Mikey 18th at Martinsville by Kellyanne Lynch
19 October 2008
Michael Waltrip finished 18th in the TUMS QuikPak 500, today's Sprint Cup race at Martinsville Speedway. His #55 Napa Auto Parts Camry struggled when Mikey got into the gas out of the corners and lost the lead lap. David Reutimann's #44 UPS machine suffered a flat early in the race and finished three laps down in 24th. Mike Bliss, who drove the #00 Champion Morgage Toyota, went to the garage toward the end of the race with a rear gear issue. Bliss finished 39th, 49 laps down.
NASCAR cancelled qualifying due to rain, and the field was set according to owner points. David rolled off 26th, Mikey 31st, and Bliss 38th.
"Got a copy?" someone said on the #55 frequency at 1:38pm ET.
"1, 2. Hello?" Mikey was on the radio next.
"Yeah, bud. Got you loud and clear, loud and clear," crew chief Bobby Kennedy replied.
"Got you loud and clear, Bobby."
"How about up here, M-Dub?" spotter Ty Norris asked.
"Yeah, sounds good."
"Cool."
The call to start engines came at 1:39pm. Cars took to the track behind the pace car.
"Hey, uh, Bobby. This tact now works like I'd hoped it would," Mikey told his crew chief as he turned pace laps. "Last time, it went all to three greens immediately. Now, it's working better."
"Okay, 10-4," Bobby replied.
The pace car stopped on the track to allow the entire field to catch up.
"All right, they're stopped right there on the back straightaway," Ty warned.
"We'll be looking for 4770. Three green, three green," Bobby said. He noted the pace car would be at 4330, which would be a big split.
"Okay," Mikey replied, and the radio hung. "Did you say anything I need to do different. You'll have the best view of it. Steady my car, try to figure out why it's not doing what somebody else's is doing."
"Okay, 10-4, 10-4. You'll have the best view of that also." Bobby told Mikey to get heat in his car. "Tires and brakes, tires and brakes." He then noted positions of boxes on pit road - 83, 55, 15, 7.
"If y'all just look around you, you'll appreciate what this sport is," Mikey commented. "Just don't take it for granted. Just know it's pretty special to race a car for a living. I'm thankful, so hopefully we'll have a great day here."
Bobby reminded Mikey to tighten his belts. "Ty, take care of him today. Take care of the brakes today, take care of the brakes. But use them when you have to. We have a good package. Heads up on pit road here. Things happen fast."
Jimmie Johnson led the field to the green flag at 1:48pm.
"Still there, still there," Tyw arned. "Clear now, clear. Back outside on your bumper. Clear clear clear."
Mikey was 29th by lap 2. David was 25th, Bliss was 32nd.
"Outside, still there. Still there on your bumper. Still there. Clear now, clear. Clear. Still clear. Inside. Back to clear, clear. Inside, inside. Inside. He's still there. Still there, inside. Still there. Got one with him. Inside, inside. To your door. Clear low, clear low, clear low."
Elliott Sadler and Travis Kvapil passed on lap 9, moving Mikey back to 31st. The #55 was back up to 30th on lap 11. David was 24th, and Bliss was 31st.
"Still out there. Clear all clear, clear. Clear half back, half back."
"It's pushing on throttle, man," Mikey commented on lap 12.
"10-4, 10-4," Bobby replied.
"I can't get it to turn. I just can't get into the gas."
"10-4."
"Still clear half back," Ty noted.
"20.60, 20.60. Leader 45," Bobby read off lap times.
On lap 18, Dave Blaney put Bliss in the wall, and the #00 was dropping back. Bliss was 39th by lap 19.
"Looking low. Clear five back."
Bliss was 42nd by lap 21; Tony Raines in the #70 was the only one behind him. One lap later, Raines passed Bliss. The #00 was last.
"80, 80. Leader a 55."
"Clear half back to the 22," Ty warned. "22's got a run. Inside to your bumper, inside to your bumper. All by himself. Clear behind him. Clear three back."
On lap 25, Mikey was 31st with Dave Blaney's pass.
"85, 85."
"No forward bite either," Mikey added.
"No forward bite, 10-4. No forward bite," Bobby acknowledged.
"Maybe because it's pushing so bad. It's pushing, and it's got no forward bite."
Ty warned Mikey of a spin and guided him through it.
The first caution was on lap 28 for car #28; Travis Kvapil had spun after making contact with David. Bill Elliott received the free pass.
Bobby said he'd put air pressure adjustments in three tires. He called for four tires but said he might go with two the last minute, depending on how many cars pit. He then told Mikey to stay out, but Mikey said he was already on pit road. The team put on two tires.
"All right, bud, 4750 to the line there," Ty said after the stop.
"This is a half pound out of your right front right here, a half pound," Bobby informed his driver.
"Yeah, when I go in, you know, I brake easy or good enough. I get over my brake and I roll in the centre, but when I need to go, when I need to get into the gas, it just skates out the right front bad," Mikey explained.
"All right, 10-4, 10-4," Bobby replied. He said he'd wanted to get air out of the left sides too, but they didn't have time for four tires.
Johnson led the lap 35 restart. Mikey was 25th, David 35th, and Bliss was three laps down in 43rd. Ty warned Mikey about a lapped car at the restart.
"Clear all clear," said the spotter.
One lap into the run, Jeff Gordon took the lead.
"Still clear half back."
David picked up 34th on lap 38. Mikey fell to 26th one circuit later.
"A run at your bumper, inside at your bumper," Ty warned. "26 trying to come with him. Inside, inside. More inside. 41. Still there inside. A hole down behind him, a hole down behind him. Still clear half back. Still clear."
Mikey was 28th on lap 41 when Jamie McMurray and Reed Sorenson passed. Bliss went down a fourth lap.
"65, 65.
"75, 75."
"Clear two back, clear two back. Still out there. Still there. Still there on your bumper. Still there, still there. Clear now, clear."
Mikey was 27th on lap 49, having passed Joe Nemechek. He got around Kasey Kahne for 26th one lap later.
"Still there, still there. Clear all... great job, man! Way to find it!" Ty praised.
"85, 85.
"85, 85."
On lap 54, David dropped to 35th, but he regained the position one lap later.
"Still there, still out there. Clear, clear."
Johnson regained the lead from teammate Gordon on lap 56.
"95, 95. Leader 85," Bobby noted.
Mikey was 25th on lap 57. David picked up 33rd momentarily but then went back to 34th.
"Still out there. Still there. Still there. Still there. Clear the 77, all clear."
"75. There you go! That's a good lap right there," Bobby praised. "Third fastest."
Kahne slowed dramatically and dropped way off the pace. He stopped by the wall going into Turn 1.
"90, 90. Leader 75."
"You've got a car just about stuck here at the start/finish line," Ty warned. "No caution yet. Keep rolling. Caution's out, caution's out. Come through on the low side."
Lap 62 saw the second caution for Kahne, who had no power.
"All right, that little bit of air in the right front help at all?"
"Yeah, it did."
"10-4," Bobby replied. He said they might stay out.
"Pit road's still closed right now, still closed," Ty noted.
Most of the leaders pit under yellow.
"Staying out, staying out," Ty said. "Seven more behind you stayed out, bud."
Aric Almirola in the #8 was now in the lead with Mikey in 5th. The other two MWR cars pit. Bliss was now five laps down.
"All right, keep your tires cleaned off," Bobby told his driver.
"You're going to be on one to go, one to go," Ty said.
"Ty, let me know if they let the 2 get away with that," Mikey requested.
"Okay," Ty replied.
"Not that I care about the 2, just for later on."
"Yeah, usually if you're going into the garage. He's going to the garage. Coming to the green, bud, coming to the green."
Almirola led the lap 68 restart with Mikey in 5th. David was 33rd, and Bliss was in 43rd. Busch's #2 went to the garage with brake issues.
On lap 70, Dale Earnhardt Jr got around the #55. Mikey was now 6th. David was up to 32nd.
"Still clear. Going to have a run. Slow. All clear. He just bonzais to your right rear. I'll try not to wear you out." Ty was talking about Scott Riggs' #66.
Riggs passed on lap 74, moving Mikey back to 7th.
"Got a run. He's there this time. Inside. Clear one back behind you. Clear to the 6, one back."
David was 27th on lap 76. Bliss was 41st; Busch and Kahne were behind him.
"Clear one back to the 48. He was the leader before the pit stops. Coming inside, inside. Still clear there, clear half back. Clear one back to the 99. Looking low. All the way this time. He's there. Inside. The 24 trying to come with him. 24 is there, he's there. Inside."
Mikey was 9th on lap 79 and 10th on lap 80.
"Here comes the 6. He's looking inside, to your door. Still there, still there. Clear there. Half back to the 01. Driving inside, inside. Back to clear. Bonzaiing you there, half back. Spin off four, spin off four. Gotta come all the way to the bottom, all the way to the bottom."
Earnhardt Jr spun out McMurray in Turn 4, drawing the third caution on lap 83. Kvapil received the free pass. Mikey was 10th, David 27th
"Still the same. It just doesn't turn good enough, and it's killing me, and it's making me loose off. Mainly, that's the two problems," Mikey said.
"All right, 10-4, 10-4." Bobby called for them to stay out. "We're another 90 laps on our fuel. Stay out. We'll keep our track position."
"They're all over me, but I'll do what you say."
"10-4."
"Come through low here. Come through low," Ty told his driver. "All right, on one to go, man, one to go."
"All right, clean your tires off good."
Almirola led the lap 88 restart. Mikey was 10th, David 24th, and Bliss five laps down in 41st.
"Ready? Green green green. Clear one back," Ty said.
The fourth caution was out on lap 89 for Reagan Smith, who spun himself out getting into the corner too hard.
"Spin behind you, one spun behind you. No caution yet. Caution's out, caution's out."
"Stay out, stay out."
"What happened to him is what will happen to me if I don't give those guys a lot of room," Mikey said.
Bobby said he knew and that they would come back to pit road when a bigger group came in. "Just give them room. We'll be okay. Looks like he had brake issues."
"Yeah, they're on fire," Ty added.
"Just right there when you see me trying to get back to the gas, it steps out on me," Mikey said. "And that really hurts me."
"10-4, 10-4."
Ty warned Mikey about the free pass car, which was Bliss. The #00 was now four laps down.
"I wondered when he would start getting laps back," Mikey commented.
"Yeah, I think he's three or four down now," Ty replied.
"I felt him hit me when someone hit him."
"Yeah, when he hit you, he jumped out of the gas, and somebody hit him, and he right reared it into the fence," Ty said. "I think they bent the trackbar or something. All right, bud, one to go one to go. You won't have any lappers on the outside."
Almirola led the lap 94 restart. Mikey was 10th, David 23rd, and Bliss four laps down in 41st.
"All right, pace car's off. Be ready," said Ty. "Ready? Rolling. Green green green. Still on your. Inside. Looking low. Clear clear. Clear one back. Clear two back. They're side-by-side behind you."
"65, 65," Bobby read off lap times.
David was 22nd on lap 97.
"One back to the 20. Still clear half back. Looking inside, inside, inside. Still there, inside. Inside, inside."
Mikey was 11th on lap 99 when Tony Stewart passed.
"Clear there, clear there. Inside."
Lap 100 saw Mikey in 13th when Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch passed.
"Still there, the 18. 18 inside. You're clear there, clear. Still trying to look, half back. Clear one back, clear one back."
David was 21st on lap 102.
"Half back to the 11. He's been diving hard on the bottom. He's there inside. He's going to be there inside. Be clear, clear. Half back. Outside, looking outside. He's there, outside. 31's there with him. Outside. Outside, the 1. Outside."
Mikey was 17th on lap 105. Bliss was 40th, having passed Smith.
"Clear, half back to the 41. Still clear half back."
Mikey was 18th on lap 107.
"42's got a run. Going to be there inside, inside. Got one there, 41. Inside, inside. You're clear, clear. Half back."
On lap 108, Almirola put the #00 a fifth lap down again.
"Still one back, one back."
"70, 70.
"75."
On lap 111, David was 20th.
"50."
"Half back, half back. He's down there. Looking. Back to clear, half back."
"75."
"Two with you. Coming low, inside, inside. To your door, inside. Clear him, clear. Half back. He's down there."
Lap 115 saw the fifth caution. Matt Kenseth got loose under Joe Nemechek, wheel-hopped, and got into the #78. Bliss got the free pass and was now four laps down.
"75. Okay. We'll come get you some tires this time, bud." Bobby said he'd get him an air adjustment in the left sides. "Four this time. Four tires."
Cars pit under yellow.
"Just stop him a little short. That 15 will be coming around us. Just a little short. Three green."
"Coming this time."
Just around the corner here. Right here, right here. Stop short. Good job."
Stewart was the first driver off pit road; however, six cars had stayed on track.
"Go go go. All the way out, all the way out. 4770, 4770. That was a way to hang tight. I know I put you in a bad spot for that track position."
"All right, any lappers are going to start doubling up, but I don't think there are going to be any, bud," Ty told his driver. Bliss was now 39th with Nemechek's drop back. He warned Mikey the #17 was coming. "Ready? Green green green."
McMurray led the lap 123 restart. Mikey was 25th, David 26th, and Bliss four laps down in 39th.
"Still half back," Ty warned. "Inside, inside. All by himself. Clear one back to the 83."
On lap 126, David got around Mikey for position.
"Still half back, half back."
David picked up 24th from Greg Biffle on lap 129.
"Still one back, one back."
On lap 134, David gained 23rd by getting around Scott Riggs. The next time around the track, Riggs passed, but David got around Tony Raines to remain 23rd.
"The last three laps have been 20.60," Bobby told his driver.
"Looking low. Clear low, clear low. Backing up on the top side."
Mikey passed Raines on lap 138 for 25th.
"Still there. Still up there. Clear clear clear."
"70. Leader 65."
"Half back, half back. Still going to be there. Inside, inside. Going to be looking, inside. Inside, inside. Inside, inside."
Brian Vickers passed on lap 142, moving Mikey back to 26th.
"Still there, still there. Still inside."
Two laps later, Reed Sorenson passed the #55 too. Mikey was now 27th.
"Got that 01 slow on the bottom. He just came off pit road."
Getting back around Sorenson on lap 145 put Mikey back in 26th. David was 22nd.
"Clear there. Clear clear."
David passed Ken Schrader on lap 146 for 21st.
"Clear half back. Clear clear. Clear clear."
"85, 85.
"85.
"90."
"That 00 is dropping back on the high side," Ty warned on lap 152. Bliss was five laps down again. "Clear all clear."
"90."
"Clear half back."
"21.05."
Mikey was 27th after Sorenson passed on lap 157 when Johnson took the lead.
"He's got a run on you this time. He's at your bumper. Inside. Clear there, clear there. Leader... now."
"95."
"10 car's right there. All by himself. Inside. Still there inside."
On lap 161, AJ Almendinger in the #10 passed.
"Clear half back."
On lap 162, the sixth caution came out for Kyle Busch, who scraped the wall. The #70 and #77 followed suit. Ty warned Mikey to come through low.
Bobby asked if the air helped.
"I guess. Made a little difference, but I'm just still working so hard, but I think it made a difference, if you want to keep on that road."
Bobby called for half down. "We'll get you four here. We'll get you four."
Drivers pit under yellow.
"Come around the 83, around the 83," Bobby directed. "Right here, right here. Go go go. All the way out, all the way out. Three green."
"All right, bud. One to go, one to go," Ty said.
Greg Biffle led the lap 170 restart. David was 9th, Mikey 30th, and Bliss six laps down in 39th. Kyle Busch was held two laps for bringing out the caution on purpose. Chad McCumbee appeared to have been the free pass recipient.
Mikey was 29th two laps into the run, and David was 8th.
"Watch those two guys in front of you. Everybody's rolling. Keep it straight."
The two cars in front of him were the #84 of Scott Speed and the #41 of Reed Sorenson.
Johnson took the lead again on lap 175.
"Still there. Still outside. Still outside. Still there."
Robby Gordon went to the garage on lap 176, moving Mikey into 28th.
"Still clear all clear. One back."
"65, 65."
"Good job, buddy. You're clear eight back."
"70, 70.
"75, 75.
"80."
Bliss was 38th by lap 181; he'd gained on Hornish Jr.
"70."
Bliss passed Robby Gordon one lap later. He was now 37th.
"65.
"75.
"65, 65.
"75."
"It won't turn in the centre, man," Mikey said on lap 187.
"10-4," Bobby replied. "70, 70."
"It won't turn on the gas. It turns in the centre."
"Still clear seven back."
Mikey was 27th on lap 190.
"Clear, clear. Five back. Clear five back."
"80.
"80.
"75, 75.
"85."
The seventh caution came out on lap 197. Almirola had spun out Elliott Sadler and put him in the wall.
"Spin in front of you. Stay low, stay low, stay low. No caution yet. Caution's out," Ty said.
"It just, it goes into the turn perfect, it goes into the middle great, but as soon as I hit the gas, it goes off to the right," Mikey said.
"All right, 10-4," Bobby replied. "We could try the track bar. It helped the 44 when the moved it up a little bit."
"That's fine. Try something."
"All right, pit road's going to be open this time."
"All right, up two rounds. Up two rounds on the track bar."
Ty warned the cars were slow in the corner.
"Up two rounds on the track bar. Come around the 83. Four tires, guys. Four tires. Right here, right here. Back to four. Straight." After the stop, he said, "All the way, all the way."
"4770, 4770. It's going to be one to go when you come around."
"Watch out for the lappers," Mikey warned himself.
"10-4. Be coming around to the green, come around to the green."
Johnson led the lap 203. David was 20th, Mikey 27th, Bliss 37th and seven laps down. Bliss picked up 36th one lap later from Sadler.
"Clear two back," Ty said.
"50. That was your fastest lap of the race."
By lap 207, David was 19th.
"Still two back, no pressure."
"75."
David was 19th on lap 211.
"59, 59."
"Still clear four back. No pressure."
David picked up 17th on lap 216 from Ryan Newman.
Mikey said no wonder about something.
"10-4. Clear two back."
David was 16th on lap 219.
"Still there. Still out there. Clear, clear."
"75."
On lap 220, Mikey got around Bobby Labonte for 26th.
"75."
"Clear up, if you need it. One looking low. Clear, clear. Whatever you need."
David moved into 15th on lap 224.
"Got one inside. Clear low, if you need it. Inside, the 17. The 17's there, on your bumper. Inside, inside. Still there inside, the 43. Clear low."
Kenseth passed on lap 225, moving Mikey back to 27th.
"43's inside, inside, inside. Still there. Still down there. Still there. Still there on your bumper. Still there. Keep working. Still there. Good job, bud. Clear half back. Still there still there still there. Clear. Still clear, still clear. 43's looking low. Clear clear."
Passing Almendinger on lap 234 put the #55 in 26th. Two laps later, he was 25th.
"Still outside. Still there on your bumper. Still there. Clear now, clear. Still clear, whatever you need."
Mikey passed Montoya on lap 239 for 24th.
"Still outside, outside. Still there. Leader now. Still outside, still there. Clear up. Clear clear. Seven cars between you and the leader."
"85, 85. There you go. Good lap."
Jeff Gordon took the lead on lap 243.
"21 flat."
"Still out there. Still there, still there. Still on your bumper. Still out there. Clear. Nice job!"
Mikey was 23rd on lap 247. He had passed Riggs.
"95, 95."
"You've gained a half a straightaway on the leader. He's back there with the other guys, messing around, so we're good."
"21.05."
"Still out there. Still there. Clear clear."
Biffle pit on lap 248 as he was the only one who didn't pit under the last stop, and he needed fuel. Mikey was 22nd, David 14th. Bliss was still 36th. Two laps later, the #55 was 21st.
Ty cleared Mikey past David Blaney. The #55 was 21st on lap 252.
"There you go. Whenever you dive into these corners here, your lap times..." Bobby faded out.
"All right, bud, Gordon's the leader. At the line now."
"21 flat, 21 flat.
"15, 21.15. Just don't overdrive it. Be smooth.
"21.05, 05."
"Car in the wall in Turn 4. Come through low. No caution yet, no caution. Keep coming. Keep rolling. No caution
."
The eighth caution was on lap 257. Allmendinger had spun out Bobby Labonte. Raines had just pit for a right front issue, and Menard was also on pit road for having hit the wall.
"Yeah, your times are a little more consistent there. And when you had more track, you could make better lap times. Pit road's still closed."
"Pit road's open, pit road's open," Ty said.
Bobby repeated they would take four tires. "Come around the 83, around the 83. All right, right here, right here. You'll have a straight shot out. Wheels straight. Come on. Go go go. All the way, all the way out. Three green."
Newman was penalised for being too fast coming off pit road. Burton also ran into teammate Kevin Harvick on pit road.
"Tell AJ, the first time I did it, it was because he did it to me, and the second time I did it was because my brakes went all the way to the floor. So I'm sorry about that one," Mikey said.
"You got that, Ty?" Bobby asked.
"Yeah," the spotter replied. "I passed it along."
"Thank you," said Bobby. "That set of tires looked a little better. So we'll keep squeeking on that track bar until it hurts you." He told his driver they were on lap 262 and that Mikey was 21st.
"He said everything is cool," Ty relayed the message from AJ. "All right, going to be one to go, one to go. Lappers are going to be coming under you right now."
"I just got clobbered," Mikey said.
"The hell... I don't know what the hell that was all about."
"I just slowed down for the 28, and I guess he didn't see him slow down."
"All right, be ready. Green green green. Green green green."
Johnson led the lap 268 restart with David 12th, Mikey 19th, and Bliss 36th.
"Inside. Clear, clear. Still clear one back."
Gordon reclaimed the lead on lap 273.
"Clear two back. They're side-by-side."
"Watch that 12, Ty. He's out of control," Bobby warned.
"Inside, inside, inside," Ty warned. "Clear behind him if you need it. Closing closing closing. Inside, inside."
Mikey was 20th on lap 275.
"Still there, still there. 66 is down there. Inside."
Mikey was 22nd on lap 277.
"There you go. All clear."
"All right, get back in your rhythm," Bobby said.
"Clear one back. Still clear."
Mikey got around Kvapil on lap 282. He was 21st.
"Still there. Still out there. Still there. Still there. Clear clear. Clear two back. Pulling away."
"85."
"12 and 42 are bonzaiing it. Just watch those guys. Clear four back. Nice job," Ty praised.
"89."
Mikey was 20th on lap 284, having passed Almendinger.
"Still there. Clear, clear. There you go! Slow up top. Still there, still there, still there, still there. Clear, clear."
"75, 75.
"75.
"79."
"Still outside. Still there, still there, still there. Back outside. All clear, all clear."
"85.
"82.
"77. There you go.
"84, 84."
On lap 299, David dropped back dramatically after hitting the wall, and he went to pit road with a right front flat. His crew also worked on the right front fender. Mikey was now 19th.
"85, 85."
"Still clear one back."
Martin Truex Jr scraped the wall on lap 304.
"Clear.
"Still clear one back."
On lap 310, Almendinger passed. Mikey was now 20th. David was two laps down in 32nd. Bliss was ten laps down in 36th.
"10's right there. Inside, inside. He's all by himself. Still there, still there. Clear clear."
"21.12, 21.12."
"Leader's at the line now."
David was 31st on lap 317.
"Clear two back."
Kurt Busch lost his right front tire again and went to pit road on lap 320.
"Still out there, still there," Ty warned. "Still out there. Clear clear. Now the 2 car is rolling up against the fence now. All right, you're good. You're clear."
"All right. Now go get that 42," Bobby added.
Mikey was 19th on lap 322 after passing Almendinger.
"95, 95," Bobby read off lap times.
"Six cars between you and the leader, a straightaway back."
"21.20. Just be smooth, be smooth.
"05, 21.05."
"Coming back inside, inside, inside. Clear. Half back. Inside. Clear."
On lap 329, Almendinger got back around the #55. Mikey was 20th again.
"All the way to your door. Clear there. Half back to the 21. 21's inside. Clear clear."
"The leader's off of 4 right now, two back," Bobby warned.
"All clear, bud. Half back. Still clear, clear. Outside, outside. Still there. Outside by a nose. Still there. Clear clear. Outside again. Still there, still there."
Mikey was 21st on lap 334 when Bill Elliott passed.
"It got away from me."
"Got one in the wall off of Turn 4. No caution yet. Keep rolling, keep rolling. Slow on the bottom, slow on the bottom. There you go. Keep going. All right, he jammed up the leader. Keep rolling. You've got a half straightaway on him now. Inside at your door, inside."
The car being discussed was Newman's #12. Mikey was 19th on lap 336.
"Still there, still there. Still there. Clear clear. Half back. See that 12 off pit road. You're still clear. Clear."
By lap 339, David was 30th. Mikey was back to 20th.
"Inside, inside. That's the leader behind you. Talking about debris. Inside, inside. Inside. Inside."
On lap 340, Mikey went a lap down.
"Still there, still there, still there. Still there. Still down there. Still in there. That 84. Clear low. Still there outside. Clear up, clear up. Keep it rolling, buddy. Clear three back."
"21 is for position. He's the dog. You and him for lucky dog," Bobby told his driver. "21.05, 05. Leader 35."
Ty warned Mikey about a slow car heading to pit road. It was Kyle Busch, who had a flat right front.
"Slow one up top, slow up top. Looking inside. Made it on pit road. Still there inside. Inside, the 88. Inside, all by himself. Clear ten back."
David was 31st on lap 352. Newman had passed.
"21.10. Ty, the 10 car is the next one up after that 21."
"10-4."
"21.03.
"05, 05."
"Still clear four back. Still out there. Still there. Clear clear. Got two cars who have been on pit road during this whole green flag thing. Got one two back. Still clear one back. Inside, inside. Inside, still there. Clear clear. He dropped off. You've got the 26 two back."
"The 21 is for the dog, you and the 21 is for the dog," Bobby said.
"Still there, still there. Clear all clear."
Tony Stewart dropped to pit road with a right front flat.
Mikey was 19th on lap 363 due to Stewart's misfortunes. Ty warned Mikey about the #83 as Brian Vickers in 5th passed.
"The 21 car is still the next guy. He's still the dog," said Bobby.
"Still clear two back."
"42 will be the next one the leader's passing, Ty. He'll be the dog."
"10-4," Ty acknowledged. "Still outside."
"25 away from green flag stops. 25 away. Just tell me about your car, when you get a chance," Bobby requested.
"Still there, still there. Clear, clear."
"Just no grip, either end," Mikey stated.
"10-4," Bobby replied.
David was 30th on lap 374.
"Clear three back."
"I'll make a little air pressure adjustment," Bobby told his driver. "42 21, that's the dog."
Busch's #2 again scraped the wall. He slowed on the track with a right front flat.
The nineth caution was on lap 382 for debris from the #2 car. Almendinger received the free pass from 16th. Ty announced the yellow flag.
"All right, I'm going to take some air out of your right front tires. P19, P19 right now. We've got about 16 on the lead lap and about six or seven of them one lap down."
"Temperatures are ten o'clock and one o'clock. 180 and 220."
Bobby said they'd go with four tires and could make it to the end on fuel from here.
Mikey disagreed. "Well let me just say, I don't know if we'll make it to the end or not, because for the last 100 laps, the rear end gear has been missing a pull here or there. That's what messed me up with the leaders. I came off Turn 2, and I felt like I jumped out of gear."
"Just stay out right there."
"Come on, guys. Let's have a nice stop here. We need this one," Ty encouraged.
Bobby again said they would go with four tires and to stop short for the #83. "Three green. Right around the corner. Right in. Right here, right here." After the stop, he said, "Go go. All the way, all the way."
"4770," Ty reminded Mikey about pit road speed. "They're stopped there, Michael."
Bobby said sixteen cars were on the lead lap.
"I don't believe so, bud," Ty replied.
"7 car's one down, 7 car's one down."
"All right, one to go when you get around here. All right, there you go."
Johnson led the restart on lap 389. Mikey was one lap down in 20th, David three down in 31st, and Bliss fourteen laps down in 36th.
"Outside, still there. Clear up behind the 24, if you want it. Still clear if you need it. Clear all clear. Outside, 24. Still there, still there. Another one outside, the 6. Outside. Outside, still there. Clear up. Clear clear. One back. Still clear half back. Still clear one back. Nice job, bud!"
McMurray went to the garage with 102 laps to go with a rear gear issue.
"Slow one on the bottom," Ty warned. "Clear."
Mikey was 19th on lap 400. David was 30th. Bliss went down a fifteenth lap.
"96 is two laps down up top. Still clear clear, half back. Clear one back out your mirror. Still outside. Still there. Clear up, clear clear."
"Next two cars for position," Bobby said.
David was 29th on lap 404.
"Clear three back."
"75.
"72.
"80."
"Slow car up top - the 00," Ty warned on lap 407.
"60, 60."
Mikey was 18th one lap later. He had passed Greg Biffle.
"Still outside. Still there. Still there still there. Still outside by a hair. Still there. Clear up. Clear clear. Nice job! Two back to the 5. Car inside, inside. Clear behind him. Clear one behind him to the 16. Nice job."
"75, 75."
"Still one back, one back. Inside, he's at your bumper. Clear behind him. 85 to go."
"80. P18, P18.
"90.
"90.
"94.
"82, 82.
"87."
The #00 was now 16 laps down on lap 424.
"91.
"87.
"85, 85.
"99."
"Still there, still there. Still there. Clear. Great job, bud! Five back."
"95, 95.
"93.
"21.10.
"97, 97.
"21.05, 05.
"21.13. That 16 car is a little quicker than you right now. 65 to go."
"Clear two back," Ty said.
"21 flat."
David was 28th by lap 438. Kyle Busch went back to pit road with a right front flat.
"21.12."
"Clear all clear. You see that 84 up there. You're clear half back. Inside now, inside. Inside. Clear there. Still clear three back to the 29."
"All right, just get your rhythm back," Bobby encouraged. Mikey was 19th on lap 443. "60 to go, 60 to go.
"21.15, 21.15.
"97, 97.
"96, 96.
"95, 95."
Bobby Labonte went to the garage with rear end problems.
"15, 21.15. 55 to go, 55 to go."
"Still there. Clear all clear."
"104, 04."
David was 27th on lap 450.
"99, 99.
"96, 96.
"21.08, 08."
By lap 454, Bliss was up to 34th. Johnson had to dart around the #00, who was in front of him but he didn't see as he was putting Bliss another lap down.
"Still there."
"04, 04."
With 46 laps to go, the #20 returned to pit road with another tire issue.
"Clear five back."
David was 26th on lap 457.
"45 to go, 45 to go," Bobby said. "06."
The tenth caution was with 43 laps to go when Reed Sorenson spun and hit the wall driver's side in Turn 2.
"Car in the wall in 2. Caution's out, caution's out.
Bobby asked about the car.
"Uh, it just gives up too much, like it's better than it was early," Mikey replied. "Not too much forward bite for this amount to be okay."
Bobby called for no changes and four tires.
"It doesn't take many laps at all for it to start getting loose, so don't worry about blowing up the tires..."
"Yeah, I don't blow them up until 20 to go," Bobby cut him off.
"How many on our lap behind us?" Ty asked.
"I'm waiting for it to update here. It's been struggling all day."
Mikey said someone should keep track and count, rather than rely on the computer. "All you gotta do is watch the leaders and watch the guys who are a lap down."
"Pit road is closed, still closed," Ty said.
"Yeah, we're the last car one lap down," Bobby replied. "Looks like the 10, 42, 21, 16, and us. 14th through 18th."
"10-4. Pit road's open for the leaders. We're going to come next time, Michael. Next time."
"All right, be four tires, guys. Four tires. Fuel, no fuel. No fuel. Three green. 4770. This time. Four tires. We'll have a straight shot in, straight shot in. Right here, right here, right here. Wheels straight. All the way, all the way out. Three green, three green."
Jeff Burton was hit by a couple cars coming into his box and pit outside of it. He was penalised.
Ty warned cars were checking up in front of them. "The 21 and 10, I believe, just took two tires."
"We should have gotten two also. All these two down guys are going to screw us, they won't let you by." Mikey pointed out the separation to the one lap down drivers.
"All right, let me start working them some," Ty said.
Bobby pointed out a car three down and one four down. "All right, it will be 33 to go when you get the green."
"We got the 38 said it was cool. The 84 will give it to us. Come on down. Up to that 96, behind that 42. There you go. Good job, man! All right, you're going to be coming to the green."
Kenseth led the lap 469 restart. Mikey was 17th and one lap down. David was 25th, and Bliss 34th.
"Still out there. Still there. 18 still there."
Johnson reclaimed the lead on lap 471.
"Still outside. Still there. Outside. Going to lean on you here. Clear there, clear. Clear there. Clear one back. Clear up behind the 18, if you need it. Clear both sides. Still there, inside. Still down there, still down there. Still there inside, the 8. Still there. 25 to go. Still there. Through the middle, come through the middle. Got one really slow. Come through the middle. No caution yet. Keep coming. Still there inside."
The real slow car was the #00.
"Inside, inside, inside. Still there on your bumper. Still there inside, still there. Still there. 24 to go. Got one inside. 31. Several laps down. Inside. Clear there, clear there. P18. Clear two back. Clear there, clear there. One back to the 1. Inside, inside. Inside. 44's looking inside. Inside. Clear one back."
David was 24th on lap 484. Mikey was 18th, after letting Burton by. Bliss was 26 laps down in 35th.
"Running inside, inside. He's there. Another one running. Inside, inside. Still there. Clear one back."
The eleventh caution was for David Gilliland's #38 with 15 laps to go. David had gotten into Gilliland, cutting down the right rear tire and turning Gilliland into the wall.
"Clear three back to the 12. Right in front of you. Get down, get down. You're clear. Caution's out."
"What you got there?" Bobby asked.
"Stay up, man. There might be a lot of debris on the bottom," Ty warned.
"What do y'all want to do? I'm pushing worse than I have all day on that run, for some reason," Mikey said.
Bobby said they'd go ahead and pit. They'd only stay off if the other guys they were racing pit. "Go ahead and put four on you to be safe on the debris side of it."
"It just really pushed that whole run."
"Okay. We'll put four on you here, put four on. Whenever it opens for us."
"Next time, Michael. Next time," Ty said.
"I don't know what was wrong with that 38. He was acting crazy, wasn't he, Ty?"
"Yeah, he was four laps down, and he was racing you like he was racing for 3rd."
"Then he was really crowding Reutimann."
"Probably too much carbon monoxide, and it's late in the day," Ty figured.
The #55 pit under yellow.
"Whoa, easy there! Easy there, hot dog!" Bobby exclaimed. "4770."
"Easy what? I'm taking off like I have all day."
"He's just nervous after what happened with the 00's rear."
"Well, he should be nervous, because mine's been trying to break for 100 laps, 200 laps now. Remind him that after the stop, it's too late."
"10-4. I got you. All right, it will be ten to go here. We will be racing 10, 22, 31, 41."
"Unfortunately, we have to hang with that 12. We're not allowed to pass him, Bobby," Ty said.
"Yeah, nobody close on our lap. So P18 there, P18."
"We're right behind that 9 there. Hold on, behind that 9, bud. They're busting that 12."
"They're not doing a good job of busting him. He's about seven cars in front of me."
"I know. Let's see him get black flagged."
Johnson led the lap 494 restart. Mikey was 18th, David was 23rd, and Bliss was 38th and in the garage.
"Fastest lap of the race right there. 49.
"44, 44. Four to go."
The twelfth caution was with three to go when David Ragan spun out following contact with Kenseth.
"Still there. Still there. Outside. Clear three more. Caution's out, caution's out. Got one right in the middle of the race track. To the wall. Yeah, he was coming down the track in front of you there."
"Stay out, stay out," Bobby said.
The field prepared for a green/white/checkered finish.
"How'd the Panthers do?" Mikey asked.
"Uh, they were up 27-7 the last time I see the score. Haven't seen the update in a while."
"What time of day is it right now?"
"5:14, 5:14."
"I just got us off, I got my rhythm off," Mikey stated. "I got in the wall a little bit, and those leaders got me. Y'all did a good job. We just need to turn better. We need to get our cars to turn left better."
Bobby said he knew and that he had a good view of him. "Just bring it home, and we'll get a top 20."
"Well, the 10 and the 42 are right there on each other, so let's see if we can get ourselves an extra spot here," Ty said. "All right, one to go, one to go. Green white checkered."
Johnson led the restart. Mikey was 18th, David 24th, and Bliss 39th.
"All right, bud, be ready. Nice and clean here. Leader's in 4. Green green green, green green green."
"Coming to the checkered. Coming to the checkered," Bobby observed.
"That's it. They're checking up down here, checking up," Ty warned.
"18th, 18th."
Johnson won. David was 24th, three laps down. Bliss was in the garage, 39th and 49 laps down.
Next weekend, Mikey will make his 1,000th NASCAR start in the Sprint Cup Series' Pep Boys Auto 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Coverage begins Sunday at 1:00pm ET on ABC. The Nationwide Series will be at Memphis Motorsports Park for the Kroger On Track For The Cure 250, which airs the day before on ESPN Classic at 3:00pm.