Top ten for Mikey at Dover! by Kellyanne Lynch
21 September 2008
Michael Waltrip finished 10th in his #55 Napa Auto Parts Camry in the Camping World RV 400, today's Sprint Cup race at Dover International Speedway. David Reutimann's #44 UPS machine spent 310 of 400 laps in the top ten but finished 17th and one lap down due to a late race penalty for pitting outside the box. Michael McDowell finished 29th and five laps down in the #00 Champion Morgage Toyota.
The call to start engines came at 2:09pm ET. Cars rolled off pit road four minutes later. Mikey was 40th on the grid. David was 14th, and McDowell was 28th.
"All right, right here on your left. 45, 41, 55. 6 on the way out," crew chief Bobby Kennedy pointed out where the #55 box was on pit road.
"What do you think we'll be looking here, Bobby?" spotter Ty Norris asked.
"78 to 79, if we run under green," was Bobby's response, talking about on what lap they'd make their first pit stop.
Ty clarified that he was looking for pit road speed.
"3750, one green, one green."
"See anything close to that, Michael?" Ty asked.
"Yeah, that works," Mikey replied.
"10-4."
"All right, putting you on one to go here, one to go. Pull those belts tight. Get ready, because it's 400 miles. Heads up, guys," Bobby said. "Ty, take care of him today. This place is tight."
"Okay," Ty replied.
"Work those tires in. Coming to the green. All switches on."
"Got all my switches, got heat. Ready to go," Mikey said.
"Right on. Go get 'em, bud."
Ty guided Mikey to the green as Jeff Gordon led the field. "All right, pace truck is off. Ready? Ready? Green green green. Everybody's rolling, everybody's rolling. Clear down if you need it. Inside, the 43. Inside, the 43. Clear behind him, clear half back. Still outside, still there. You got a crash in front of you, crash in front of you. Back it down. He's coming down the track. Watch if you can. Good deal."
David Gilliland had gotten loose under Kurt Busch and spun them both out, drawing the first caution on lap 2. Paul Menard also spun.
Ty asked about tires and if Mikey had run through anything.
"No, it should all be good."
"All right, 10-4. Stay out then."
"Eventually, we'll have to contest 55 9 on the track."
"Chris, let him know there. 55, 9." Ty said Mikey should be in front of Reed Sorenson's #41 too.
"Uh, I don't remember being in front of the 41," Mikey commented.
Ty said to line up behind the #9. He mentioned the only one who pit was Gilliland.
Mikey was 36th under yellow. David was 12th, and McDowell was 26th.
"Bud, they're on one to go, one to go," Ty noted.
"All right, make sure your tires are cleaned off. Coming to the green this time," Bobby added.
Jeff Gordon led the lap 6 restart with Mikey in 36th.
"All right, bud, be ready. Coming to the green. Pace truck is off. Ready? Green green green. Clear two back. Everybody's rolling. You're still clear half back. Still there, still out there. Still there. Clear up. Clear clear."
Mikey was 35th on lap 9, having passed Bobby Labonte's #43. David was 11th, and McDowell was 29th.
"Still clear half back," said Ty.
Lap 11 saw David pick up 10th.
The second caution was on lap 13. Patrick Carpantier had spun, and he scuffed Carl Edwards' rear on the left as Edwards attempted to avoid the scene.
"Clear one back," Ty observed. "Clear two back. Still there on your corner, still there on your bumper. Crash in Turn 2. Back it down, back it down. Clear on the bottom. Looks like you see it now. It's a great line there, Michael."
"How's your car right there?" Bobby asked.
"Come back," Mikey replied. "I'd just as soon stay out if they all stay out in front of me."
"10-4, 10-4. I'm cool with that, stay out regardless. Your temps, please?"
"If they all pit, let's get two."
"10-4, we're ready."
"Peeled off about 25th place there," Ty noted.
Mikey moved up to 26th. David was 9th. McDowell, who had pit, was now 41st.
"All right, the 16 in your mirror was running 3rd when this whole thing happened," Ty said.
"All right, one to go," Bobby added. "Clean your tires off, coming to the green."
Ty said a few guys behind the #16 had taken two tires as Mikey had suggested. "So you'll be good here."
Gordon led the restart on lap 17. Mikey was 26th, David was 9th, and McDowell was 38th.
"Looking low, the 16," Ty warned. "Clear, clear. Half back. Still there. Clear. Great job! Two back."
Mikey passed Dave Blaney and picked up 25th on lap 19. David was 8th. On lap 20, the #44 picked up 8th from Clint Bowyer.
"Still there. Clear, clear one back," Ty said.
Mikey had passed Juan Pablo Montoya for 24th on lap 21.
"Looking low, inside. 16's down there by himself. Back to clear. Still going to be clear off if you need it. Half back to the 16, closing fast. Inside, inside. Clear."
David was 7th on lap 23 as Mikey picked up 23rd from Marcos Ambrose.
"Clear 21," Ty said. "Back inside to your corner. Clear. Great job, man!"
On lap 26, David picked up 6th from Dale Earnhardt Jr.
"Looking inside, inside. Clear low, clear low," said Ty. On lap 27, Mikey was ahead of Joe Nemechek. He was now 22nd. "Still out there. Clear, clear."
Passing Sam Hornish Jr gained Mikey 21st on lap 28.
"Inside, still there. Awesome! Clear, one back. Clear, clear. Still clear, still clear."
Mikey was 20th on lap 29, having passed Elliott Sadler.
"He's peaking inside. Back to clear, clear. Still there. Clear up, clear up. Clear two back. Nice job."
Mikey had passed Travis Kvapil on lap 31 for 19th as Jamie McMurray took the lead. He was 18th one lap later, after getting around Tony Raines.
"Still up on your bumper. Clear now, clear. You and the 16 have just left that whole crowd. Get in your rhythm. Inside, all by himself. There you go."
Greg Biffle's #16 passed on lap 34, moving Mikey back to 19th.
"65, 65," Bobby read off lap times. "55, 55."
McMurray had broken away from the rest of the field.
"50, 50. Leader 55. 16's the fastest car," Bobby noted. "55, 55."
On lap 40, Kyle Busch passed David. The #44 was now 7th.
"40, 40. Leader 45. Good lap!" Bobby praised. "Second fastest car that lap.
"45, leader a 55."
Mikey picked up 18th from David Raegan on lap 41.
"Still there. Still there," Ty warned. "Clear, clear."
"40, 40. Leader's a 70.
"65."
Mikey passed Brian Vickers for 17th on lap 46.
"Still there. Clear up, clear up. Clear."
"85."
One lap later, David picked up 6th from Denny Hamlin. McDowell, who was 40th, had lost the lead lap.
"65, 65.
"Let me know about your car when you get a chance and temps also."
"Looking inside, inside. The 83. 42's trying to look with him, 42's trying to look with him. You're clear now. 2's in there. Clear there, two back."
Mikey was back to 19th on lap 51. Vickers and Montoya had passed.
"It was perfect at the start. Now it's sliding the right front out," Mikey commented.
"Okay, 10-4," Bobby acknowledged. "80."
"One back to the 20, one back to the 20. He's been working the bottom. It'll be clear behind him. Leader now."
Mikey was 20th on lap 54 when Stewart passed.
"90, 25.90.
"75, 75. Leader 65.
"70, 70.
"80, 80.
"90, 90. We're about twenty laps away from pitting, twenty. I'll make that inner lining adjustment to that right front.
"88, 88. Leader a 70."
On lap 63, David fell to 7th when Carl Edwards passed.
"90, 90."
The third caution was on lap 65 for Joe Nemechek, who had a right front flat tire and hit the wall.
"75, 75."
"Car in the wall in 3. Car in the wall. Caution's out, caution's out. 78 hit the wall. It will be clear when you get there."
Bobby said he would adjust the right front inner liner. He asked for temps.
"11 and 1."
"Okay, 10-4. It will be four tires, guys. Four tires."
"All right, guys, you gotta be ready, because the 6 is coming in at the same time." Bobby warned the crew to be mindful of where the #6 was.
Ty told Mikey his stall was six away from the yellow of the Shell sign for Kevin Harvick's pit box. The #55 pit with others.
"Wheels straight, wheels straight, wheels straight," said Bobby. "Go go go go. Halfway, halfway. 3750.
Ty warned Mikey that the blowers were blowing debris at the cars on track and to watch for brake parts.
After stops, Matt Kenseth had picked up the lead. Mikey was 21st, David was 6th, and McDowell was lapped in 39th. Sadler and Hamlin were penalised for speeding. Sadler had been the free pass car.
"It's going to be one to go when you get here, one to go. You'll have the lappers coming under you."
Bobby noted that both right sides were starting to wear a little but they were twelve laps away from pitting. He said it should get better as the race goes on.
Kenseth led the lap 70 restart. Mikey was 22nd, David 6th, and McDowell lapped in 39th.
"Outside, the 2. Outside," Ty warned. "Still outside on your bumper. Still there. Still out there. Still out there on your bumper, still there."
On lap 72, Mikey fell to 24th after Kurt Busch and Bobby Labonte.
"Coming outside, outside. Still there, inside and out, inside and out. Clear low. Outside, all clear. Clear half back to the 77 up top. slow one on the bottom, slow one on the bottom. Clear now, all clear."
Mikey got back around Busch's #2 on lap 74 for 23rd.
"Still down there, still there," Ty warned. "Still inside, still down there. Still down there. Still inside. Clear now, clear. One back."
"Real loose," Mikey reported on lap 77, and he passed Brian Vickers.
"83's still down there. Clear, clear. One back."
"10-4 on the loose, 10-4."
"Still there. Still out there. Still out there. Still out there. Clear there half back to the 11. Inside, on your bumper. Inside. Still in there, inside. 38 looking with him, 38 looking with him. Clear, clear."
Mikey fell to 23rd when Hamlin passed on lap 80.
"Clear, all clear. Two back, two back. Still there. Clear clear clear. On your bumper. Clear up, clear up."
"50, 25.50. Leader a 20," Bobby noted. "45, 45.
"50, 50.
"55."
"Looking inside, inside. Back to clear, clear. Clear the 88, all clear. Two back to the 2."
Mikey was 22nd on lap 90.
"A bumper right there, inside. Clear."
Kurt Busch passed on lap 92, moving Mikey back to 23rd.
"Clear behind him, clear. Clear three back, four back. Leader's at the line now."
"79, 79.
"55, 55. Good lap."
On lap 97, Mikey got back around Busch for 22nd.
"There you go, buddy," said Ty. "All clear. Two back."
"55."
Mikey passed Labonte for 21st on lap 99.
"All clear. Nice job!" Ty praised.
"80, 80.
"73, 73. Leader a 70.
"75. Those guys are laps down in front of you.
"75, 75. Leader now.
"75, 75.
"75.
"65, 65."
"You left that whole crowd. You're doing good," Ty praised.
"Last two laps 60," Bobby added. "65, 65."
"Still there, still there. Going to be clear. Nice job, bud. The 22's for the next position. Still there. Clear up, clear up."
"Plowing," Mikey reported on lap 117.
"Come back on that, bud," Bobby requested.
"Front tires are off. Pushing the front tires off."
"10-4, 10-4. 55 that lap, 55. You were the fastest car that lap, fastest car.
"55, 55."
"Clear."
"50. Still the fastest car.
"60."
"You're going to be all clear, all clear."
"50.
"45, 45. Fastest car that lap, fastest car."
On lap 127, Mikey picked up 20th from David Ragan.
"Clear the 6, all clear."
"49, 49.
"49, 49. Fastest car."
By lap 130, David lost a spot to Greg Biffle. He was 7th. His radio was quiet. No changes were made to the car. Before, the car was tight and was loosening up.
"55, 55."
"About fifteen laps away from pitting, about fifteen. 59. Great lap times, great lap times.
"74, 74.
"65.
"60."
"Still there on your corner, 78 still there. Clear up. Clear," Ty spotted.
"70, 70.
"Eight laps away from pitting. Eight away. 74.
"70. Five away. We're going to make a small air pressure adjustment, a tenth of a pound."
"The leader's at the line now. Back to the 6, half back to the 6. He's going to be looking inside. He's down there. Another one looking inside. There you go, back to clear. Got a car crash behind you, crash behind you. Caution's out, caution's out."
The third caution was for Dale Earnhardt Jr, who lost his tire and spun on lap 143. Kyle Busch was smoking a great deal.
"I think my tire was fixing to blow out, but I figured somebody else's was about to too," Mikey said.
"That was about right," Ty replied.
"It went all to hell in a hurry, so I bet that had something to do with it."
"Why, what happened there?" Bobby asked.
"It was dead loose at the start, and I was tight at the end," Mikey said. "In the middle, I thought I was plowing, but I just had to find a new line. But I was real real loose at the start."
Bobby talked about a right rear adjustment to help with the start.
"Great job today, Michael. You're doing it. That's 145 laps down."
Bobby said they'd have to come around the #12 car and told the team to watch the #6 again.
The #55 pit under yellow.
"Lot of smoke up there," Ty warned. "The 18's smoking out of the pipes up there."
"Yeah, same deal on your tires right there. Both right sides to the chords. I'll pull our lap total to adjust for this for the tire wheel. I backed it up a few laps when I was going to pit on lap 44, so I'll back you up a few more laps, just to keep you safe."
Ty said the radio sometimes sounded like Bobby was leaning on metal.
"Okay, 10-4."
"Who wrecked?" Mikey asked.
"88," Ty replied.
"The 88 blew a right rear. Is that what it was, Ty?" Bobby asked.
"Yeah, sure did."
"Yeah, that was 72 green flag laps right there, so I'll back you up so we'll run the 68 to 70 range. So when you feel that, you know what you got. When you feel that, you know that thing is starting to go to the chords."
After stops, Mike was 18th. David was 8th, and McDowell was one lap down in 39th.
"All right, bud, one to go, one to go," Ty noted. "Watch the lappers coming."
Kyle Busch began dropping to the back with his smoking #18.
Matt Kenseth led the restart on lap 149. Mikey was 17th.
"All right, bud. A couple more lappers. Ready? Green green green. Everybody's rolling, everybody's rolling. Clear, whatever you need. All clear. Still there, still there. Watch this smoker right in front of you. The 84. Clear to the middle, clear to the middle. Clear to the middle, both sides, both sides. Clear high. Still there, clear low. Clear."
David was 7th by lap 142.
"Still out there. Still there. Clear, clear. 22'll be looking low. Clear. Back inside, inside. Clear one back."
On lap 155, David was back to 8th when Bowyer passed. He was a little loose on entry and asked his crew for help with the turns.
"Clear two back, two back. Inside, the 22. Still there, still there. Clear to the middle. Inside. Inside. Still there."
Dave Blaney passed on lap 157, moving Mikey back to 18th.
"Clear down if you need it, clear low if you need it. 84 is smoking. Caution's out, caution's out. Good job through traffic there."
The fourth caution was on lap 159 for AJ Allmendinger, when Kasey Kahne got into him and caused tire smoke.
"I'm so loose, man. It sucks. I think I ought to get four or look at another sort of adjustment that won't hurt me on the long run." He mentioned an adjustment that he thought was too risky.
Bobby suggested going up on the left rear tire.
"Do it in the liner," Mikey requested.
"Off the liner. Up, up on that liner. Left rear."
"Four or five pounds so I know what you did and can tell you what happens."
Bobby told Paul to go up four. "I had it at 3. Stop him short. The 6 will come around us. Stop us short."
"All right, 3750," Ty reminded regarding the RPM.
The #55 pit.
"All right, buddy, one to go when you get around here. One to go," said Ty.
"Can I do anything to help y'all? Cause they're kicking our ass. Is there something I'm doing wrong?" Mikey asked.
"Nah, you're all right, you're all right," Bobby replied. "All right, pull your belts tight. Get your breath here." He mentioned how many laps remained. "It will be p19 here, p19."
Kenseth led the lap 161 restart. Mikey was 17th, David 8th, and McDowell 40th and two laps down.
"Everybody's rolling, everybody's straight. Inside. Three-wide. Inside. Clear clear. Clear one back," Ty said. "Looking inside, inside. The 11. Still there, still there. Clear clear, clear. Got a spin in front of you, spin in front of you. Back it down. Got one against the wall. In the middle. Keep coming. A little lower. Keep coming."
"All right, if your tires are all good, we'll stay out, bud," Bobby said.
The fifth caution was on lap 163. Jamie McMurray was trying to pass Robby Gordon along the high side, and Gordon got loose and ran up into him.
"All right, pit road will be open this time. Bobby says we're staying out."
Mikey was now 16th. David was 7th, and McDowell was 39th and two laps down.
"All right, 21's the lucky dog. He's going to be coming up inside you. He's ten car lengths back. Here he comes. It'll be one to go.
"A couple more, bud. A couple more."
Kenseth led the lap 167 restart with Mikey in 16th.
"All right, bud, be ready. Pace car is off. Ready?" Ty asked. "Green green green. Everybody's rolling. Still there. Still there, inside. The 70. Still there. All clear, one back. Still clear, all clear. Clear the 2. All clear, all clear. Nice job, bud. One back to the 2. Debris on the bottom. Everything. Keep rolling. No caution. Caution's out, caution's out. Got a car in the wall off 2. Got a car in the wall off 2."
The sixth caution was on lap 172. Sam Hornish had gotten into Brian Vickers and then into David as he wiggled back before he got into the wall. He lost his bumper cover.
Bobby talked about staying out.
"Okay," Mikey replied, sounding out of breath. "Just real loose on these starts, man. Real loose. But I try to hang onto it."
Bobby said he'd work on air.
"It wasn't like this at the start at all," Mikey said. "At the start, I was ready to go when they said go, but it's all changed. Might ought to go right back to the starting air, if you haven't been there."
"All right, 10-4."
Busch was pushed to the garage. Vickers had substatial damage from the accident, and he and Hornish Jr spent time on pit road. Denny Hamlin was also having a rear end issue.
"2 o'clock, 2 o'clock."
"All right, 10-4. Just make sure your fans are on there," Bobby said. "Let me know what you got. Still on the safe range with our radiator stuff right there.
"P13 right now. P13. All right, clean your tires off. You'll be coming around to one to go. Coming around to one to go."
"Here comes the lappers, here comes the lappers," Ty warned. "All right, bud. Be ready. Coming around to the green flag."
Kenseth led the lap 179 restart. Mikey was 13th, David 19th, and McDowell 38th.
"Green green green," Ty said. "Clear, all clear. Two back. Inside, inside. 22's inside, inside."
On lap 183, Dave Blaney's #22 passed. Mikey was now 14th.
"Clear half back," said Ty. "Inside. Clear. Three-wide there, three-wide. Inside, inside. 42. 24's with him. Clear half back to the 44."
Lap 186 saw the seventh caution. Hornish had crashed again.
"To your door, inside. Clear. Caution's out, caution's out. Car in the wall in Turn 2."
"It's just ridiculous man," Mikey complained. "Frickin' ridiculous, man. It's just so far off these other guys on new tires."
Bobby said people were walking on each other, and he asked Mikey to repeat.
"I said we're just so far off these other guys on new tires, it's just ridiculous. I can't do nothing. I just keep from wrecking is all I do. As soon as someone moves me out of the way, I'm done."
Bobby told Mikey to chill out and asked if the adjustments had helped.
"Hell, no. We haven't done nothing since I started, just made it so I can't drive it for twenty laps."
"10-4. We'll get caught up here and put four tires on."
"Don't do nothing crazy. Just know it was right at the start."
Bobby said they were putting it back.
"Pit road's closed. Pit road's closed," Ty said.
"Make sure he didn't hurt the left front fender," Mikey said.
"I'll check it out here when you come by," Bobby replied. "Chris, just a little bit. Ten o'clock."
"All right, pit road will be open. There's a quickie yellow, so all the lappers will be pitting too."
"3750."
"3750," Ty repeated. He and Bobby guided Mikey to the box. They worked on the fender while Mikey was in his box.
Edwards was the first off pit road, but Johnson stayed on track to lead. David was among those who had stayed out too.
Bobby told Mikey to pit in the box fully the next time; it had almost been a penalty.
Mikey said he screwed up, because the #6 hadn't been in the box.
Bobby said it was all good and that the air pressures were back to where they were.
Ty told Mikey where to line up for the restart.
"It will all work out," Mikey replied.
Johnson led the lap 191 restart. Mikey was 21st, David was 7th, and McDowell was 37th.
"Inside, inside," Ty warned. One lap into the run, Mikey dropped to 23rd. "5's going to be diving inside. Clear now clear, clear. Inside, 5 inside. Inside. Clear, all clear. Clear four back. Whatever you need. All clear."
On lap 198, Mikey picked up 22nd from Martin Truex Jr.
"Clear to the middle, clear to the middle. Clear low. Inside now, inside. Clear high. Clear low. Got one sneaking outside. Clear high. You've got the 1 car on the bottom."
Mikey was 21st on lap 199. He'd passed David Ragan.
"There you go, bud. All clear, all clear," Ty said. "Still clear half back to the 6 up top. Still there. Still outside. Still there. Still out there on your bumper. Clear, clear, clear. Clear. Nice job. Slow one on the apron. No big problems. All clear."
Mikey passed Paul Menard for 20th on lap 195.
"Still there. Clear. Nice job, bud. Keep working it."
"25.20. Leader 15," Bobby noted lap times.
"Clear, all clear," said Ty.
By lap 206, David was up to 6th, having passed AJ Allmendinger.
"40. Leader a 30."
"Still there. Clear, clear."
"35. Leader 30.
"40.
"40. Leader 35.
"40. Leader 35."
"Still going to be out there. Clear up, clear up.
"All clear."
"65, 65. Leader a 50.
"60, 60. Leader 50."
"All clear."
"70, 70. Leader a 55. Leader now.
"65, 65. There you go."
David fell to 7th on lap 221 when Carl Edwards passed.
"45, 45. Fastest car that lap."
"Still there. Clear, all clear. Clear, all clear."
"49. Fastest car that lap."
"Clear, all clear."
On lap 224, Mikey picked up 19th from Jeff Burton. David dropped to 8th as Matt Kenseth got into him.
"40, 40. Fastest car."
"Still there. Still there. Still there. Still on your corner, still there. Clear. There you go, bud. Let's drive away. Three spots right in front of you, bud. Keep rolling."
"45, 45. Second fastest car to our teammate, the 44."
Passing Bobby Labonte on lap 230 moved Mikey into 18th.
"31's down there. Clear. You're going to be clear high. Clear."
"75, same as the leader."
"All the way down there. Inside. Clear."
"75.
"75, same as the leader.
"Stay on your toes, Ty. You're going to have some of those guys start pitting who had stayed out earlier. 65, 65.
"65."
On lap 238, David picked up 7th and Mikey 16th; Ryan Newman had pitted.
"Clear half back," Ty noted. "Clear all clear. Still there. Still there. Clear low if you need it. Clear high if you need it. Still inside, inside. The 21 inside. Clear low now, clear. Clear low if you need it. Clear, clear. Half back to the 21. Going to be looking inside. Clear low. Clear outside, still there, still there. Barely, clear. Great job! Way to work it!"
On lap 241, Johnson pit and gave the lead to Carl Edwards. David was 6th, and Mikey was 14th.
"75," Bobby read off the time.
"Clear that 48," said Ty. "Fresh tires, that 48's going to be coming underneath you. Still clear, clear. Clear down behind him. Clear three back to the 21."
"About fifteen laps away. How's your car?" Bobby asked.
Denny Hamlin slowed with a flat tire. He went to pit road.
"That 31 underneath you. Be clear behind him. Clear three back," said Ty.
By lap 246, Mikey was 13th and David was 5th.
"01, the black car up there, is going to be pitting this time," said Ty. "Still there. Clear. Both sides. Outside, inside. Clear high."
"45, 45. Good lap! Did that right front liner help you the start of that run?" Bobby asked.
"Yes!" Mikey exclaimed.
"10-4."
Mikey was 12th on lap 251.
"55. Good lap."
Mikey was 11th on lap 252.
"Slow one on the bottom. He's off the track now. All clear all clear. Clear the 10," said Ty. More cars were pitting.
"60, 60. Five more laps. Five more laps to pit," Bobby told his driver. "45. Real good lap!
"40.
"40. Good lap times. Real good lap times right there!
"40, 25.40."
"Clear two back to the 21. Two back behind him is the 12. Fresher tires.
"All clear, clear two back."
"All right, next time by. Next time by," Bobby told his driver.
"All right, 3750 at that cone. Remember how slick this apron is. Clear two back. Good job. 3750 right there. 3750."
"It will be straight in, straight out. Four tires. 4, 3, 2, 1. Right here. Wheels straight, put on the brakes. Wheels straight."
Mikey pit on lap 262.
"All the way out. 3750."
"3750, 3750," Ty added. "Watch it to the line. Hustle all you can. Four tires on the apron. Coming outside. Clear behind the 07. Clear five back." Ty said, if stops cycled all the way, the #48 behind them would be the leader.
David pit on lap 264. Other leaders were making stops.
"Clear up. Clear clear," said Ty. "Keep it rolling, buddy."
"25.10."
"Clear, clear. Clear."
"25 flat."
"Great lap, bud!"
"25 flat."
Edwards pit on lap 268, allowing teammate Greg Biffle to take the lead. Ty warned Mikey of a slow car on the bottom.
Biffle pit, and Kevin Harvick took the lead on lap 269. Bowyer took the lead the next time around the track when Harvick pit.
"25 flat. 48's run 20," Bobby said.
"All right, buddy, we'll be racing the 20 for this lucky dog, if we don't get around this 48."
Johnson took the lead on lap 272 as stops cycled. David was 9th, and Mikey was 15th and lapped. McDowell was 32nd.
"Clear. All clear. Fresh tires, one back. Inside inside. Down behind him. Clear low, still outside. You're clear up, clear up, clear up."
On lap 275, Mikey got back around Johnson to unlap himself.
"Still there. Still outside. All clear. All right, you're still doing it, man. You're still doing it man. You're 15th spot. Get your rhythm."
Mikey was 16th on lap 276. David was 9th.
"30, 30. Leader 55.
"25, 25. Leader 35."
On lap 280, Mikey was lapped.
"Still outside," Ty warned. "Still outside. Clear now, clear. All right, bud. Get that rhythm, drive away. You're doing fine here."
Mikey had unlapped himself on lap 281.
"40, 25.40.
"30, 30. There you go!
"35. Leader 30.
"25, 25. Leader 40.
"30, 30. Leader 35.
"35. Leader 30.
"40, same as the leader."
"Clear all clear."
"45.
"29. There you go! Driving away from him. Good lap.
"23, 23. Leader a 35."
The eighth caution was on lap 292 for debris in Turn 3. Juan Pablo Montoya received the free pass.
"45, 45."
"Caution's out for debris. Caution's out. Way to go, man! Way to dig, Michael. Good job!"
Bobby asked about the car.
"It was a little free on the, leaving the pits, but nothing to worry about. But then it was okay. Then it got too tight," Mikey replied.
Bobby said he'd pull out half of what he had put in before.
"Yeah."
"Two tenths back out of that left rear."
"Hey, we didn't beat anybody off pit road all day. You want to get five points?"
"Uh, yes, sir. That would be lovely."
Ty told Mikey to stay out one more to lead. Meanwhile, David lost a spot on pit road and was down to 10th. "All right, we're going to stay out there. They did not give one to go, which is good. All right, buddy."
"Okay, next time, next time. Four tires."
Mikey led lap 295 under caution. Meanwhile, Johnson narrowly beat Edwards and Biffle off pit road.
"Do a pull off," he requested.
"10-4," Bobby replied. "All right, 3750, 3750."
"Be smooth, guys. Everything tight here. No hurry," Ty said.
"4, 3, 2. Right here. Wheels straight, put on the brakes," Bobby guided the #55 to the box. He said the right front looked a little better, but the maximum they'd run was 69 laps to be safe with the tires.
"Hey, Paul, how are we sitting on numbers with tires, bud?" Bobby asked.
"All right, bud. We're going to be coming back to the green. I'm sorry. We're going to be coming back to one to go," Ty told his driver.
"Check 'er on up to the 84 car," Bobby said.
Ty guided Mikey up to that car.
Johnson led the restart on lap 299. David was 10th, and Mikey was 15th.
"All right, bud. Be ready. Pace car's off. 102 to go. Rolling. Green green green. Everybody's rolling, everybody's straight. Clear all clear. Clear up if you want it. Still outside, still there, still outside."
Mikey was 13th on lap 300 and 12th on lap 301. David was 9th.
"31 still there. Clear, clear. 38 now," Ty said. "Inside. Still there, still there. Clear now, clear. 31's got a run outside. Going to be clear up behind the 31. Clear two back."
Greg Biffle took the lead on lap 303. Mikey was 13th with Jeff Burton's pass.
"Still clear three back. Still there. Clear, all clear."
"25 flat, 25 flat," Bobby read off lap times.
On lap 306, David was up to 8th. He had passed Dave Blaney.
"90, 90."
Mikey was 12th one lap later after passing Ryan Newman.
"Still there," Ty warned. "In your right ear. Clear there. Great job, bud.
"Clear, still clear.
"Still there. Clear all clear."
On lap 315, Kurt Busch was black flagged for a ripped up car scattering debris.
"Watch that 2 up there. They're going to be black flagging him," Ty warned. "Still outside. Clear all clear."
By lap 316, David had dropped to 9th.
"Clear, clear."
"15, 15. Good lap."
"Clear."
"30, 25.30.
"15, 15. Leader 05.
"30, 30."
"Still there. Clear."
On lap 322, Edwards moved into the top spot.
"45.
"50, 50. Leader 35.
"20, 20. Dang good lap! Fastest car!
"35, 35. Leader a 30.
"35. Leader a 40."
"All clear. There you go, bud."
"35, 35.
"60, 65. Leader a 55.
"35, 35. Leader 45."
"Clear all clear."
"65. Leader a 55.
"45, 45. Good lap.
"55, 55. Leader a 55."
On lap 342, Mikey picked up 11th from Dave Blaney.
"There you go, man. Way to work it. Keep it rolling just like that," Ty encouraged. "Still there. Clear, clear. Two back."
"55, same as the leader."
"55 to go. 55 to go. Everyone has to stop one more time. Keep it rolling, bud."
"40, 40. Good lap."
"Still there, still there, still there. Clear up. Watch that roadblock in front of you. Don't know where he's going to be. Still there, still there. Clear up."
The ninth caution was on lap 351 after Montoya hit the wall with a possible right front tire flat.
"Caution's out, caution's out. Car in the wall over in 4. Great job, bud," Ty said.
Bobby said not to fill the tank. He didn't want the extra weight when they'd have to pit again anyway.
"Uh, I'm doing all I can," Mikey said. "I don't know. I get loose, I get tight. It's a little loose, and I'm fine. Then I get tight at the end."
Bobby said he'd go up two tenths of a pound in the left rear.
"Okay."
"All right, we'll have a straight shot in and out. Four tires."
"Don't do too cute, Art. Don't overdo it here." Ty told Mikey pit road would be open.
"Make sure we put it in gear when they drop the jack on the right. We're not doing anything on the left."
"All right, guys, nice and tight. Six past that 29. 5."
"4, 3, 2, 1. Wheels straight, put on the brakes." Bobby guided Mikey to the box. He said some guys took two tires, but he was leary of that with the way they were wearing up the right sides.
"We'll see how it goes for them, but 48 laps to go, man. That's a long way to go," Ty added.
Mikey was 11th after stops. David was 17th and one lap down.
"What happened to the 44?" Mikey asked.
"He pitted with the right front out of the box. They held him a lap is what I'm hearing," Bobby replied. "Paul, is that our last set of stickers on the wall?
"Paul, see if the 00 has an extra set. He's only racing, like, two cars."
"Okay, bud, one to go, one to go," Ty said. "45 to go, bud. 45."
Edwards led the lap 357 restart. Mikey was 11th, David was one lap down in 17th, and McDowell was 28th.
"All right, bud. Here we go," Ty said. "Be ready. Pace car's off. Ready? Rolling. Green green green. Everybody's straight, everybody's straight. Still inside. Still down there, the 41. Still there. Still down there. Clear now, clear. Clear one back. Still there on your bumper. Still there. Clear there, all clear."
"24.80," Bobby read off the lap time.
"Clear five back. No pressure."
"85."
On lap 363, Mikey picked up 10th from Ryan Newman.
"Still there. Still there. Clear. Clear two back now."
"85.
"90."
Mikey dropped two spots on lap 365. Dave Blaney and Tony Stewart had passed. Blaney had gotten into the #55.
"Still inside. Nice and easy. Still there. He's there inside. Clear, all clear. Clear by one."
"There you go. Get your rhythm back. 35 to go."
Mikey repassed Stewart by lap 268 for 11th.
"90.
"95. There you go, catching those guys in front of you."
"You've got trash on your grill there. Watch your temps. It looks like it's on your top side," Bobby said.
Ty suggested using the #9 car to get it off.
"It looks like it's up high. If it doesn't affect your temps, don't worry about it."
"Already gone, already gone. Clear clear."
"Still a piece on there. Keep an eye on your temps. 25.20."
"Nice job."
Mikey picked up 10th again from Newman on lap 374.
"Still there, still there. Still on your corner. Clear up, clear clear. All right, bud. Get back in your rhythm. 27 to go."
"15, 15. Second fastest car."
"Still there. Still there. Clear clear."
Kenseth took the lead with 23 to go after nudging Edwards out of the way. Biffle went to 2nd.
"All right, 31's for the next position. 23 to go," said Bobby.
"Clear clear."
"20 to go, 20 to go. You've been the fastest car the last three laps.
"25, 25.
"25. Still the fastest car.
"25."
"Clear."
"35, 35. Second fastest."
"15 to go, 15."
"39.
"35."
"Still there, still there. Clear up. Clear clear."
"13 to go.
"No pressure from behind. 12 to go. 50, 50. Be smooth. You'll get him.
"35. There you go. Fastest car."
Going into 8 laps to go, Biffle took the lead.
"Still there still there still there still there. Clear up. Eight more, buddy. Eight more."
"Be smooth. You'll catch him. No pressure from behind," Bobby added.
"This 45's slow on the bottom. Clear."
"45, 45. 52 out the front side.
"30, 30. Good lap.
"45, same as the 31."
"Four buddy. Four more."
"Three more."
"Still out there. Three to go. Clear. Two more, bud. Two more."
"One more, one more. No pressure, no pressure."
"All right, buddy. Nice job. That was top ten, top ten," Ty praised.
"Way to drive your ass off there, dude," said Bobby. "Proud of you."
"Yeah, good job, everybody. We jus need to do better in that pits. Cause I need to do better on the track." Mikey said his and Bobby's communication was better. "I appreciate your listening and good. Thank you."
Mikey finished 10th as Greg Biffle went on to win. David was 17th, the first driver one lap down. McDowell was five laps down in 29th.
Next weekend's Sprint Cup race is the Camping World RV 400 at Kansas Speedway. Coverage begins Sunday at 1:00pm ET on ABC. The Nationwide Series' Kansas Lottery 300 airs the day before at 3:00pm ET on ESPN2.