Budweiser Shootout - 2/7/09
Both Michael Waltrip Racing entries were in the garage when the checkered flag waved at the Budweiser Shootout, tonight's nonpoints race at Daytona International Speedway. Michael Waltrip's #55 Napa Camry finished 35 laps down in 22nd due to a tangle with Elliott Sadler's #19. David Reutimann retired from the race with 22 laps to go after David Stremme bumped Sadler into his #00 Aaron's Toyota. David finished 20th.
Mikey and David drew 17th and 22nd in Budweiser Shootout qualifying via random drawing. Paul Menard drew the pole.
"Got a copy?" someone asked at 8:16pm ET.
"1, 2, 3. Hello," Mikey said.
"I copy."
The call to start engines came from country singer Dierks Bentley two minutes later.
"You gotta crank it up," spotter Ty Norris directed his driver. "Everybody got a copy on me?"
"Yeah, I got it good," Mikey replied.
"Cool."
Crew chief Bootie Barker told Mikey to go ahead and put on his B blowers.
"Got ya."
"All right, Ty, I'm looking for him now. I see the 19."
"Watch them jam up," Ty warned.
"4, 3, 2, baby. Right here. Yeah, Ty, see those wreckers," Bootie said. "If I lean forward, I can see those cones there."
"Can you just hand me off with five away, Bootie," Mikey requested. He asked him to watch him getting in and out of the stall.
"Yeah, 10-4." Bootie told Mikey he'd drop him off at the M&M box.
"As you see," Bootie said a minute later, regarding pit road speed, "it's 46.50, 46.50. Second gear. And that should be three or four lights."
"Gotcha," Mikey replied.
"All right, everybody. Very happy to be here with you. We've been preparing hard, worked hard all winter," Bootie said. "Mikey, if we potentially need it, four green. In other words, four greens on your tact."
"So four greens is fine."
"Absolutely. Four greens is four miles per hour over. Four greens is almost speeding."
"I'll give you all the information I have, tell you all that I see, but in some of those tight spaces, you'll have a much better idea than I," Ty told his driver.
"Good job, everybody, all winter. I appreciate the work. Ty, just hang in on this deal. We'll get a good finish," Mikey said. "I appreciate it, and we'll go get 'em here."
"10-4, boss," Bootie replied.
Menard led the field to the green flag at 8:30pm.
"17 with him. Outside. Three-wide, three-wide. The bottom line is coming pretty hard. Up the middle. Three-wide. Some help coming from the bottom. Three-wide, three-wide. Back to two," Ty noted. "Still outside. A little help coming from the bottom."
Mikey was 22nd after one lap of racing. David was 25th. Menard led the first lap.
"Two by two, two by two," Ty said.
The top line got moving, and Elliott Sadler pushed Denny Hamlin into the lead along the high side going into lap 3. Mikey was 25th, David 18th. Along the backstretch, Dale Earnhardt Jr was pushed into the lead.
"With you on the bottom. Still outside. Clear there. Okay, stay on the bottom there, stay on the bottom. Clear there. Crash behind you. Keep coming."
"Behind me, my ass!" Mikey exclaimed.
The first caution was on lap 4. Robby Gordon had swept up the track right in front of Mikey, nosed upward by David Ragan. Casey Mears, Greg Biffle, Joey Logano and Scott Speed.
"Stay out, Michael," Bootie told him. He said why, but it was covered by static. He figured they'd pit to take a look at the car if others came in.
"There's no reason to look at it. I mean, I didn't hit nothing, and nothing hit us." Mikey said they'd only come in for tires.
Bootie asked about temps.
"190. No, it's about eleven o'clock and about twelve-thirty."
Bootie said they'd stay out and told Mikey to keep his eye on the temps.
Under yellow, Mikey was 20th, and David was 17th. Earnhardt Jr was still in the lead.
"I was just watching you on the Napa commercial. You looked very chiche," Bootie commented. He was talking about the ad where a fan brought customised #55 die-casts from various mishaps.
"Well, it was really fun going to people's houses and..." Mikey faded out. "The Napa Toyota's sitting in victory lane, saying..."
"Still a lot of trucks out there. They're giving us one to go," Ty said. "Double file."
"I'm odd. I'm on the inside," Mikey said.
"I think you're twentieth," Ty replied. He asked Bootie to check. Mikey was marked 19th and David 16th after some made stops.
"All right, you're there, and the 31 is on the outside of him. The 07 is on the outside of him. He got caught up a little bit in that wreck," Ty told his driver.
Racing resumed on lap 9 with Earnhardt Jr in the lead. Mikey was 19th, David 16th.
"17 before the break, 17. Ready? Green. Still outside," Ty said.
One lap into the run, Mikey was 17th, and David was 16th.
"Still three by three. Two deep," Ty said. "Still three by three. Bunched up on the top. Clear low, clear low. Everybody's rolling."
Bobby Labonte had wobbled and had gotten into David along the wall, then Brian Vickers.
"29 still outside, by himself. Clear three back, clear three back."
Mikey was 12th on lap 11. David was 16th. Kevin Harvick got into the wall beside the #55. Meanwhile, Tony Stewart took the lead. One lap later, David was 17th as Mikey maintained 12th.
"24's coming up behind that 28," Ty warned. "12 in your mirror. Got one up top now. Three-wide, three-wide. Still three-wide. Other line's got the help. Still outside, outside. Both sides."
On lap 15, Mikey was back to 19th. David was 14th. The #55 gained a spot the next time around the track.
"Two by two, two by two. Got the 18 in your mirror. You're clear high."
Carl Edwards took the lead on lap 17. Mikey was 15th, David 14th. Mikey was 16th and David 12th the next time around the track.
"Three-wide, three-wide. The 17 right with you. Back to two wide. The 83 helping," Ty said. He noted how many laps until the break. "Still there, still there. One trying to sneak outside, the 19. The 2 with him."
Mikey was 17th on lap 19, and David was 13th.
"Still outside, outside. Two by two. Most of the help up top."
Mikey was 15th on lap 20 with David still in 13th. Four cars were in the garage - those belonging to Speed, Ragan, Robby Gordon, and Logano.
"Still three-wide," Ty warned. "Top line's got a big push here. Still outside. Still three-wide. 17's coming with a push."
On lap 21, David picked up 12th. Denny Hamlin shot all over the place but saved it before he hit anyone or anyone hit him. His back tires just got loose.
"Right down in front of you. Keep low, keep low. Three-wide."
Hamlin ran up into David, who hit the wall then slid down into David Stremme. Both went through the grass. The second caution was on lap 22.
"Most likely, this is going to lead us to the break, Michael," Bootie said.
"All right. Mostly, I'm a little bit loose. I've been a little bit loose since the start," Mikey reported.
Initially, Mikey was marked 15th and David 12th. Edwards was in the lead.
"The car hasn't hit anything ever. Maybe the left front when I get down on the apron, but that's it."
"10-4," Bootie replied. He said he didn't want to make Mikey looser but would tighten it up somehow to get him more speed.
"Yeah, I want more speed, so whatever."
"No real body damage. He slid for about a mile, but I think he'll be all right," Ty reported regarding the #00.
"All right, Michael, we're definitely making plans and everything. So when we get in here, we'll definitely work on it a little bit," Bootie told his driver.
"All right, this time, they're going to bring you down pit road. This time."
Bootie said they would do a mock pit stop. "So if there's anything you don't like, we'll work on it."
"All right."
"All right, Michael. It will be 4650 and second gear. 4650 and second gear."
Mikey pit with everyone under the lap 25 planned ten minute red flag. Positions were frozen. Edwards led, Mikey was 14th, and David was 22nd after pitting before this.
"See the 18, see the yellow. You're seven away," Ty guided.
"5," Bootie continued. "Right around the 14. 4, 3, 2. There you go. Put on the brakes, put on the brakes. Make sure you shift when the car drops. There you go. Good job. Okay, don't go nowhere. Hehe! All right, like I say guys, everything gets done."
"Get a window tear-off all the way across, and maybe the other thing is get a good study on that splitter," Mikey requested.
"10-4. We're definitely going to get that tearoff."
"Somebody messed up there."
"Got one piece of safety wire on..." the crew member's voice faded off.
"We probably need to..." Mikey faded out.
Bootie said they'd safety wire something, because they had time.
"The strap is actually okay. That's the only thing that's hit the race track," the crew chief said.
Bootie told the crew member nevermind. "If he's going to be stupid, then just screw with him. I see those safety wire, and I went into a panic."
"Michael, just so when we work on things, when you say loose, give me on a scale of 1 to 10. 1, just barely, 5 a handful, 10, you're in the wall," Bootie requested.
"It really needs to be 0 when you're by yourself and a little when you get around anyone." Mikey said it really wasn't loose around people, then said there were a couple times he had to chase it up the hill. He requested a round out.
"Three minutes, Boot," someone said.
"10-4."
Cars were back on track at 9:15pm.
"All right, bud. Be ready. We're coming to the green, coming to the green. Pace car's off. Ready? Green green green. Everybody's rolling. Still two by two."
Edwards led the lap 26 restart. Mikey was 14th, David 22nd. Edwards was shuffled out of the lead on lap 27, and Jamie McMurray moved into the top spot. Mikey was 12th, David 22nd.
"Everybody still two by two. Still two by two. Inside. 29's shooting up through the middle there. Stay up. Three-wide. Three-wide, three-wide."
On lap 27, Kasey Kahne led. Mikey was 9th, David 18th.
"Still clear high. Two by two."
Mikey was in the top line, which was the one moving with the leader.
"48's still on your quarter on the bottom."
Mikey was gaining ground when Hamlin wiggled him out. He was 7th on lap 28 and 8th on lap 29. David was 15th. McMurray led.
"Still inside. Both sides, both sides, both sides. Clear behind the 18 if you need it. Two by two. Every lane has help. Three by three. Three deep. Still three-wide, still three-wide. Still three-wide. Middle still covered."
The third caution was on lap 31. Mikey was 8th, David 18th. Jeff Gordon had wiggled back into a three-wide situation, where Mikey was down low. They were forced four-wide, and Mikey got damage. Other cars did too.
"Still three-wide, still three-wide. Keep rolling, keep rolling. Big crash behind you. Keep rolling. There you go, caution's out."
"I got hit," Mikey said.
"You were in the right spot again. Great job."
"I got hit."
"It's nothing from here. But when we pit, we'll look at it," Bootie replied.
"They were just shoving my ass. We were definitely, definitely way off on power on this deal for sure. It just sucks. He really went down on me, and lucky for me, that ain't a bad deal, because they can get to me and push me. So we sucked. We're not fast like these guys."
"10-4. He hung his left side quarter, guys. Get your patches." He called for four tires and fuel too.
Cars pit under yellow.
"220, 250," Mikey gave temps.
Bootie told him he wouldn't have to go around the 14 and would have a clear shot in and off.
"Entering three. Still have time," Ty said.
Bootie told Ron to put on one clear piece of barribond and to let him go. "You're good and clean, Michael. Everything's fine. We got it fixed."
"All four below the yellow line," Ty reminded his driver. "Now left sides."
"Okay, Mike," someone said but was cut off.
Hamlin led the restart with forty laps to go. Mikey was 22nd, David 13th. Kyle Busch shot into the lead.
"Down behind the 48, if you need it, if you need it. Two by two."
The fourth caution was for Reed Sorenson one lap into the run. He was smoking heavily.
"Clear there. All clear. Car smoking behind you. Keep coming. No caution. Caution's out, caution's out," Ty said.
Mikey was 21st under yellow. David was 14th.
Bootie said, if the majority of the cars came in, they'd pit to top off. "I'll let you make the decision. You and Michael work it out."
"Pit road will be open this time."
"50."
Bootie said they put L brackets on both sides. "So we're good, and we're good on fuel."
"Okay, man, one to go when you get around here," Ty told his driver. "All right, coming to the green. You've got 35 laps to go."
Kyle Busch led the lap 40 restart. Mikey was 18th, and David was 12th. Jeff Gordon pushed Earnhardt Jr into the lead. One lap into the run, Mikey gained a spot and David lost one. Earnhardt Jr did not officially lead lap 40.
"Still two by two. Everybody's covered," Ty said. "Clear to the middle there behidn that 19. Still up top, still up top. Clear high, clear high. Clear high if you need it. There you go, there you go. Clear high, clear high. Still got that 29 down there. Clear him, clear him."
Mikey was 14th and David was 15th on lap 41. Earnhardt Jr led.
"Still three-wide, still three-wide. Still there. Got the 29 coming with a push. Still three-wide, three-wide. Back to two, back to..." Ty cut out.
Mikey hit the wall with 32 laps to go. Elliott Sadler clipped his rear into the wall.
"I messed up. I didn't give him enough room, and I thought I did." He said, whatever happened, he crashed.
Bootie talked about getting new tires on and getting back out.
"No, I think it's crashed, Bootie. The steering is all off."
"Yeah, I think it's about effed it." Bootie said to get it behind the wall. "Are you okay? Is everything okay as far as you?"
"Yeah," Mikey replied.
"I'll go talk to you before we leave, talk to you about the handling, get your thoughts."
"Yeah, the handling was good. I was real happy. I could do a lot of things. I was just going to need to get real lucky to get up there," Mikey said. He pointed out how he'd gotten to the front once and attributed it to luck. He told Bootie the car wasn't fast enough. "So if you could work on that other car."
On lap 46, Mikey was two laps down and behind the wall in 22nd. David was on track in 13th.
"Billy, will you get my book please? Yeah, I hear you."
Matt Kenseth took the lead on lap 50. David was 13th. Earnhardt Jr was leading when the yellow flag waved again.
The fifth caution came out on lap 54 when David Stremme bumped Sadler several times before turning the #19 into David. The #00 sustained heavy damage. He was on pit road a lap before the field came in when pit road opened. The #00 team said that pit road was green when they came in, but NASCAR put them a lap time.
"So what do you want to do? Should we just go ahead and park it?" David asked. The #00 team decided to go to the garage.
Kevin Harvick went on to win the race. Mikey was 22nd and David was 20th.
Coverage of the Gatorade Duels, the qualifying races for the Daytona 500, begins Thursday, February 12th at 2:00pm ET on the Speed channel.
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© 2009 Kellyanne Lynch, in association with Cyber Speed Design. All rights reserved.
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