Food City 500 - 3/22/09
A flat tire just before a caution trapped Michael Waltrip four laps down midway through the Food City 500, this afternoon's Sprint Cup race at Bristol Motor Speedway. His #55 Napa Auto Parts Camry finished six laps down in 32nd. David Reutimann's #00 Aaron's Dream Machine spent most of the day in the top ten and finished 12th.
Mikey lined up 21st for today's race; David started 6th.
"All right, bud. Do you have a copy?" spotter Ty Norris came on the radio at 2:07pm ET. "One minute out."
"I got ya," Mikey replied.
"10-4."
The call to start engines came one minute later.
"Hey, Bootie, do you have something to cup your mic?" Ty asked the crew chief.
"My hand," was Bootie Barker's response.
"All right. I think..."
Ty was cut off by someone else. He spoke again and was cut off again.
"How 'bout now?" Bootie asked a minute later. "Okay, Michael, go ahead and turn your gear fan on, and I'll let you know about the B fans later. But that's all you need right now."
"All right, I gotcha," Mikey replied.
"We are looking at 4100, second gear. 4100."
"4100, roger."
"Hey, bud, from where you sit, you're about four away. In front of the Target," Ty informed his driver.
After a long pause, Bootie said, "Yup, uh huh. 4100 and second gear, 4300, you're speeding. I'm sorry, 4300 is speeding."
"Okay, 4100. 43 is too much. Second gear. Roger," Mikey replied.
"10-4. Anything you need, Michael, you just tell us." Bootie said he'd give Mikey lap times so long as he were clear. He also mentioned he'd be on NASCAR's frequency, so he might not respond right away but would let him know he was listening.
"Two to go right there," Ty noted. Someone walked over him at the end. A minute later, he said, "All right, bud. One to go, one to go." He reminded Mikey they had a short pit road. "Michael, you'll be entering there right there every time, off of 4, but I'll keep you informed."
Mikey requested twenty laps to get used to where the pit was.
The green flag waved at 2:15pm with Mark Martin leading the field.
"Pace car's off. Green green green. Still outside," Ty said. "Still outside on your corner. Still there. Clear up, clear up. Clear half back. 64's got them jammed up on top."
Ryan Newman took the lead going into lap 3. Mikey was still 21st, and David was 5th.
"Still outside. Still outside on your corner. Still there. Still there. You're good. Clear low. Still outside. Still on your corner. Still there, still there. One trying to peak inside. Clear low. Still on your quarter. Clear, clear half back. Inside, on your quarter, inside on your quarter. He's there. He's there, inside. Quick hole behind the 1 right there. Still there, still there, still there. Still there. Still there, clear low."
Around lap 10, Mikey and Todd Bodine made contact as Mikey was running in the middle of three-wide with Bodine and Martin Truex Jr. He was 19th.
"Still outside on your quarter. Inside. Still outside, inside. Clear high. Still inside. Clear, clear half back. Nice job," Ty praised.
"43," Bootie gave a lap time. "35."
"Inside. At your corner. Still there. Clear, half back."
"35."
"Inside. Half back. Still on your quarter. Still there. Clear. Clear there. Half back. One back. 44's on your corner, he's there. Inside. Clear."
Mikey was 20th on lap 16.
"Still the same. Tight as balls in 1 and 2," Mikey reported.
"10-4," Bootie acknowledged.
"There you go. Got a nose in there. Got a nose," Ty warned. "The 11 with him, the 11 with him."
"72."
Lap 22 saw David lose a spot to Jeff Gordon.
"Clear half back now to the 11."
"58."
"Down there on your corner. I see you have that slow one on the bottom. You're clear the 82. Back inside, all the way to your door. Spin off 2, spin off 2. Caution's out. Watch the 82. The track will be clear when you get there."
The first caution was on lap 27 for John Andretti.
"Okay, talk to me, Michael," Bootie requested.
"It just won't turn in the middle of 1 and 2," Mikey said.
Bootie called for one in wedge and four tires.
"Say it again, Bootie."
Bootie repeated.
"You mean air?" Mikey asked.
Bootie said yes.
"Here we come. 4100," Ty said.
Bootie told Mikey he had to go around the #22 and that the #82 would be coming around him. He guided his driver to the box. Meanwhile, some drivers chose to stay on track.
"One lane one lane one lane. Dig, behind that 8. Good job," Bootie said as Mikey left his pit box. "10-4, Michael, we did some wedge and a half pound out of the right front."
"Okay, it's just really really good in 3 and 4. I can't beat everyone I'm around, but I can't get through 1 and 2. It won't get through 1 and 2. It's just really, really tight."
Bootie said he'd try to give lap times and that Mikey just had some cars messing with him. "The 1 was pretty good. You just keep doing your thing. We won't screw you up."
"Yeah, bud, seven of them stayed out," Ty said.
"Those radios aren't doing real well," Mikey commented.
"I know. I agree. It will be one to go. The 82 will have to go to the back for exitting too fast."
"It was a matter of time."
"He is 42 in third gear. Here comes the 34. Lapper inside."
Jimmie Johnson led the restart on lap 34. Mikey was 27th, and David was 15th.
"All right, outside only until you get to the line. Pace car's off. Be ready. Ready. Green green green. One back. Crash in front of you, crash in front of you. Back it down. He's right in the middle of the track."
The second caution was on lap 35, after Andretti's lapped car drifted up and turned Dave Blaney's #66. Andretti was slated to get the free pass, but NASCAR denied him the pass due to his involvement in the accident.
"One o'clock, one o'clock," Mikey reported temperatures inside the car.
"10-4. Just so you know, we have the bottom grill completely open." Bootie said it gets hot at Bristol, as Mikey knows, so use his fan. "We're working on the tire wear right now. If there's anything stupid, we'll definitely let you know."
Johnson led the lap 39 restart. Mikey was 25th, and David was 14th.
"All right, bud, be ready. You're going to be coming around to the green. Pace car's coming off. Ready? Green green green. Still half back, half back. 11's inside. Still there. Clear. Inside. 29's trying to come with him, you're clear. A run inside. All to your corner, all the way there. Clear."
"27."
Mikey was 26th on lap 42.
"Got a run. Inside, inside. Still down there. Clear, clear. To your door. Down there on your corner, still there. Still there on your quarter, still there. Still there, still there just barely. Still inside. Inside, still there."
Mikey was 27th on lap 50. David was 15th.
"On your quarter, on your quarter, on your quarter. Still down there, still there. Still there barely. Still there. Still there. Clear if you want it,c lear if you want it. Three-wide going into this corner. Be careful. Still Truex. All clear, all clear. Whatever you need. Either lane. Inside, inside. That 64's in the third lane up there, bud. You're clear, whatever you need. One back."
Mikey was 25th on lap 57, David 14th.
"Still there, still there. Still there barely. Still there. Clear. Use whatever you need. You're still clear half back. Clear up if you need it. Half back. Clear up, clear up. Back outside back outside back outside. Crash behind you, crash behind you."
"Clear up, huh?" Mikey asked.
"I don't know what he was doing. You were clear, and he just jammed himself up there."
"Well I was just doing what you said, so hopefully, he's not pissed at me."
The third caution was on lap 61. Mikey had gone up into Bodine due to Ty's misdirection. Kurt Busch and Kevin Harvick also picked up damage.
"Isn't it time to stay out or not?" Mikey asked.
"Yeah, just come back around. It looks all right on the outside," Bootie replied.
"It looks fine," Ty assessed. "It looks fine over here."
"10-4. Your car okay, handling decent?"
"Yeah, it's just not right. It's just not right," Mikey said.
Bootie said he'd watch to see what was going on.
"The letters on the right rear are rubbed off, so I don't know if he caught a stem," Ty said.
"Pretty sure, if he caught a stem, it'd be flat, but we'll do whatever y'all decide," Mikey replied.
"I'm still looking. The quarter and the tire and everything look fine. Still closed. They're going to be closed a couple more laps."
"Guys, let's just get ready for everything." Bootie figured at least two cars behind them would come due to damage.
Ty noted some leaders were pitting too. The #55 made a stop. Ten cars stayed on track.
"Everyone behind us but the two Childress cars," Bootie said.
Ty thought they were in pretty good shape.
"Same thing, Michael. Around the 42. I got you. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1." Bootie led Mikey into the box. "82 is coming around you. Plenty of room there. Yeah. One lane one lane one lane. All clear. Good job."
"Good job there, Chris. I know you about got decapitated," Ty praised.
"I think the reason why I'm pushing so bad is because the splitter's hitting," Mikey said.
"10-4. Okay."
Johnson led the lap 68 restart. Mikey was 26th, and David was 9th. One lap later, Kyle Busch was in the lead.
"Still clear. Still clear half back," Ty noted. "Got a run inside, he's there. Inside. Clear. Inside. Still on your corner. Clear."
David was 8th on lap 72.
"One back. Nice job. Inside. On your corner. Clear there. One back, half back. Still clear. Run inside. Clear."
"The more air you take out of the right front, the worse it's going to get," Mikey commented.
"To your door. Right there. Still there on your quarter. It will be clear there, half back. Still there. Still there. Clear."
"57."
"34's the one backing up everyone on the bottom, three ahead of you. Clear half back."
David was 6th on lap 81. Mikey was still 26th.
"Still clear. Got one inside now, inside. 34's still there. You're all clear. Half back to the 96."
David was 5th on lap 84.
"85.
"63. Leader ran a 57, so you're doing fine."
"Inside. Clear. Inside, inside. 33. Clear behind him if you need it, if you need it. Clear clear."
Lap 88 saw David move into 4th; he had passed Greg Biffle, who is driving with a back injury.
"The 09 is driving real slow, running three up front. Still out there. Clear."
Sterlin Marlin's #09 went to the garage.
"81," Bootie read off the lap time. "63."
Mikey was 27th on lap 91.
"A look inside, just looking. Clear. Still outside. Still there. Clear. It will be clear there, half back to the 96."
David passed Elliott Sadler for 3rd on lap 96.
"70.
"90.
"90.
"87."
"Clear, all clear. Just be on your toes. There's a gaggle up there. No tires. Still clear," Ty warned. "Still clear. Still there, inside. Still there. Inside. Clear there. Still outside, outside. Still out there, still there. Clear up, clear up. Great read there, Michael. Nice job! Two back."
Mikey was 26th on lap 107. One lap later, he was 25th.
"Keep doing what you're doing. The leader is behind ten or twelve cars. You just keep doing what you're doing."
"Yeah, you're fine," Bootie added.
"Still clear two back. Still there. Still down there. All clear."
"95."
Mikey was 24th on lap 116; he'd passed Travis Kvapil.
"95.
"95."
"28's kind of sneaking up. He's there, half back."
"85.
"81.
"82."
The fourth caution was on lap 126 for Jamie McMurray's spin.
"Outside, still there. Now caution's out. Turn 2. Go through high," Ty warned.
"Okay, Michael, we did... I didn't lower the pressure at all last time," Bootie said.
"You need to somehow raise the pressures up," Mikey said. A lot of interference made it hard to hear.
Bootie reminded Mikey to go 4100 and second.
Cars pit under yellow.
"Watch that 20. Geez. 4100," Ty warned.
"The 82 is two down. Stop a little long, guys. 10-4, guys, stop a little long. Make sure he gets a good exit."
Drivers made stops, and McMurray missed his box.
Bootie guided Mikey out of his box, and the frequency continued to receive interference. "Great job wheeling that piece, man. What we did right there is raise each tire half a pound. You're P20." Bootie reviewed adjustments they'd gone over before.
"Okay, thank you."
"All right, it will be one to go when you get around. Watch these lappers coming under you," Ty warned.
Kyle Busch led the restart on lap 130. Mikey was 20th, and David was 4th. Juan Pablo Montoya was warned about aggressive driving.
"Ready? Everybody's rolling. Got a run inside, at your quarter. 28. Still there, still there. Still there. Still there. Got the 2 down there with him. Inside. Still there, still there, still there. Still there on your quarter, still there. 44's down there with the 2. Still inside, the 44. Still there inside."
On lap 133, Mikey was 21st.
"Clear behind that 44 if you need it, if you need it. Clear three back."
Three laps later, Mikey was 23rd.
"73."
"Still clear. That 34 is slow on the bottom, backing up to you again. Still outside, still there on your corner, still there. It will be clear up there, clear up there. You've got the 83 trying to peek inside, inside inside. Still there on your quarter. Clear there, half back. Still there. Still there on your quarter. Clear, clear. One back to the 83."
"69."
A radio got hung.
"Somebody down in the pits is keyed up," Ty complained. "Clear three back. Nice line there."
"Yup, good job. That was a 70 and a 75," Bootie said. "77."
"Still out there. Still there. Still out there. One back to the 83. He's right on you now. Still outside, still outside. Still there. Still outside on your quarter. Still there. Clear half back. The 83's going to get a run. Half back to the 83. Half back to the 83."
"84."
"There are about ten cars between you and the leader. One back to the 83."
"74.
"89.
"84."
A radio hung again.
"Somebody..." someone said, and the radio hung again.
"Clear three back to the 7 now."
"84."
Static continued in the middle of transmissions.
"77."
"Those are good laps, buddy. Keep it rolling."
"Excellent laps."
"Whoever don't need a radio on, turn it off!" Bootie yelled.
"It's quiet. It's real quiet. It's like someone in a suite or a coach."
"Yeah, if anyone outside is listening. Get off. You hear me, Roy?"
The static continued.
"I apologise for this, Michael. You're doing good though. 84."
Other people talked on the radio, and the static continued.
"84."
"Clear two back."
"Ty, we will (static) eventually," Bootie said.
"Focus on your job, brother. Sorry about the radio. One back," Ty said.
On lap 172, Marcos Ambrose passed David, who was now 5th.
"Okay, we're clear now," Bootie said. The static stopped.
"All right. Clear one back, clear one back."
"90."
"Leader now."
"92."
"Still out there. Still there. Clear up."
"Yeah, that was a 75. Good job.
"87.
"84."
"12's there. Inside, inside. Clear there, clear there. Four cars between you. 7's going to have a run. Inside."
"97.
"90."
Mikey was 25th on lap 185; Robby Gordon and David Stremme had passed. David had dropped to 6th with Ryan Newman's pass.
"90.
"96.
"83.
"13."
"Spin off 2, spin off 2. Caution's out. He's right in the middle of the race track."
The fifth caution was on lap 190 for McMurray's spin.
"Okay, Michael, is it still bottoming out pretty bad at the beginning?"
Mikey said it was worse.
Bootie called for two rounds in the left front,
"If we're going to do all that, we'd better get five points," Mikey said.
Ty predicted the caution wouldn't be long. Bootie said no one behind them was on the lead lap, so they might as well stay out.
"Those adjustments you made there were really bad on the front end."
Bootie said they'd drop the air back down.
"Did everyone pit, Ty?" Mikey asked.
Ty said he didn't know what the #17 was doing, then said Matt Kenseth was lapped.
Mikey said he'd have to run one more, because someone else got it.
"Is it one to go? It can't be one to go. It can't be, Ty."
Ty said it wasn't, but when it was, the problem was it took so long to get off pit road.
Bootie said they'd be fine and called for four tires and fuel. "Okay, you got that lap. 4100, 4100 and second gear. We're not going to do anything stupid here. As it goes on, we'll try to do what I talked about."
"4100, 4100."
"Dwayne."
Ty noted it wasn't one to go, so Bootie said they'd just put air back. He guided his driver to the box.
"Clean the grill, Chris," Bootie directed. "All right, all the way, all the way. Nice job."
"All right, we'll sit right there. It will be one to go."
"I'm going to change my mic," Bootie said.
Ty said, whatever it was, the static had stopped.
"How about, if that happens, everyone turn off their radio. Nobody needs a radio but the spotter," Mikey suggested.
"All right, buddy, we're going to be coming to the green, coming to the green, Ty said. "Pace car's off. Be ready. Green green green. Everybody's rolling. You're clear two back."
Kurt Busch led the lap 197 restart. Mikey was 26th, and David was 7th.
"Real real slow one on the bottom, the 26," Ty warned. "Still there. Slow one on the bottom. Nice pick. Half back. Clear. You've got one looking. The 14. Inside, inside. Still there."
On lap 199, Mikey was 24th. He'd passed Tony Stewart and Bobby Labonte.
"Still there. Still there. Clear there, clear. Clear there half back. Clear there half back. 12. Outside, 12. Outside outside outside. Still there, still there."
Lap 205 saw Stremme drop Mikey to 25th.
"Still there, still there. Still there. Still there on your corner. Still there. Still up there, still there. Clear there, half back. Still out there. 26 is limping into Turn 2 again, on the bottom. Still there. Clear up, clear up. Three-wide, three-wide. Still there, still there. Still all the way inside, still there. Clear. Nice job. Clear half back."
"62. Lap times are fine."
Mikey passed Stremme. He was 24th on lap 214.
"59."
"Adjustments are good," Mikey reported.
"10-4," Bootie replied.
"Clear there, clear. Watch them. Still outside, outside. The 12's coming. Still outside on your quarter. On your quarter, still there. 1 trying to get in there with him, outside. Still outside, outside. Still out there, still there. Still out there. The 96 is out there. To your quarter, still there. Outside, still out there. Be clear there, clear there. Leader's half a straightaway back."
On lap 221, Mikey dropped to 27th. Truex, Stremme, and Labonte had passed.
"85.
"81."
"There you go. Still there. Still there. Clear, clear. 18 line now."
"77. Laps are good, man. Keep doing your thing."
Mikey was 26th on lap 227, having passed Bobby Labonte.
"Still there, still there. 43 still there. Clear the 43, half back."
On lap 231, Mikey was 25th. He'd gotten around Reed Sorenson's #43.
"Back to clear, clear. Looking inside. Back to clear. Got two cars between you and the 18. Clear inside. Clear clear clear. Still outside. Still there. Still outside. Still there. Still there, still there. 43 jumped up there with him. Inside, inside. Still out there. Clear up right there. Clear if you need it. 18's inside, inside to your quarter. There you go. Still there, still there."
Mikey was 26th on lap 239. David was 8th.
"All the way down on the bottom. All the way down on the bottom. You're clear up. Clear low if you need it, if you need it. Inside. Inside, clear. At your door. Clear."
Mikey went a lap down on lap 241.
"All right, clear two back."
"75.
"87.
"78."
"Inside inside inside. Still there at your corner. Clear three back. Clear two back."
"94."
"Inside. Clear. Outside, outside. 96 outside. Still there outside. 11 car half back. Outside, outside. Still out on your corner. Still there. Still outside, outside, outside. 24's with him, outside. 42. Still there. Clear one back, right here. 9 car inside, inside. All by himself."
Mikey was 27th on lap 256.
"Clear there. Five back."
"90.
"93."
"Got one looking inside. 00 inside. Clear there, half back. 98's looking lown. Still out there. Still all the way to the top. Clear up, clear up. Inside. Clear, clear. Inside, 98, inside. Clear there. One back to the 17."
"12."
Mikey was 28th on lap 269.
"84.
"88.
"87.
"03."
"Still outside on your quarter. Still there, still there, still there. Clear up."
"84.
"93.
"93."
"Two back to the 5," Ty warned. "5's got a run inside, all by himself."
"11.
"90.
"96.
"97.
"90.
"81."
"Clear one back to the 39. Inside, 39. Clear three back behind him if you need it. Half back to the 33 now. Inside, all by himself."
"50.
"93."
"87."
Mikey said something around the restart. "It's got too much air now."
"Clear two back."
On lap 299, David was up to 7th. He'd passed Jeff Gordon.
"Still there outside. The 1's on you tight. One outside, outisde. Clear up. 38's going to run on the bottom. The 2 car's looking inside. Clear half back. Inside. Clear there. One back to the 83."
"10-4. We'll get it adjusted for you. 37," Bootie said.
Mikey was 27th by lap 302.
"25."
"Leader now."
"77. That was a good lap.
"84.
"82."
David Gilliland hit the wall and headed for pit road with 189 laps to go. The race remained under green.
"I got a flat right front," Mikey reported.
Bootie told him to pit off Turn 4. He called for four tires and fuel. He guided his driver in and out of the box.
"They're saying we have to come back in, guys. Left front lug nut," Bootie said.
"All right, coming back in. Coming back in."
"That was one, Shannon, one." Bootied guided Mikey back into the box.
"To the line. Here we go. Hustle hustle. Coming outside, outside. The 14. Clear there. Watch that 83. He's got a flat right side rear. Aw, damn it. Caution's out. The 83 blew a tire, and there's debris somewhere."
"Well, that's a nice job," Mikey commented.
"10-4," Bootie replied.
Lap 318 saw the sixth caution. Mikey was 35th, trapped five laps down now. On lap 314, Denny Hamlin had taken the lead.
"Okay, we have to stay out. Sorry, I was talking to the official there," Bootie said. "Yeah, 10-4, Michael, your tire was going down. I don't know if there was a cut."
"I can't understand a... word you're saying, man." Mikey said he did know the tire was flat. "I can't hear you. But it's all good. Hell. Ef ef ef ef. Good job on the adjustments, man. You got the car a lot better."
"You drove hard, man. I appreciate that," Bootie said.
"Well, we just didn't have the car this week. Those other two cars out there are hauling ass. Mine just won't keep up. But y'all made the right adjustments," Mikey said.
"10-4."
"If I can't outrun the 48, I don't know what to do on this restart. I guess I should just stay up and blend in."
Ty reminded him that, if he let one go, he had to let them all go.
Johnson led the restart with 172 laps to go. Mikey was five laps down in 35th. David was 9th.
"Be ready. You'll see it. Green green. Clear there. 9's coming. Outside. Still outside, still there. Inside. Still outside. Outside. Inside, outside. Clear low."
Greg Biffle dropped back, allowing Mikey to pick up 34th.
"Still out there, still outside. Outside, outside."
David was 10th with 166 laps to go.
"Outside, outside. 42. Still outside. You've got a line of them. Outside, outside. You've got the 1 with him. Still out there on your corner. Still there. Clear there two back to the 6 and 98, side by side. Still clear three back."
"74.
"81.
"59.
"80."
David was 9th on lap 345, having passed Montoya.
"Still one back, one back."
"72.
"84.
"78."
"Inside, inside."
"80."
"Got one inside. Inside. Inside, to your door. Inside, 31. Still there, the 2. 33 looking low, inside. Clear one back, clear. Inside. Got one looking low - 99. Clear there one back."
Biffle's car went to the garage and was loaded up due to a failed engine.
"90.
"85."
"Two back."
"78.
"81.
"93."
"Half back. Inside, inside. Clear clear."
"94."
"Half back. Inside. Inside, he's there. Outside. On your quarter, outside. It will be clear there, clear there."
Going into 130 to go, Kyle Busch took the lead.
"I lost all my forward bite," Mikey reported.
"10-4."
"Half back to the 88. Clear there half back to the 6."
"03.
"84.
"96."
"Still clear two back. Still out there. You're three back to the 18. Still outside. Still there. Still outside, still there. Still there. Still outside, still there. The leader in your mirror. Still there. Clear up, clear up. Got the 18 on the bottom. Clear there, clear. One back to the 48, all by himself."
On lap 381, Mikey lost a sixth lap but picked up a position and was 34th.
"Clear behind him."
"14.
"78.
"78.
"79.
"78.
"84."
With 107 to go, Jeff Burton got around David, who was now 11th.
"78.
"96.
"84.
"74.
"93."
"Will be looking inside - the 11. Clear half a straightaway."
"84.
"95.
"82.
"85.
"88.
"Flat.
"90."
"Back to the 9, all by himself. Inside, all by himself. Clear. Four back to the 5. 5's right there. Looking low. Clear behind him."
"03.
"96.
"89 and an 85.
"93.
"86.
"95."
By lap 415, David was back in 10th.
"87.
"99.
"02.
"88.
"10.
"03."
"Still outside. Still there on your quarter. Still there. Clear up, clear up. 75 to go."
"87."
"Two back to the 14. Inside, inside. Clear behind him."
"09.
"03."
"Still outside. Still there. Still there. Still there. Clear clear. All right, two back to the 47. Still there. Still there. Clear clear."
"97.
"05 and a 94."
With 58 laps to go, the seventh caution came out for Kevin Harvick hitting the wall. Dale Earnhardt Jr got the free pass for the second time.
"Car in the wall, caution's out, caution's out."
"Okay, Michael, what can we do to help you."
"There's a million things it does. Pushes. Bounces. Loose on when you go to the gas, but that one don't matter. I can manage that. Mainly it's all that other stuff I just said."
"Okay. Ron."
"All right, next time, next time."
Leaders pit under yellow for their final stops.
"Okay, 4100 and second gear," Bootie said. "Shift to first when the right side drops. 4100 at the line." He led his driver to the box. "Clean the grill, Chris."
Bootie guided Mikey out of the box after the stop. "Okay, Ty, I'm trying to see who we're racing here. Scoring's been terrible all day. It could be the 71, Ty. The scoring, as I said, is pretty terrible."
"10-4," Ty replied.
"It's still not registering, Ty, but I think we could be on the same lap as the 17."
"All right, one to go, one to go," Ty replied. "I've got a deal up here that says we're racing Matt Kenseth." He prepared his driver for the restart.
The restart was with 51 laps to go. Kyle Busch led, Mikey was six laps down in 34th, and David was 13th.
"Still outside. Still outside. Still outside. The 33 and the 00. Outside outside. Clear up outside. Inside. Stay up. Coming inside. Inside inside."
The eighth caution was for David Stremme spinning with 47 to go. Stremme may have had a tire down.
"Caution's out, caution's out. Spin in 4."
"Okay, Michael, we're going to stay out, unless there's something really wrong," Bootie said.
"Quicky yellow if you want to come."
"We're good. Stay out."
"10-4."
"M Dub, I'm not trying to make anything worse, but he got caught up in someone else's crap. So if you want to let him go or hang back, that's up to you," Ty said about someone.
"Yeah, 10-4, Ty. It's showing we're one lap behind the 17."
"So no one on our lap now."
"Okay," Mikey replied.
"Just the 44." AJ Allmendinger had received the free pass.
"Correct that. It's showing us on the same lap as the 17 there."
"All right, they're going to give you one to go when you get here. 17 looks like he's dropping back."
"All right, bud, you're going to be coming to the green," Ty said.
With 41 to go, Kyle Busch led the restart. Mikey was 33rd and six laps down, and David was 12th.
"Outside, outside. Outside outside. 43 still there. Still there outside. Still out there. Got the 99 with him. 88's out there with the 99. Still there, still there. Still there on your corner, still there. Still outside, outside. Clear the 20. Got the 12 with him. Still out there, the 12. Still there, still there. 15's with him. Outside. Still there, the 19. Still there. Still there. Clear behind him if you want it. Inside, the 77. Clear one back. Still clear two back. 30 to go, 30. Still there, outside. Still there, still there. Both sides, both sides, both sides. Clear up behind the 77. Inside the 82. Inside. Clear there, clear half back. One back to the 83. Inside, he's there. Inside. Clear half back. 29. Car in the wall off of 4, car in the wall off of 4. No caution yet. No caution. Clear, clear. 20 to go. 20."
Stremme had put Joey Logano in the wall with about 20 laps to go.
"20 was the one that was in the fence," Ty said. "Inside, 29. Inside. Clear high. 20's back in the fence. Clear one back. One back. 15 to go. Looking inside, 29. All clear. Right there again. Inside. He's there. Inside. Inside. Inside. 10 to go. Inside, 29."
With 7 laps to go, Logano's #20 blew an engine.
"Crash in... caution's out, caution's out. Smoke, nothing's there, Michael. nothing's there."
"Man, this car's so tight. We've really got it way way way way too tight right now," Mikey said.
"10-4," Bootie said. He said the #17 would be lined up two behind Mikey.
"Well, I'll do my best, obviously. We'll see if we can hold him off."
Bootie told Mikey he'd have three to go. "Just hold him off, Michael."
"Looks like they have a lot of speedy dry down. We're on lap 494. It's going to be a green white checkered," Ty said. "17 pitted. He has tires, but he's behind six or seven lappers. Reutimann's a sitting duck. He didn't pit, and the 88 and 33 did behind him."
"What was this caution all about?" Mikey asked.
"I think the 20 blew up, put stuff on the track. I'm not sure," Bootie replied.
"All right. When the 19 comes around, you'll be all right. Just jump right in there," Ty directed the driver. "One to go, one to go. All right, if there's a green white checkered here, we've got four between us and the 17. They're stopping. Watch the stopping. G--damn, the 82 just about run over..."
Kyle Busch led the green white checkered with Mikey six laps down in 33rd and David 12th.
"Be ready now, be ready. Go go go. Clear all clear. Still there, still there. Still there. Outside outside. Outside outside. Coming around to the checkered, around to the checkered. Outside outside. You're good against the 17."
"Good job, Michael. Good job. You drove real good," Bootie praised his driver.
Mikey finished six laps down in 32nd. David was 12th. Clint Bowyer had gotten into David on the last lap, but David held him off.
NASCAR goes to Martinsville next weekend. Coverage of Sprint Cup's Goody's Fast Relief 500 begins Sunday at 1:30pm ET on FOX. The Nationwide series is off next weekend.
|
© 2009 Kellyanne Lynch, in association with Cyber Speed Design. All rights reserved.
|
