, picking up 22nd on lap 128. Earnhardt Jr was credited with leading that lap.
"Clear," Ross said the next time around the track.
On lap 129, Kurt Busch began smoking. Earnhardt Jr lost the top spot to Kenseth.
"There's no oil up there. He just lost the tire," Ross warned. He then said the eighth caution was out for Kurt Busch on lap 131. Ryan Newman received the free pass.
Baldwin Jr asked about the car.
"Yeah, but I feel like I'm at Eldora," Mikey laughed. He said the air pressures were light but maybe a little change on the track bar would help.
The crew chief called for right side tires and fuel.
"Yeah, that's fine with me," Mikey replied. A minute later, he asked his crew to check the car. "I think I hit a brake rotor. Something kicked back from Vickers' car and hit the right side. I'd hate to take a chance."
Baldwin Jr said they'd only lose three spots at most anyway.
"Lucky dog's already went by. Lapped cars coming along the inside," Ross told his driver.
His crew chief asked Mikey to let him know when he was trying different lines so he could know when to gieve lap times.
"All right, pace car's pulling off. Ready? Ready? Green flag."
Kenseth, who had not pit, led the lap 135 restart. McMurray's tail-end-of-the-lead-lap #26 was in front of Kenseth's #17. Mikey was 23rd.
"All clear," Ross noted.
Getting around Elliott Sadler allowed Mikey to pick up 22nd on lap 137.
"Still out there. Clear high."
Sadler repassed one circuit later; Mikey was back to 23rd. Jarrett got around the #55 one lap later. Newman and Robby Gordon passed on lap 140, moving Mikey back to 26th. Blaney's drop the next time around the track allowed Mikey to pick up a spot.
"Caution's out. There's a piece of metal lying by the start / finish line."
The nineth caution came on lap 142. McMurray was back on the lead lap, and Riggs got the free pass.
"What was it doing there, Mike?" Baldwin Jr asked.
"Same. It's just real real loose on the gas. It's perfect in, it's good on the centre, and I can't get the gas. So that's why I think a left rear innerliner... but don't do much. I think, if it stays green, it will come to me.
"It might not be a bad idea to pit and to gas and go at the end," Mikey added his suggestion. "I think Blaney and everyone behind me will probably come."
Baldwin Jr wanted to go half down on the wedge. "It'll be this time, guys." The next part came with static.
"If they pit, stay out. 10-4," Mikey acknowledged. "Uhhh... so far, they're all staying out. I'm on pit road. They all stayed out, until they got to about four ahead of me. Then they started pitting."
The crew chief said he would put on four tires and make the wedge adjustment. Mikey made his stop.
"All right, pace car's pulling off. Ready? Ready? Green flag," Ross observed on lap 145. Kenseth led, and the #55 was in 25th. "One more trying outside. There. Clear for a second. All right, you've got one more there - the last one."
Mears and Newman dropped Mikey to 27th one lap into the run. He regained the 26th spot to Newman, but lost the spot again to the #12 on lap 149. One lap later, Kvapil and Blaney got around him.
Mikey said he couldn't get into the gas.
"10-4, man, just let it come to you," Baldwin Jr encouraged his driver.
The #55 Domino's Dodge got back around Blaney for 28th on lap 152. One lap later, he rounded Kvapil for another position.
"All clear," said the spotter.
He picked up 26th to Bobby Labonte on lap 154; however, Riggs got around him the next time around the track. Kvapil passed one lap later. Mikey picked up 27th by getting around Scott Riggs on lap 158.
"Good job, man! All clear! You're catching them all! You're getting them! Just keep digging!" Baldwin Jr praised.
Yeley spun, bringing out the tenth caution on lap 161. David Stremme got the free pass, and Mikey was marked in 26th.
"Tommy, it just doesn't work right. I mean, it takes that long for it to start sticking. And as soon as it starts sticking, immediately, it starts skating the front a little bit. But not bad. It's just that loose. You can see me in here pretty busy. When I get on the gas... whatever you want to do. Just change it." Mikey suggested a two tire change or an adjustment with liner pressure.
Baldwin Jr called for right sides and fuel. "Let's do four tires, guys, and let's pull that tire out of the right rear," the crew chief then changed his mind.
Cars made stops, including the #55. Mikey was led around the #88 when he went to his box.
"Kenny, you got another set of tires? We're going to need another set," Baldwin Jr said to the crew.
"Lapped cars are coming up on your inside. They're still looking at it," Ross told his driver. "All right. They gave it to the 43, Mike."
Bobby Labonte was lined up in front of Mikey for the restart.
Racing resumed on lap 164 with Clint Bowyer's #07 leading. Mikey was 29th.
"88's got smoke out of it up there," Ross noted.
Mikey picked up a spot one lap into the run, with Jarrett's drop. Kenseth passed Bowyer, and was credited with leading lap 166. The pair continued to drive side-by-side. Bowyer regained the lead on the backstretch, along the high side. He had lap 167. Meanwhile, Menard had passed and put the #55 back to 29th.
Jarrett was blackflagged for smoking. As Jarrett went to pit road, Mikey picked up 28th again from Menard. He fell a spot to that #15 one circuit later.
"It's just the worst it's been all day. It's backing into the turns, and it's plowing," Mikey reported.
"Outside corner. Door," Ross said, as Mikey fell to 30th on lap 172. "All clear," he added with Stremme's pass. The #55 was the last car on the lead lap. Meanwhile, Kenseth had retaken the lead.
"10-4," Baldwin Jr replied. "Keep digging, man. You'll get four more guys. Keep digging. Got 25 to go, Michael."
Lap 179 saw Mikey get around Stremme for 29th.
"42.40. 50's and 70's in front of you," Baldwin Jr read off lap times. "42.40. 50's and 60's in front of you.
"50's. 60's in front of you.
"50's. 60's and 70's in front of you, man. Keep digging," Baldwin Jr encouraged. "38. Great lap! Keep digging, man!
"40's. 90's and 60's in front of you. Keep digging, man.
"55. 70's and 60's in front of you."
The spotter came in with, "15 to go. Leader at the line now."
"40's. 60's and 70's ahead of you. Great job!
"50's. 70's and 80's in front of you.
"That was a 59 with 70's and 90's in front of you," Baldwin Jr continued to read off times. "10 to go.
"Atta boy. You'll get these two boys up there now. 9 to go."
"Clear, nice job!" said Ross.
On lap 193, Mikey passed Nemechek for 28th.
"All clear. Nice job!" Ross added a moment later.
Mikey was 27th, ahead of Newman on lap 194.
"Keep digging, man. We'll get this 66 too," Baldwin Jr encouraged.
Truex Jr lost a tire with five laps to go. His #1 slowed on the track. Mikey got ahead of him and picked up 26th on lap 196.
"Keep digging, man. You'll get him. Keep digging. 5 to go. You're half a second faster than he is.
"59. That's top 15 times there, top 15 times," Baldwin Jr continued.
"All clear. Nice job!" Ross added.
Getting around Green's #66 on lap 198 moved Mikey up to 25th.
"Keep going, man. You can get that 22. Come on!" Baldwin Jr encouraged. "Keep going. Top 13 time right there, man. Keep digging."
Bowyer dropped on lap 199, allowing the #55 to pick up 24th.
"Two to go," Baldwin Jr said. "Catching them half a second a lap, man. You can get 'em.
"52.90. Sitting in 24th right now, 24th."
Mikey passed Blaney on the last lap, and finished 23rd.
"You did a good job," Baldwin Jr said at the stripe. "That's the 23rd spot. Good job today, Mike! Good job!"
"Good job, y'all," Mikey complimented his team. "I don't know what had us all messed up at the beginning. I was just so loose." He said the adjustments during the day helped. "You've got to crawl before you can walk. That's two top 20's in a row, so we'll build on that.
"I just said I would hit the wall or pass him," Mikey added, in regard to Blaney. "You can't do that with 20 to go, but you can do that on the last lap."
"Nice job, Mike," Baldwin Jr praised.
NASCAR goes to Bristol next. Watch Mikey in the Sharpie 500! Coverage starts August 26th at 7:00pm ET on TNT. He may also compete in the Food City 250 the day before, which will air on the same station at 7:30pm.
