Mikey 29th at Daytona; Dale and David 16th and 18th by Kellyanne Lynch
17 February 2008
Michael Waltrip finished 29th in the 50th Daytona 500, today's Sprint Cup race at Daytona International Speedway. He suffered a bouncy #55 Napa Auto Parts Camry throughout most of the feature and sustained damage in a lap 176 accident. His drivers Dale Jarrett and David Reutimann finished 16th and 18th respectively.
"Got a copy yet, Michael?" Crew chief Paul Andrews asked at 3:38pm ET.
"1, 2. Hello?" Mikey replied.
Paul acknowledged and asked if spotter Mark Green was on the radio yet.
"Yeah, I got you," Mark replied.
"All right. Less than a minute."
The fans gave the call to start engines one minute later, led by Mikey's brother Darrell.
Paul said something over the radio that I couldn't understand.
"I'm gonna follow it," Mikey replied.
"What's that?"
"I'm gonna follow it."
"All right. It might need another piece of tape."
"It's fine," Mikey said. "What pit are we in?"
"Opening in front of us, 21 I believe it is," Paul replied. "In front of the 01. I see it now."
"Generally, I have people put a map on the dashboard," Mikey told his new crew chief. "I know I need to hold people's hands to do stuff." He said he liked to see the two or three cars around his box.
Paul said the #01 was in front and the #88 behind them.
Cars rolled off pit road at 3:33pm, with Junior Johnson leading the field in the pace car.
"Hey, Mike. Right there, you're ten away," Mark noted regarding pit box location.
"Okay, thanks, Mark," Mikey replied. "Just make sure we keep our... don't be talking on the radio when we're trying to pit. Try to keep that all cool."
"10-4."
"Mark, you going to get him all the way in the box, or are you going to take him to the 5?" Paul asked.
"I'll get him to the ten, and you take him from the 5."
"10-4."
"It looks like our speed limit will be 4650. Is that correct?" Mikey asked.
"That is correct," Paul replied. Then he said, "That is two miles over the speed limit right there."
"What?"
"That's two miles over the posted speed limit."
After a pause, Mikey told his crew chief, "Well, all I can tell you is that I"m going 4650, and I"m right on the pace car. So I don't know what y'all are saying."
Paul said, according to the numbers they had, it was wrong. He said they should be all right.
"Well, two miles over will give you a penalty, so I don't know why you're saying that."
Paul told him they were allowed five miles per hour, so he was in good shape.
"Okay, Mike, coming to the one to go this time. One to go," Mark noted.
The green flag waved at 3:41pm with Richard Petty waving the green flag. He waved it without his hat on as it blew off last time.
"All right, pace car is off."
"I got it, Mark," Mikey replied.
Polesitter Jimmie Johnson immediately held onto his lead, but Denny Hamlin pushed Mikey into the top spot on the backstretch. Johnson dropped behind him, but Mikey led the first lap of the 50th Daytona 500. Hamlin was now to his outside as the field ran two-by-two. Johnson pushed the #55. Mikey was now down to the inside line. Going into lap 3, Johnson challenged from the outside, but Dale Earnhardt Jr was pushing Mikey.
"48 looking outside, outside," said Mark. Johnson edged in front of him, with Mikey beside the #11 of Hamlin. "Still outside. Got the 88 behind you."
Johnson led lap 4. Hamlin immediately took it. Mikey was now behind the #48, who pushed leader Hamlin.
"Still lined up on the outside," Mark noted. On lap 4, Mikey was marked in 4th with Johnson in the lead. Hamlin jumped back to the top spot. "Still lined up on the outside, 88 still with you."
Lap 5 saw Mikey in 7th.
"Still lined up on the outside," Mark said.
"I'm too loose, loose," Mikey reported.
"10-4," Paul replied.
Tony Stewart led lap 6. Mikey was 5th.
"Still out there," Mark warned.
Mikey got in the sucker hole on lap 8 and was getting shuffled to the back.
"Still in the middle," Mark said. "Still in the middle. Still in the middle. Still inside, you're still in the middle. Clear behind the 43 high, clear high. Clear by two, back to the 70 car. Still clear behind you."
Lap 8 saw Mikey in 28th.
"2 car inside," Mark continued. David was 36th, and Dale was 37th. "Clear all around, clear all around. Got the 19 car half a car length back. Clear by two on the 19."
Mikey was 29th on lap 9 while David was up a spot.
"It's mainly loose off," Mikey informed his crew chief. "The bumps seem to upset it, and then it gets loose."
"10-4," Paul replied.
"19 car inside, inside. By himself. 66 car one back on the bottom."
"10 laps, 10," Paul noted.
"You're clear. Coming outside, outside. Clear all around, clear all around. Back outside, outside. Got the 96 outside. Behind him, it's clear. Clear by ten behind the 96. Clear."
"I'm just going to say I'm classic loose. The bumps do upset it, but I don't think that's the problem," Mikey elaborated.
"Okay," Paul replied. "10-4."
"Clear of the 7. Clear all around," Mark said. Mikey was 31st on lap 12.
"I might have a shock falling off. I might have a shock off or something. It's doing something weird," Mikey suggested.
"10-4."
Mikey was 33rd on lap 13.
"Inside. Clear behind that 87. Next car back's the 00."
"Ask him if he sees anything," Mikey requested.
"Looks real smooth when it comes by here," Paul replied.
On lap 14, Mikey was 33rd, David was 34th, and Dale was 36th.
"00 inside, inside," Mark said.
"Reutimann said it looks good, looks good," Paul relayed the message.
"Clear behind the 00, clear by four behind the 7 car," Mark continued.
On lap 15, David was 33rd, and Mikey was 35th. Dale was still 36th. Meanwhile, Denny Hamlin was back in the lead.
"Both of our teammates are also complaining of being loose," Paul reported. "Coming up to lap 16."
Lap 17 saw Jeff Gordon take the lead. Mikey was 35th, David 32nd, and Dale 36th.
"Still inside, still inside," Mark warned. "Clear low, clear low."
On lap 19, David was 31st, Mikey was 33rd, and Dale was 35th.
"Clear, clear all around. Clear all around." He told Mikey the #01 was looking to pass, and the #44 was pushing.
"Twenty laps, twenty laps. Make sure your temps are okay," Paul requested.
"01 still outside, 96 with him," Mark warned.
"Um, 200, 240."
"10-4."
"Clear high behind the 44 if you need it. 87 four back."
Lap 21 saw Hamlin back in the lead. David was 29th, Dale was 34th, and Mikey was 35th. They were 30th, 32nd, and 33rd by lap 23.
"Still outside. 96 coming with you. Clear, clear all around. 96 behind you," Mark said. "Clear all around, clear all around. Inside, inside. Clear, clear."
Dale was now 30th, pushing David in 29th on lap 25. Mikey was still 33rd.
"2 car up top, struggling a little bit. Clear high if you need it."
"25 laps, 25. We're twelve away from a pit stop."
"Clear all around. Clear all around."
"I'm just classic loose. Just feels like maybe track bar," Mikey said.
"10-4."
"7 car still outside."
"Was also going to put some air in the left sides if you're okay with that," Paul suggested.
"Yeah, maybe a little," Mikey agreed.
"10-4."
Mark said the #96 went to the top, then went back behind him. "Clear all around."
David was 28th on lap 27. Dale was 30th, and Mikey was 32nd with the misfortunes of Busch's #2.
"7 still out there, 96 still following you. Clear all around, clear all around."
David was 27th by lap 31. Dale was 29th, and Mikey was 30th.
"96 car lined up behind you, just following you," Mark said.
"Five more laps, five," Paul informed his driver. David was 26th, Dale was 28th, and Mikey was 29th on lap 33.
"Clear all around," Mark noted. "Still out there. Still there. Still coming back, outside. Clear, clear all around."
MWR had all gained a spot as people began making pit stops. John Andretti, Joe Nemechek, Casey Mears, and Sam Hornish Jr were the first drivers in. Many followed suit the next time around the track.
"Two more laps, two more," Paul reminded his driver.
"Slow one on the bottom here," Mark warned.
"My pressures all the way on four," Mikey said. He pit on lap 37.
"Come on down, come on down," Paul replied.
"4650. 46," Mark reminded him. "Ten to go."
"Five, four, three, two, one. Right on your sign, right on your sign," Paul guided. "All the way out, all the way out. All clear, all clear."
"Stay below the yellow there until you get off the road course. Got cars up to speed coming by you here," Mark spotted. "12 outside. Clear by twenty, back to the next group."
Hamlin pit on lap 38, giving up the lead. Dave Blaney took the lead. Nemechek returned to pit road with a tire rub, and the hood went up on his #78. His car went to the garage.
"Clear by ten. 2 car's up to speed. Still clear by eight.
"There's some small spots, but both of those tires look real good," Paul stated.
"22 on the bottom here just came off pit road. Clear, clear. 66 still with you."
"I also put air in the left side to take some of that pressure out of that left front. It should be good," Paul added.
With Blaney's pit, Jeff Gordon was in the lead. Kyle Busch passed him on lap 39. Stops had cycled. David was 23rd, Mikey was 25th, and Dale was 29th on lap 40.
David was 24th on lap on lap 43. Mikey was behind him in 25th, and Dale was 29th.
"Clear by six, back to the 22. Pulling away from them," Mark noted.
"It's a little bit better now that the pressure's come up," Mikey commented.
"10-4, 10-4. That's eight laps of green, eight," Paul replied.
"Clear by twelve on the 22," Mark said.
On lap 47, Gordon looked under Busch's #18 for the top spot. He had no help though, and Hamlin pushed his teammate Busch by him.
"Just so you know, you're 25th right there. 25th," Paul told his driver. Dale was 28th now on lap 48, having passed Scott Riggs' #66. Hamlin took the lead.
Mikey got around David and moved up to 22nd on lap 49. David was just behind him in 23rd, with Dale in 28th.
"Clear all around. 00 clear also," Mark said.
"If we can open up this left front shock under caution, I think we'll run better. I'm going crazy out here," Mikey told his crew chief.
"Okay, 10-4," Paul replied.
"Clear behind the 1 if you need it. 00 still lined up behind you. Clear behind him," Mark spotted. "45 car on the bottom is a lap down. 29 car inside, 00 car still lined up behind you. Still inside. 00 inside. Clear behind the 00. Clear all around. 22 lined up behind you."
David's pass put him into 23rd. Mikey was 24th with Dale in 28th on lap 54.
"22 lined up behind you, clear behind him," Mark said. Meanwhile, Kyle Busch reclaimed the lead. 22 got a run outside, outside. Clear behind the 22."
Mikey was 25th on lap 56 with Blaney's pass. Nemechek came back on track.
"Twenty green laps, twenty green laps. Halfway on fuel," Paul noted.
"Clear by twenty to the next car," Mark noted.
On lap 58, David was 22nd, Mikey was 24th, and Dale was still 28th; Sam Hornish Jr had lost a few spots, allowing the advance of the first two. Hornish Jr continued his fall back as he pit with a vibration, allowing Dale to take 27th on lap 58. David had lost a spot too.
"Still clear by thirty," Mark said on lap 60. Dale picked up 26th by getting around Juan Pablo Montoya.
"Twenty-five laps on your tires, twenty-five," Paul said.
"Still out there," Mark warned. John Andretti made a stop on lap 62. One lap later, David was back up to 22nd by passing Kevin Harvick.
"Mine's just bad. It's pushing and loose. I'd say, I'd say it's fine right now though," Mikey commented.
"10-4," Paul replied.
"That shock would help me."
"10-4. That's exactly right."
"How many more laps?"
"Eleven or twelve, eleven or twelve. If you feel anything, we've got plenty of fuel, but if you want to come down..."
Hamlin took the lead on lap 65. MWR was 22nd (David), 24th (Mikey), and 26th (Dale).
"I think my right front's going away. We'd better pit," Mikey said.
"Okay, 10-4."
"Clear by forty behind you, clear by forty," Mark observed. David was 23rd on lap 66.
"We're ready whenever you think you're ready," Paul told his driver. He said to hang onto it and pit with the leaders if he could.
Lap 67 saw Busch reclaim the top spot. Elliott Sadler scuffed the wall and went to pit road. David was now 22nd, Mikey 23rd, and Dale 25th on lap 69.
"Still clear by forty."
"Yeah, the lucky dog is getting a little bigger," Mikey commented.
"Yeah, you're coming back to them. Keep digging," Mark encouraged.
"Four more laps," said Paul. "Four more laps. NASCAR is looking for debris too."
On lap 71, MWR was 21st, 22nd, and 24th. Kenny Wallace's #87 had made a stop. David and Mikey got around Casey Mears the next time around the track. Mears then went to pit road.
"It's pushing and loose. Do something," Mikey told his crew chief.
"10-4," Paul replied. "Okay, pit this time round. Pit this time round. Four tires."
A bunch of drivers hit pit road for scheduled stops on lap 75.
"Still clear by forty. Got a lot of room behind you," Mark said. "Got the leaders coming in right now. 4650 when you get here, 4650. Ten to go."
"Five, four, three, two, one. Right on your sign, right on your sign. Close to the wall, angle your jack, angle your jack, angle your jack, angle your jack," Paul directed. "All the way out, all the way out. Looking good, looking good."
"4650," Mark added. "Clear all the way out there. Next group just coming off four. Got the 48 car coming off pit road with you. Clear all around, clear all around. Next car coming up to speed is in Turn 1."
Reed Sorenson took the lead with Busch's stop on lap 73. Sorenson came in two laps later. Mark said the group they'd been running with is just coming off Turn 2.
"It's my fault, y'all. It's my fault," Mikey said.
"We'll bounce back. It's okay," Paul assured him. "Tires look good. A real small bubble on one of them."
"Got a group of five about twenty back from you."
"Has everybody pitted?" Mikey asked.
"10-4," Mark replied.
"Waiting on a couple more. No, everybody's pitted now. Everybody's pitted now," was Paul's answer.
"Michael, you're thirty-something seconds in front of the leader. He's just coming down the back straightaway," Ty came on the radio.
Kyle Busch was in the top spot on lap 78 as stops had cycled. David was 23rd, Mikey was 24th, and Dale was 26th.
"Am I catching the double zero?" Mikey asked.
"Same lap times right now, same lap times right now," Paul replied. "No."
"Looked like I caught him that time a little bit," Mikey commented.
Paul said he was slightly ahead. Then he said they ran the same time.
Lap 80 saw the first caution for debris.
"Caution's out, caution's out," Mark stated. "Got debris on the back somewhere. Leader's just now in the middle of three and four."
"Man, that's only five green laps," Paul said. "Five. How's our adjustment? I know it's a little early to ask."
"You know, it feels all right right now," Mikey replied, "but I'm thinking I'm too abrupt on my left front. It's just making me loose." He said he felt chassis tight.
Paul said he would open the shock.
"Okay, we should put four on it though, right?"
Paul said yes. He told him they would be slower on the stop, but they'd be in good shape. "We'll be all right."
"All right, pits will be open this time, this time," Mark noted.
Leaders pit under caution, and Jamie McMurray received the free pass.
"Go low, go low, go low, go low. All the way, all the way, all the way, all the way. Good good," Paul guided his driver off pit road after the stop.
"Okay, we got our left front shock done," Paul informed his driver as the #55 rode under caution. He said he made no adjustments but the shock this time. "75 to 100 pounds of rebound on the left front."
"Okay, thank you," Mikey replied.
"And under green the last time, just a little small bubble on the right front. Everything else looked good," Paul said regarding the tires.
"And, for your information, the track bar and the air pressures are like we practiced and like we ran in the 150's."
"Okay, thank you," Mikey repeated.
"Okay, Mike, it will be one to go this time," Mark said. "One to go. Got a few lapped cars coming."
"Definitely some two tire stops on the last run," Paul commented.
"Okay, pace car is off," Mark said. "Ready? Green green green."
Lap 85 saw the restart with Reed Sorenson's #41 Target Dodge leading the field. David was 20th, Dale was 29th, and Mikey was 30th.
"Clear by three on the 87," Mark observed.
Kurt Busch took the lead one lap into the run.
"Everybody's single file behind you," Mark continued. Mark Martin's #8 lost two tires and smoked to pit road. Brian Vickers also headed to the pits. "Clear by four. Side-by-side behind you. Black car on the bottom here's slow."
With these stops, David was up to 18th on lap 86. He fell to 20th the next time around the track. Dale was 26th, and Mikey was 27th. Mark cleared the #55 by Kyle Petty's #45.
"Clear low, clear low," said Mark. "7 car lined up with you. Clear by eight behind him."
David fell to 24th on lap 88; Dale and Mikey remained 26th and 27th.
"Got the 40 car in the middle coming back to you, coming back. Clear all around," Mark noted. David lost another spot the next time around the track. "Clear by one to the 29."
"Five laps, man. Five laps," Paul noted.
"Clear low if you need it. Clear all around. 29 outside, outside. Got the 00 behind you. 00 outside, outside. Clear behind the 00."
Dale was up to 24th on lap 90. David was 27th, and Mikey was 28th. On lap 91, they were 26th, 27th, and 28th.
"7 car inside. Still inside. Clear all around, clear all around."
"I'm just too bouncy. I don't know if I need a rubber in the right front or what," Mikey commented.
Paul asked, "What's that about the right front?"
Mikey repeated what he'd said.
"10-4."
"Clear of the 15," Mark said. "Clear all around."
On lap 93, David was 21st, Dale was 27th, and Mikey was 28th.
"15 outside, outside. 15 lined up with the 44."
"I might just need a little bit more air in that left front," Mikey suggested.
"10-4," Paul replied.
"48 there's struggling a little bit," Mark commented.
One lap later, Dale was up to 25th.
"Got the 42 lined up behind you, trying to help," Mark observed. "48's still there, still outside, still outside. No help behind you. Clear right there, clear. 42 lined up with you. 42 outside. Clear high behind the 42."
Lap 95 saw Kyle Busch pass his brother for the lead; teammate Jeff Gordon pushed him into the top spot. David was 21st, Dale was 25th, and Mikey was 28th.
"Clear the 42," Mark said. "70's still there. Clear, clear. Clear by five on the 42. Still clear by five on the 42. Still there. Clear, clear."
Passing Paul Menard moved Mikey into 27th on lap 98.
"Fifteen laps on your tires, fifteen," Paul noted.
Gordon attempted to pass his teammate for the lead, but Busch got quite a run with his brother Kurt pushing him. On lap 100, David was 20th, Dale was 24th, and Mikey was 26th. Dale gained a spot a lap later.
"Clear, clear," said Mark.
Mikey was up to 25th on lap 102. David was 19th, and Dale was 24th. Kyle Busch jumped way out ahead of everybody else.
"Clear, clear all around. Still inside. Still down there. Clear low if you need it, clear all around."
"Halfway on your tires, halfway on your tires. Nineteen laps," Paul noted. Mikey was now 23rd, having passed Dale.
"Clear by one on the 44. Coming inside, inside. Clear low, clear low. Clear, clear all around. Clear high, clear all around, clear all around."
David was 18th on lap 105. Mikey was 23rd, and Dale was 25th.
"22 still outside," Mark warned. "Clear behind him if you need it. 41 still outside. Clear by half to the 22."
Mikey was up to 22nd on lap 106 with Dale in 24th. David was now 21st.
"Clear by four. Clear all around, clear all around."
Matt Kenseth charged along the inside for the lead, and Greg Biffle pushed him there for lap 108. Meanwhile, Kurt Busch got into the back of Earnhardt Jr and slid into the grass. He held it.
"It's just... I don't know. It's just pushing and loose," Mikey commented.
"10-4," Paul replied.
"Still outside, still out there," Mark warned. Mikey was now 20th, ahead of David on lap 109. Dale was 24th. "Clear behind the 00 if you need it. Clear all around. 41 still outside. 00 outside."
Greg Biffle took the lead on lap 109.
"Still out there, still there," Mark said. "29 helping you. Still there, still there. Clear of the 2, clear of the 2. 00 lined up with you."
On lap 110, Mikey was 18th. David was 19th, and Dale was 24th.
"19 still out there," Mark warned. "No help from behind, lined up on the outside here. Still outside, still outside. Clear behind the 00 if you need it. 29 inside. Clear, clear all around. Clear, clear all around."
Two laps later, David was 17th, Mikey was 18th, and Dale was 21st.
"00 and 5 car both outside. Clear behind the 00 if you need it."
"Ten laps until we pit. Ten laps," Paul noted.
On lap 113, Kyle Busch was back in the lead.
"Still clear, still clear. 2 car looking inside. Still clear, still clear. Clear by eight, two-by-two behind you."
David was 16th, and Mikey was 17th on lap 115. Dale was still 21st.
"Still clear by six," Mark said. "Looking inside, 5 car. Inside. clear all around right there. 41 and the 2 lined up behind you on the top.
"5 car looking inside, inside."
David was 14th on lap 117. Mikey was still 17th, and Dale was 21st.
"Clear, clear all around. Clear by three."
"Five more laps, five," Paul noted. David dropped a spot on lap 118.
"Clear by four," said Mark. Carl Edwards, Reagan Smith, and Martin Truex Jr pit at the end of the lap. Dale was now 22nd.
"Clear, clear all around," Mark said. Mikey was 14th, one spot ahead of David. Dale was back up to 21st. "24 car struggling a little bit there."
"24 is going to pit the next time, 24 is going to pit the next time. Two more laps for us," Paul informed his driver.
"24 stopping this time, Mike," said Mark. David was 7th, and Mikey was 8th. "00 inside."
"There's really no sense in that," Mikey commented.
"Paul, we stopping this time?" Mark asked.
"One more, one more," Paul replied.
"Okay," said Mark. "One more. Clear by ten right there, clear by ten. We lost a few of them there."
"This time. Pit this time."
On lap 121, Mikey was 4th, Dale was 5th, and David was 6th. Mark said everyone knew he was coming this time. Mikey led lap 122 before coming to pit road.
"4650, 4650," Mark reminded. "All right, you're at ten to go."
"Five, four, three, two, one. Right on your sign, right on your sign," Paul directed. The three MWR cars came in together. "All the way up, all the way up. Good good. 5 beside you."
The three MWR cars came out together too with Dale in front of and David behind the #55. Ryan Newman had taken the lead when Mikey made his stop.
"Clear behind that 5, 44 car two back. 24 car coming outside, outside. Clear right there. Clear all around, clear all around," Mark noted. "Got the 00 lined up with you. Clear by eight to the next car."
Kyle Busch was in the lead when stops cycled on lap 124.
"Just a spot on the right rear. Everything else looks good," Paul assessed the tires.
On lap 125, Mikey was 19th, Dale was 20th, and David was 21st.
"Clear clear," said Mark. "Still out there. 44 coming outside with him. Clear behind the 44."
Dale was 19th on lap 126. Mikey was 20th, and David was still 21st.
"Got the 00 with you. Clear by thirty behind him," Mark observed. "Clear by four on the 00."
"Eight green laps on your tires, eight. It's getting kind of cool here," Paul noted.
Mark warned of a car inside. "Clear, clear."
Passing Casey Mears' #5 on lap 131 moved Mikey into 18th.
"41 still out there, still out there, still out there," Mark warned. "No help from behind. Clear high, clear high behind the 00 if you need it. Still out there, still out there. 44 coming outside. Clear all around. 11 up there on the top is struggling. He's headed to the back."
With his teammates dropping him out of line, Mikey was 21st on lap 132. David was 18th, and Dale was 20th.
"Clear, clear," said Mark. Dale and Mikey each gained a spot the next time around the track.
"Eleven laps on your tires. Eleven," Paul stated.
"45 car on the bottom there is two laps down," Mark said. "Clear, clear all around."
"Fifteen laps on your tires, fifteen. P20 on the track, P20. You're looking good."
Passing Dale on lap 138 moved Mikey into 19th; Dale was now 20th.
"Still out there, still out there," Mark warned. "44 helping you. Clear high if you need it, clear high if you need it. 29 outside, 00 still helping you."
Mikey and Dale had both passed David.
"5 and the 44 lined up on the outside here. 44 coming back outside, you're clear by half. Still outside, still out there. Still outside, still outside. Clear, clear."
On lap 141, Dale was 16th, Mikey was 17th, and David was 20th.
"29 still out there," said Mark. "No help from behind. Everybody lined up on the outside here. Still out there - the 5 and the 00. Clear high if you need it, clear high all around."
One lap later, Dale was 14th. David was 18th, and Mikey was 19th.
"Clear, clear all around."
"Halfway on your fuel and tires. Halfway," Paul noted.
"I'm still junk," Mikey told his crew chief.
"10-4."
Kenny Wallace was black-flagged for not maintaining the minimum speed. He went to the garage.
"Feel like I need some help with the right rear to stabilise," Mikey commented. "It's all over the place."
Paul asked if he needed more air pressure.
"I don't know. It's flappy, but it's loose as shit."
"10-4."
"Clear by ten on the 24. You've lost him," Mark said.
"Did we help our left front, or did we hurt it?" Paul asked.
"We helped it, I think. It's just not right," Mikey replied.
"10-4."
"Still out there, still outside. Clear, clear," Mark observed.
David was 17th, Dale was 18th, and Mikey was 19th on lap 147.
"Still clear by twenty on the 24," Mark said two laps later. Lap 150 saw David gain 16th.
"Eleven laps until we pit. Eleven," Paul said.
"I'm pretty loose," Mikey complained.
"Caution's out, caution's out. We've got debris off of two... somewhere," Mark told his driver.
The second caution was also for debris, this time on lap 151.
"Hey, man, I'm going to put another pound in the left front pressure wise," Paul said. He also wanted to make a track bar adjustment. "Not bad though. We're doing good, compared to other complaints."
"Yeah, but I can't win like this." Mikey was giving his suggestions when Paul talked over him and said what they would do.
"Pit road will be open this time," Mark said. Leaders came onto pit road, and Brian Vickers got the free pass. "Okay, 4650 when you get here. 4650. All right, you've got ten to go."
Paul told Mikey to slow down as he came within five of his pit box. "Back up, back up, back up. Good there. Real close to the wall, real close to the wall."
Mikey had slid through his pit, through the empty spot in front, and almost went into Earnhardt Jr's #88 box.
"That's okay. Everything's fine. We'll be in good shape there."
"I faked me out with Reutimann. That's my fault. I didn't know where he was going," Mikey explained.
"That's all right."
"Do we need to top off?" Mikey asked.
Paul said they didn't with so many laps left until the end. Mikey's mistake had dropped him back to 27th. Dale was 14th, and David was 17th. "Mark, was that a debris caution, or what was that?"
"That was a debris caution."
Paul told him he could top off, but there was no way they'd make it to the end. "Let's go ahead and plan on that," he said, regarding pitting with one lap to go.
"Okay, Mike, it's going to be one to go when we get here, one to go when we get here," Mark told his driver. Mikey headed for pit road. "4650, 4650. All right, you're at ten to go."
"Five, four, three, two, one," Paul guided. "Right on your sign, right on your sign. And go go go. Got one outside, one outside. And all clear."
Meanwhile, Jeff Gordon went to the garage. A bracket on a control arm under the hood had bent. The suspension problem affected his right front tire. Dale also made a stop, dropping him back a ways.
Greg Biffle led the lap 155 restart. David was 15th, Dale was 27th, and Mikey was 29th.
"Clear by three to the 83," Mark spotted. One lap into the run, David slid back to 17th. "83 lined up with you. Clear by six behind him. Clear the 01."
David was 15th on lap 157. Dale was 28th, and Mikey was still 29th. "Got the 83, 11, 99 lined up behind you. 83 looking outside, outside." Mark then warned that the #11 was coming too, and Mikey was three-wide.
On lap 158, Kyle Busch reclaimed the lead. Mikey was 32nd. Dale was 28th, and David was up to 14th. Dale fell back to 31st one lap after that.
"70 car in front of you has been struggling a little," Mark warned. "44 still inside. You're in the middle. Still in the middle. Clear high, clear high. Still inside. Clear all around, 44 lined up behind you."
The third caution came on lap 161 for a two-car wreck. David Ragan had hit the wall hard in front of Matt Kenseth after blowing a tire. Kenseth sustained right front damage from his teammate. A bunch of drivers jumped down pit road to avoid the scene.
"Got a wreck in front of you, got a wreck in front of you. Ease up in front of the inside line," Mark told him to decrease his speed coming through there. "Just slowly through there."
"Man, what did you think of the air pressure and stuff?" Paul asked.
"It's just going to be hard to drive, Paul," Mikey replied. "It bounces too much. It feel s like the springs are too tall, the way I"m hitting. No, I'll tell you the way they're hitting. It's just too harsh. But, if we can make it on gas from here, let's just go with this air pressure, I think. It's fine. Let's see what happens."
Paul asked if he had noticed any difference in six laps.
"It wasn't any worse."
"Okay. That's a good thing. And we can make it on gas for sure." Paul called for four tires and no adjustments.
"We can do gas only, if you want."
Paul wanted to get tires, even if they needed track position.
Cars pit under caution, including Mikey. After the stop, the driver said he would have liked to have tried to go with two tires. Paul did too, but said they could only do that if they had a better car.
"We'll see if we can get another chance at it," Mikey said. "Maybe we'll get another break here."
"Okay, Mike, when you get back over here, it will be one to go," Mark told his driver. "One to go."
"All set on gas, or do we need to top?" Mikey asked.
"We're all set," Paul replied.
Earnhardt Jr, who had stayed on track, was now in the lead in his new #88 Amp energy drink ride. David was 14th, Dale was 28th, and Mikey was 29th.
"35 to go when you get the green, 35," Paul noted the laps left in the race.
"What, did everyone in front of the 18 get two?" Mikey asked.
"Yeah, the 18 may have got gas or two also," Bobby replied.
Racing resumed on lap 165. Matt Kenseth almost immediately took the lead.
"Got the 99 lined up right behind you," Mark said. "24 car coming off pit road here on the bottom. 99 car inside, inside. Clear behind him. Clear by three back to the 8 car."
One lap into the run, David was 16th. Dale was 28th, and Mikey was 30th. David lost two more spots one lap later.
"Just got the 8 car behind you," Mark noted. "Everybody else is way back. Clear, clear all around. Still there, still there. 8 following you. Clear all around. 8 still with you. Side by side behind you."
On lap 168, David was 17th, Dale was 27th, and Mikey was 28th. Kasey Kahne took the lead during that lap. He was credited with the lead the next time around, but then Biffle pushed Stewart into the lead. Mark warned Mikey that the #70 car was slow.
Lap 170 saw David in 19th. Dale was 26th, and Mikey was still 28th.
"30 to go, 30 to go," said Paul.
"28 still there," Mark warned. "Clear high, clear low, clear all around."
Stewart got sent up the hill, and Earnhardt Jr took the lead. Mikey went three-wide and was on the bottom, then two-wide.
"Clear of the 44, clear all around."
Stewart and Earnhardt Jr fought for the top spot and Mark warned Mikey of a slow car on the bottom. David was 17th, Mikey was 27th, and Dale was 28th on lap 172. Elliott Sadler got into the side of Hornish Jr.
"Clear all around," Mark said.
"I'm way too loose," Mikey commented.
Paul replied with, "10-4."
On lap 173, Stewart reclaimed the lead. The #96 was pushing Mikey, who was now 25th.
"Still outside," said Mark. "8 car coming back at ya. Clear, clear. Coming back outside, outside. Still out there, still out there. 42 car with you. No help from behind, no help. 42 back behind us. Clear all around, clear all around."
Mikey was 22nd on lap 175. David was 16th, and Dale was 28th.
"Outside, outside. Still there, still there. Clear clear clear. Still inside. Clear, clear. Clear high if you need it. Coming back outside, outside. Still there. Still outside, still outside. Clear, clear high behind the 29 if you need it."
"24 to go, 24," Paul said. Mikey was 20th.
The yellow flag waved for the fourth time on lap 177. Johnson had been loose coming off Turn 2, and Hornish Jr had spun him. Denny Hamlin was also involved.
"Still outside. Got a spin. Come down, come down. Straight, straight. Keep straight, keep straight. Caution's out," Mark guided.
Mikey said he got touched in the rear. "It bent my nose. Damn it, we had a good car coming there."
"You were moving, you were moving. That's good," Paul commented. He asked if they should pit the first time.
"We're going to have to be last anyway," Mikey said.
Paul told the crew to take a good look.
Mikey said he had no water problems "Make sure it's not dripping."
Paul said it was a little beat up but not bad. They would need a little tape; Mikey would have to come back in.
"Push the hood down gently, y'all. Push the hood down gently," Mikey instructed. "We've got time. Where's the pace car at, Mark?"
"Just off of two."
Paul said he wasn't sure about barribond and to keep it away from the cowell. Mikey said it was a little warm but that should be okay.
Mikey came back in for more work. Paul told them not to put tape on the grill, and Mikey said to clean off the bottom well. Somebody said that was good for drag. When Mark said the pace car was in Turn 3, Paul told them to wrap up and told Mikey to roll. Bobby said the car should be good. The team decided they were good to go. Paul asked about temperatures.
"They seem to be all right," Mikey said.
"Okay, good job. Good job. We're cool," Paul assured the team.
"Tail of the field just almost into one," Mark said. Paul told Mikey to drop to the tail end of the longest line. Someone said the #48 was back there with them, and they'd go talk to that team.
"Tell these guys to move over if they're a lap down, like the 01 and this 40. The 40 doesn't need to be back there," Mikey instructed. "The 78 on the lead lap?"
When Paul said no, Mikey said that NASCAR needed to tell them to move over, because "they're not in the game."
"When you get the green, we're going to be 20 to go," Mark said.
The green flag waved on lap 180. Earnhardt Jr led. David was 17th, Dale was 27th, and Mikey was 28th. Clint Bowyer shot along the inside with Ryan Newman's help and took the lead almost immediately. Earnhardt Jr got hung out.
"Suck up and get in line with that 44," Paul adviced. "You're looking good."
David was 20th on lap 182. Dale was 27th, and Mikey was 28th.
"11 car one back, lined up with you," Mark said. "Looking outside, outside, outside. Big hole behind him."
"My car's broken," Mikey said.
"Coming in?" Paul asked.
"I was just going to say damage."
Mark warned of a big spin in front of Mikey on the bottom.
Mikey told Paul he knew to stay in line, and Paul apologised.
The fifth caution was on lap 183 for the race leader's spin. Mikey said his temps were fine. Paul told him to pit and to use shiny black tape and not barribond. He also called for four tires. Ryan Newman was now in the lead. Bowyer was still rolling, but he pit early.
"Pit road is closed," Mark said.
"What are they waiting on, man? We've got to race?" Mikey asked. "Tell them to make it on pit road with one to go. We need laps!"
Paul told crew members to start taping and not to add fuel. Mikey asked for the track bar to be raised a couple rounds, and Paul said okay.
"4650, 4650," Mark reminded his driver. "All right, you're ten to go."
"Five, four, three, two, one. Right on your sign, right on your sign," Paul guided.
"That ain't going to help nothing," Mikey commented on the patchwork being done during his stop. "You need two people - one to hold it down, and one to tape it."
Paul sent someone to help the first crew member. When Mark said the pace car was in Turn 3, Paul told the crew to wrap up the work, then told Mikey to drive all the way out.
"Track will be clear, Mike, all the way around," Mark observed. "It'll be one to go when you get back here. One to go. Paul, you make sure you count the laps down for him. I'll be busy here."
"10-4," Paul acknowledged.
"Tail of the field right there in front of you. Last car on the lead lap there, Paul."
"10-4. Looks like... the 07 still out there? The 07 is if he's out there?"
"Did he pit too soon?" Mikey asked.
"We believe yes," Paul replied.
"Tell the officials," Mikey said. "If he pitted too soon, he's in my way. I can't get around him. He needs to pull over!"
"We're working on it, we're working on it."
"I got him."
Ryan Newman led the restart on lap 187. David was 19th, Dale was 26th, and Mikey was 31st.
"07 lined up with you," said Mark. "17 got a little damage there. Clear of the 17. 07 with you."
One lap into the run, David moved up to 16th. Dale and Mikey remained where they had been.
"Twelve to go, twelve," said Mark. "Just the 07 behind you. We've lost everybody else. Got one in the wall up here. Stay low. Slow down, slow down. Stay in the middle, stay in the middle. Caution's out, caution's out."
The sixth yellow was on lap 189. Dave Blaney had hit the wall, and Kevin Harvick tagged him when he came off. Quite a few drivers came onto pit road with problems.
"Just won't go no more," Mikey complained. He was 25th.
Paul said they were staying out and asked if Mikey had slide his tires.
"No, I'm happy. I'm sad, but I'm happy."
"Michael, Clint wants to know if it'll do any better if he's in front of you," Ty relayed.
"No, I can't. It won't. I'm just going to have to have to count on him to push me, and I'll push Johnson," Mikey replied. "I'm not going to give up my spot. Tell him I'll jump the start a little bit better this time."
"Looks like you're coming to one to go. Looks like you'll have eight laps when you take the green," Paul said.
"Got a pace truck up top off of four," Mark warned. "Okay, Mike, it will be single file. Just stay with the 1 car, I think it is, or the 66. Is it the 1 car, Paul?"
"The 66," said Paul. "Stay with the 66."
Jeff Burton led the field to the restart with eight laps to go. David was 13th, Dale was 20th, and Mikey was 23rd.
"07 inside, inside. Got another one with him. Clear, clear. 48 outside, outside. Got help coming, 42's coming. Lined up on the outside, one more, one more. Clear, clear. Outside, 42. Clear, clear all around, clear all around. Got another one coming, outside, outside. Clear. Inside, 28. Clear behind the 28. Clear all around."
Mikey was 32nd on lap 193. His drivers still rode where they had been.
"Got the 40 car two back."
"Six laps to go. Six," said Paul.
"Got one in the wall up high. Up high, just ease up. Caution's out," Mark spotted. "He's still rolling around two here. Watch for debris."
The seventh caution was for third place runner Casey Mears hitting the wall hard, scattering debris. He was able to drive away. Because there were less than ten laps left, no one received the free pass.
"There's a spot. Got any debris out there?" Paul asked.
"No, it just won't go. If they don't push me, I won't go," Mikey replied.
"Okay. No problem, man. Sounds good."
Mikey was currently 31st under yellow. David was 12th, and Dale was 19th.
"Be one to go when you get here," Mark said. "One to go."
"It'll be three laps to go when you get the green here. Three," Paul added. "The 8 coming behind you is back on the lead lap."
Burton led the lap 197 restart. Stewart drove to the outside, Kyle Busch to the outside, and Burton was sucked back through the pack down the middle. Stewart had the lead going into the backstretch.
"38 looking inside, inside," Mark warned Mikey. "Clear low behind him. 40 car three back. Clear, clear all around, clear all around."
Mikey was 29th on lap 198. David was still 12th, and Dale was 18th.
"Clear, clear," said Mark.
"Two laps to go. Two," Paul noted.
"Clear all around. Outside, outside. Clear behind him. Coming to the white flag this time."
The white flag waved. Stewart was up and down the track trying to block, but Kurt Busch pushed Ryan Newman into the lead. Newman went on to win.
"In the middle. Still inside, still inside," Mark observed. "Still down there. Still down there. Still there, inside, inside. Outside. Hold your line there. Checkered flag."
"Nice job at the end there. 29th, 29th," Paul praised.
Dale had finished 16th in his last Daytona 500. David had crossed in 18th.
Next week, NASCAR goes to Fontana. Coverage of the Sprint Cup's Auto Club 500 begins Sunday at 3:30pm ET on FOX. The Nationwide series runs their Stater Bros 300 the day before; coverage starts at 7:00pm on ESPN2.
DALE JARRETT, No. 44 UPS Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing
Finished: 16th
Has it sunk in that this is your last Daytona 500?
"Probably not. That will happen later on as soon as I get home and think about. By that time, it will be time to go to California. It is never ending, but this has been a good place for me. We stayed out of trouble and had a car good enough to make some passes at times and had some fun and that is all you can ask for."
Did you think about it on the final lap at all, that this is your last lap in the Daytona 500?
"Yeah. After I got past the start-finish line under the white flag and nobody wrecked, I thought about that. I was thinking that that was my last time I would make a lap here. I had time to cool down there and think about it. This has been a very special place for me."
Can you talk about David Reutimann, who will replace you in the No. 44 Camry?
"David Reutimann is a good race car driver and his team will continue just to get better. Time is the only thing that we are lacking right now. We put forth great effort and we have a lot of good people and continue to get that. We will continue to get better with every race."