Mikey Power

Camping World 300 - 2/14/09

Michael Waltrip finished 24th in the Camping World 300, today's Nationwide Series race at Daytona International Speedway. He sustained significant left rear damage on lap 90 when Mike Bliss ran into David Ragan a few times and tagged the Michael Waltrip Racing #99 Aaron's Dream Machine as he spun. Mikey lost the lead lap but regained it when caution came out with 11 laps to go.

The call to start engines came at 1:23pm ET. Mikey rolled off 11th in this afternoon's race, with Kevin Harvick starting from the pole.

The green flag waved at 1:35pm. The field remained single-file throughout the first lap, and Harvick led the first lap. Mikey was 13th as cars began jockeying for position; meanwhile, Matt Kenseth took the lead.. Lap 3 saw the #99 in 12th. DJ Kennington wobbled on the track after receiving a nudge, but he held it and continued. Cars at the front went single-file, and Mikey moved up to 8th on lap 5. He was 6th one lap later. By lap 11, the front seven cars had pulled away from the rest of the pack.

Kyle Busch passed Mikey on lap 13, moving the #99 back to 7th. The pass, which took over a lap, slowed them both and cost them time to the top five.

Clint Bowyer took the lead on lap 18, and Tony Stewart moved past Kenseth into 2nd. Mikey passed Harvick on the same lap for 6th.

Lap 22 saw Tony Stewart take the lead. Two laps later, Harvick got around Mikey and dropped him back to 7th. Bowyer was back in the lead. Mikey lost a spot to Brad Keselowski on lap 25; he was now 8th.

The first caution was for debris on the backstretch on lap 27. Mike Harmon received the free pass back onto the lead lap. Cars pit under yellow, and Mikey gained a spot on pit road. Cars behind him tangled while getting back onto the track. Brad Keselowski came out of his box and pushed Dale Earhardt Jr and Matt Kenseth, who were two-wide up the track. Then Earnhardt Jr came down and hit his driver, Keselowski.

Racing resumed on lap 32 with Harvick leading and Mikey in 4th. Kyle Busch pushed Stewart into the lead on the backstretch. Mikey was side-by-side with Harvick, who got hung out. Mikey was 3rd on lap 33. Harvick pushed Mikey along the inside groove as the #99 led that line. Harvick hung Mikey, but Mikey got back in line in front of the #33. He was 6th on lap 35, running the inside line behind Clint Bowyer in the #29. Mikey was 4th on lap 36 as Greg Biffle took the lead. People jumped to the outside groove, and Mikey's line along the inside lost momentum. He was 8th on lap 38, and Stewart was now in the lead. Mikey was 9th on lap 39 and 13th on lap 40. He was 14th on lap 41. Brendan Gaughan passed him the next time around the track, dropping the #99 to 15th. Mikey was 18th one lap later. Lap 44 saw Mikey move into 16th. Four laps later, Jason Keller passed the #99. Mikey was 17th. He was 18th one lap later when Justin Allgaier got around him.

Kyle Busch led lap 50 with a push from Clint Bowyer around Stewart. Steven Wallace passed Mikey four laps later, moving him back to 19th. Bowyer was now in the lead.

Brian Keselowski spun out, drawing the second caution on lap 56. Annett received the free pass, and cars pit under yellow. Mikey must have pit a second time, because he was 22nd initially and then 36th. His crew made more adjustments during that stop.

Busch led the lap 61 restart with Mikey in 36th. One lap into the run, he passed Annett for 35th. He was 33rd one lap later and had the fastest speed on track that circuit. Mikey was 30th the next time around the track. He passed Kenny Wallace on lap 64 for 29th. He was 27th one lap later. Mikey was 26th on lap 66 and was again the fastest one on the track.

Brad Keselowski took the lead on lap 69.

The third caution was on lap 72 for Steven Wallace, Scott Lagasse Jr, and Justin Allgaier. All three cars sustained significant damage, and Allgaier was the only one able to get back to pit road. Jason Leffler had hit Wallace, throwing him into the slowing #11 and #12. Drivers pit under yellow, and Brian Keselowski got the free pass. Jason Keller was the first driver off pit road; he gained eighteen spots. Brad Keselowski ran into cars again coming off pit road. Kenny Wallace led lap 75 under yellow. NASCAR assessed Jason Leffler a five lap penalty for agressive driving.

Jason Keller led the lap 74 restart with Mikey in 27th. He was 26th one lap later.

Bowyer led lap 80, and Mikey was 24th.

The fourth caution was on lap 81 when Kenny Hendrick and Eric McClure wrecked. Hendrick's tire had blown. Mikey was 22nd at the time.

Bowyer led the restart with 35 laps to go. Mikey was 22nd and picked up a spot one lap into the run. Lap 88 saw Mikey pick up 18th. Passing Joe Nemechek moved him into 17th one lap later.

Mike Bliss hit David Ragan four times before spinning himself out on lap 90. He hit Mikey as he spun, bringing out the fifth caution. Mikey sustained a great deal of rear damage and spent time on pit road. A few others pit under yellow.

Bowyer led the restart on lap 94. Mikey was 33rd, one lap down. He picked up a spot from David Green one lap into the run.

Brian Vickers led lap 97. Mikey was now 31st. Cars scrambled at the front two laps later.

Carl Edwards led lap 107.

The sixth caution came out with 11 laps to go when Keselowski hit the wall. Many drivers pit under yellow, and Mikey got the free pass back onto the lead lap.

Edwards led the restart with 7 laps to go. Mikey was 29th. Bowyer pushed Stewart by Edwards on the backstretch, and Mikey moved into 28th. Tony Raines and Scott Wimmer both blew tires, but the race remained under green. Mikey was 27th on lap 116. He was 25th with three laps to go and 24th with two to go.

Tony Stewart went on to win the race. Mikey was 24th.

Coverage of tomorrow's Daytona 500 begins at 2:00pm ET on FOX.