Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500 - 3/29/09
Michael Waltrip in his #55 Napa Auto Parts Camry came back from a spin and from going a lap down thrice to finish 13th in the Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500, this afternoon's Sprint Cup race at Martinsville Speedway. His driver David Reutimann spent much of the day in the top ten but was spun out close to the end. David's #00 Aaron's Dream Machine came in 20th and lapped.
Because qualifying was rained out, NASCAR set the field according to owner point standings. Mikey was set to roll off 21st with David 11th. Points leader Jeff Gordon inheritted the pole position.
"Test 1 2 3, hello, come in," Mikey was the first one on his radio at about 2:06pm ET.
"I have you," crew chief Bootie Barker replied.
"I had that."
"Got a copy?" someone asked.
"I got ya. Ty, you got me?" Mikey asked.
"No Ty yet," Bootie replied. "I'll remind you about your fans. 4750, then 50, 50. 5000, and you're still okay."
"5000, roger."
"I'll tell you again in two minutes."
Mikey suggested putting 5000 at the top each week.
"10-4. That's definitely do-able. I have the rest of the gauges the same way." Bootie said something about not being able to do anything about something being closed up.
"There is a tear-off on the top opening, Bootie."
Bootie said they should be in good shape.
"Hey, buddy, how you doing? You have a copy?" spotter Ty Norris came onto the frequency.
"Yeah, we're good," Mikey replied.
"Cool."
The call to start engines came at 2:07pm.
"Looking and looking and looking, and I can't find the Napa pit stall. Where is it?" Ty asked.
"We are at the entrance to pit road in Turn 3," Bootie replied.
"Are you the first one past the Red Bull?"
"10-4," Bootie responded. "Yeah, so this time, Ty, naturally, I see it all, so that ought to take care of that."
"10-4."
"I'll get him in, of course, stop, and I'll get him out, and as soon as he gets out, I'll be quiet."
Someone announced the #55 team had a NASCAR official trainee in their stall this week. "So make sure he stays out of your way and that you keep your stuff straight."
Ty noted the boxes were tight, so if he couldn't get out due to a tire on the line, they'd have to communicate that to Ty. "That's our stop right there, bud."
"Michael, I pick you up now. Okay, wrong car. 88. Okay, now." Bootie told Mikey 5000 should be good and 5500 would be speeding. "What do you feel comfortable with? You want to go with 5000?"
"Yeah, let's just say 5000, and I'll keep it under that," Mikey said.
Bootie told his driver to turn on all his switches. "And make sure your gear is on on your left."
"Gotcha. Switching on."
Ty told Mikey to get pit road speed again once they really get going on the track. "I'm hearing a lot of 4000 and 4100, so we're going to go with 5000 and second."
"10-4," Bootie confirmed.
"Well, I'm showing 4000 and second. Right now, I'm three. Right now I'm four, so," Mikey reported.
"All right, well damn, I'll make sure I verify this," Bootie responded.
"I'm checking on it, Michael. I'll make sure you're all right when the time comes. Yeah, the 47 said 4000, and I heard Kurt Busch say 4000. The double not said 4700. That's weird."
"We're right, Michael. It's 5000. We'll go with that," Bootie said after a pause.
Jeff Gordon led the field to the green flag at 2:16pm ET.
"Be ready," said Ty. "Green green green. Everybody's rolling. Still outside, still there, still on your quarter. Still outside. Still outside, outside. Clear there. Still clear all clear, half back. Inside, just looking inside, inside. Clear."
Mikey was 20th by lap 4 with David in 9th. Gordon continued to lead.
"Clear up, still clear. Coming back, looking low," Ty warned. "Inside, inside. To your door. Still there. The 96 inside. Inside, inside. Clear. Inside, inside. Inside, all the way there. Inside. The 6 is with him, inside. Inside, the 07. He's there. Inside."
Mikey was 23rd on lap 8. David was still 9th.
"Inside, the 07. Still there. There's one in there with him. Still in there, inside. He got a run, inside. He's there. Still down there, still there, still there. Still at your quarter, still there. Another one's in there, inside."
Mikey was 27th on lap 10 as David continued in 9th.
"Inside, inside, the 20. Inside. Still there, inside. Still there. Still there on your quarter. Quick clear, right there. Quick clear, half back. 5's outside on your quarter. Clear up. Half back.
Mikey was 28th on lap 11.
"64," Bootie read off lap times.
"All right, bud, one back."
"70. Lap times are fine, man. Keep digging."
Lap 17 saw Mikey in 30th. David was 8th.
"73.
"66."
"Still outside on your quarter, still there. Clear clear. Clear up."
"86. Good job."
Mikey was up to 29th on lap 18.
"99."
"Still there. Hold it hold it hold it. A couple guys coming. Come on come on if you can."
Lap 18 saw the first caution. David Stremme's #12 had cut down on Mikey, and he spun and scuffed the wall with his rear.
"Okay, rear end clear, guys. It's just the tires as far as anything."
"That's so bad. I'm so bad," Mikey said. "I can't believe that happened. I just screwed up, man. It just got to wheel hopping. It's my fault. Son of a gun. He just cut down on me, and I didn't react."
"That's all right," Bootie said. "We both know the damage is minimal." Bootie told the crew not to pull anything loose. "Because it's no big deal. It's nothing." He told his driver to chill out.
"Car got stuck on the outside. I just hate I did that. Dumb."
"It's all right, it's all right. You and I both know this race is super long, so we'll get it back."
"I can't come now. I'm a lap down. What do I do?"
"Come on, come on."
"But I don't understand. I didn't know to turn or not, because no one frickin said."
"Yeah, no problem, man, no problem."
"I just need to know," Mikey said. "It's no big deal. I'll come this time. My fault."
"No problem. Forget about it." He told Mikey he could make up time by driving through the box in front of him. Bootie counted Mikey into the box.
Mikey said he was doing 4800 on pit road and was feeling nervous about it.
"Yeah, I just knew we didn't have anyone to gauge against. So come around, come off pit road," Ty replied. "We'll have to hussle up here. We're the only one a lap down. We'll have to hussle up here. Watch that 20. He's weaving. Watch him. Just now in Turn 2, just now in Turn 2. All right, buddy, here we go."
Jeff Gordon led the lap 27 restart. Mikey was 42nd and lapped, and David was 8th. Todd Bodine was 43rd as he was in the garage.
"You'll see the restart line better than me. Green green green. Still outside. Outside, still outside. Still outside. Still outside, the 48. Still there. 14's still out there with him, still out there with him. Still out there with him. Inside. Still outside. The 33's up there with him. Still there, still there. 33's still there. Still outside, still there. Still there, still out there."
On lap 32, Clint Bowyer bumped Mikey.
"Your quarter. Clear there, clear clear. Inside, inside. Come on now, he's still there. Inside, inside. Clear half back."
"You're in good shape. In nine laps, you get your lap back. Just hang in there," Bootie said.
"Your still clear one back. Competition yellow in eight," Ty added. "Two back. Seven before the competition yellow.
"Yeah, it's a 50. You're hauling ass. Just be smooth, brother.
"60.
"54.
"54. Two more laps, Michael.
"53."
The competition caution came out on lap 41. Mikey got the free pass back onto the lead lap.
"All right, bud, caution's out, caution's out."
"Nice job, Michael, nice job." Bootie said they'd pit with the lap down cars. He asked what Mikey wanted.
"After that dumb ass attack, I wouldn't mind calling for a driver change," Mikey replied, "but otherwise, the car's fine. It's probably got a bit more, I put a little rear brake in it. That was probably a mistake. I probably have too much rear brake her, so I'll probably put a little front brake in. Remind me I did that. That was dumb."
"10-4."
Ty told Mikey he did a good job and that he'd make it up here.
"Next lap, there you go," Bootie said.
"Outside the pace car. You're going to come around to pit road."
Mikey said something about something not being right.
"Come on around him and catch up, and then we'll come on pit road."
Bootie told Mikey to pit at 4800 to get a reference.
"He's yours, Bootie."
"Yeah, I gotcha, Michael. 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1." Bootie led his driver into the box. "Okay, Michael, straight out, straight out. 48."
"Michael, lap times looked great right there," Bootie said.
"10-4. I appreciate your support about that," Mikey replied. "I appreciate it. I know I messed up. I'll just catch up and get a good top 10 finish out of this deal."
"Okay."
"Tail end of the longest line. I know you know that. The official is just aggravating."
Ty said the #34 and #66 would be back there with them.
"Well, the 87 won't go around me, so..."
"Okay. Okay, bud, just pull over, and let the 87 and 66 go around you. And the 44."
"What am I supposed to do if they don't?"
Ty said the 87 of Joe Nemechek was finally going around now. "Everybody's rolling. Green green green."
Scott Speed led the lap 49 restart with Mikey 42nd and David 11th.
"Still there. Still there on your corner. Clear."
"59. Good lap.
"67."
By lap 52, Mikey was up to 41st; he had passed Dave Blaney.
"67.
"61. The leader's at a 56, so you're doing good."
"Leader's at the line now," Ty warned. "Still there, still there. Clear up, clear clear."
"77."
"Still there. Clear, clear."
By lap 58, Jeff Gordon had reclaimed the lead. Meanwhile, Mikey had passed John Andretti for 40th. David was up to 10th after he got around Robby Gordon.
"Still there, still there. Still there. Clear, clear."
Lap 62 saw Mikey in 38th. He had passed Jeremy Mayfield and Joe Nemechek.
"70.
"74.
"61."
"Still there. Still out there," Ty warned. "Still there on your corner. Clear up. Clear. Still there, still there, still there. Clear."
Getting around Scott Riggs by lap 66 put Mikey in 37th. Meanwhile, David had passed Mark Martin for 9th.
"Everybody's rolling, everybody's rolling. Checking up. Everybody's rolling. You're all clear, two back. Still there. Still out there. Crash over in 3 and 4, crash over in 3 and 4. Watch them. Coming through on the bottom."
The third caution was on lap 70. Kyle Busch had been passing Scott Speed low when he hit a bump. With too much rear brake, he spun out and took Speed with him. The #82 went to the garage.
"Okay, Michael, we're going to try to do anything we can to get you track position. If everyone comes in, we'll get two. If anyone stays out, we're staying out." Bootie told the guys to be ready. "If we do come, Michael, do you want anything for the car?"
Mikey said he was thinking about staying out.
Bootie said, most likely, they'd stay out. "Stay out, stay out, stay out."
"Staying out," Ty repeated. "The 18 was trying to get around the 82, barrelled it down into the turn, spun out, and took the 82 with him."
"How has your temps been looking, Mike?" Bootie asked.
"One o'clock," Mikey replied.
"10-4."
"But other than the 87, everyone behind you has some kind of tires," Ty noted.
"That's 27 green on your tires, so we're in pretty good shape," Bootie added."
David had also stayed out. He was 7th, and Mikey was 17th. The top eighteen cars did not pit.
"One to go, one to go," Ty said.
Gordon led the restart on lap 76.
"Ready? Ready? Green green green. Half back, clear. Clear two back."
Because Matt Kenseth had not served a tire violation penalty under caution, he would have to do a pass-through under green. The #17 was black flagged, although his crew debated the tire never left the box. The tire had never left the pit boxes, but it did get into Jimmie Johnson's pit box, where a #48 crew member helped them catch it.
"One back. Good job, man. Going to be looking inside, inside. Clear there, half back to the 1. Nice job."
"86."
Jimmie Johnson passed Mikey by lap 83; Mikey was now 18th.
"88.
"79."
"Still half back, half back," Ty noted.
"87."
"Two back to the 96 now."
"75.
"76.
"86."
Robby Gordon lost a tire and spun out on lap 91, drawing the fourth caution.
"92."
"Spun off of 2, spun off of 2. Caution's out. He's right in the middle of the race track. Most guys are coming out on the bottom. There you go."
Bootie asked about the car.
"I was getting just a little bit loose in," Mikey replied. "I put a little front brake to it. I was getting a little loose in. But for the most part, I'm okay."
Bootie said they'd most likely get four tires but would see what everyone else is doing.
"Pit road's going to be closed this time, Bootie," Ty noted.
"10-4." Bootie told Mikey he'd have to go around the #83 of Brian Vickers. "I hate to do it, Michael, we're going to have to come." He said they'd get four tires. "So pit when the pits are open. Guys, be listening to me. We will have an opening. You're going to go around the 83."
"All right, pit road's open. You're going to come in this time."
"4800, Michael. 4800. Come on come on come on. Go get four, guys. We're going to get four. 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Right here." Bootie had guided Mikey into the pit box. "4800. Straight out straight out straight out. Good job."
"No way that 19... well..." Mikey said. "I don't know how that 19 could be ahead of me and not be speeding, but maybe it's how the lines fall."
"10-4," Bootie replied. "All right, Michael, the first nine did not pit. Then there's some twos and fours. So good luck."
Ty noted the #17 and the #7 would be coming along the inside. "7 won't be coming. Pace car's off. Watch that 87 there. He's pulling over. Ready? Rolling. Green green green."
Gordon led the lap 97 restart. Mikey was 32nd, and David was 7th.
"Clear one back," Ty said. "Clear, clear clear. Dive bomb on the inside, inside, inside. Clear low. Good job. Still out there. Still there. Still there on your quarter. Still there. Clear clear, clear. Half back. Good job. Got a run. Inside, inside. Inside, he's right there. All clear, all clear. Half back. One back."
Joe Nemechek went to the garage around lap 104 and would finish 40th as Scott Speed, Dave Blaney, and Todd Bodine were already there. One lap later, Mikey was 31st.
"Half back, half back. Got a big run on the bottom. Inside, he's there. Inside. Inside, he's still there. Still there. Clear there, half back. 34's stacking up on the outside. Still there on your door. Still outside on your corner. Still there. Clear."
Mikey had passed John Andretti's #34 by lap 112 for 30th.
"Still half back. 26. Outside, he's looking. Clear, clear. Outside again on your quarter. He's there. Clear now, clear clear. Still outside. Still there, still there. Still on your quarter. Still there. Still outside. Clear clear."
"Good job, man. Lap times are fine. I'll give them to you when you're clear," Bootie said.
"Two back. Leader now. Good shape."
"79, 84. Good shape.
"71."
"Still there. Clear up, clear clear."
Mikey was 29th on lap 118. David was still 7th.
"79.
"76."
"Clear three back. Still outside on your corner. Still there, still there, still there. On your quarter. Clear up, clear clear."
Passing Greg Biffle on lap 121 put Mikey in 28th.
"95."
"Good job, man. Pulling away. Three back."
"92."
"Still outside. Still there. Clear clear."
Mikey was 27th on lap 123.
"98.
"94."
On lap 127, Mikey was 26th. He'd passed Elliott Sadler.
"93."
David Gilliland got into the wall on lap 129 and headed to pit road with a flat tire. The race remained under green.
"89."
"Still one back."
"04."
David was 8th on lap 132; Carl Edwards had passed.
"92. You've got four car lengths for a little bit.
"06."
"Still clear, one back. Clear there, clear. Still there. Clear clear, clear."
"Good job, man," Bootie praised. "You're doing good."
Robby Gordon got into the wall, drawing the fifth caution around lap 140.
"Clear low, clear low. No caution, no caution. Caution's out."
Bootie wanted to know about the car.
"I don't know. I'm pretty good, I think. I can just lay right in there. I just pass everybody I catch. I just need some track position."
"10-4. Most likely, we'll do four again." Bootie said Mikey was in 23rd.
"That sounds good to me."
Bootie said Mikey was robbing Peter to pay Paul but that he was earning it. He led his driver to the box. "Yeah, we'll deal with his ass later."
"Who was that?"
"The 26. Straight out straight out straight out straight out. Good job."
"Good job, bud. Watch that 18.
"It's real good, Michael. As you know, you earned your way back up now. Just keep going."
"Okay, buddy, they're showing one to go, one to go."
Gordon led the lap 144 restart. Mikey was 24th, and David was 11th.
"Lappers, here come the lappers. Two more, one more. Good right there for a minute. Pace car's off. Turn 4. Be ready. Green green green. Everybody's rolling, all clear. Still there, still there. Still there. Still there. Still there. You've got the 39 down there with him."
Mikey was 21st on lap 146, and David was 9th.
"Still down there. Got the 39 down there with him. Still there. Hang in there, bro. Still there. Still down there, still there."
Mikey was 20th by lap 149, having passed Reed Sorenson.
"Still there. The 39's down there with him. Still there. Clear clear. Quick clear there if you need it. Inside inside inside, the 39. Still there, inside. Still there. 39 car still there. Middle, clear up the middle. Clear low, clear low, clear low. Outside, 39. He's there, outside. Clear up, clear. Half back. Still clear, clear."
Denny Hamlin took the lead along the inside of the #24 going into lap 157. Tony Stewart was close in 3rd, and he tagged Gordon's rear.
"85," Bootie read off lap times. "75."
"Still clear half back."
"79.
"76."
"Still clear. Outside outside outside. Now you're clear. There you go, bud, nice and smooth. One back. Still clear, still clear. Outside, outside. Still on your corner, outside. Still outside, still there, still there. Still there, outside. The 9's still there. Still on your corner. Still on your quarter. Still there. Still outside. Still outside. Still there, still there. Still on your quarter, still there. Still got a fender on you, bud. Clear. Inside, he's inside. Inside. I think he thinks you hit him. It was the 39 who hit him. Inside, 43."
"He's going to fucking find out it wasn't me who did it," Mikey said.
"Okay, brother, nice and smooth, nice and smooth. Clear there. Half back to the 99 up top. All clear all clear. 39 half back. Inside. Okay, good job. Half back. Looking low, looking low. Inside, 39. Still there."
Mikey was 21st by lap 168 after Reed Sorenson got by.
"Inside. Clear there. Good job."
Mikey was 22nd on lap 170. David was still 9th.
"Still outside on your corner. Clear up. Clear clear."
"05.
"85."
"I lost some grip on this set," Mikey said.
"10-4.
"88. Good lap times though, man. Good job."
David was 10th by lap 175. Clint Bowyer had passed.
"94.
"95.
"96."
"Still half back to the 96."
"03."
"Looking low, looking low. Clear clear, half back. Looking low. Inside. Still there, still there. Clear. Half back. Another look inside, he's there. To your quarter. Clear there, half back. Inside, inside. Got the 18 down there with him. Still there, still there. Still at your door, still have the 18. Still there, the 18's coming with him. Inside. Still there. Clear there. Clear three back. Leader now."
"When you get a chance, Michael, tell me which end is sliding the most," Bootie requested.
Sadler went to pit road and cut in front of Gordon as he went, slowing the third place car.
"Lost some of my forward bite."
"10-4. Paul."
Joey Logano lost a tire and cut in front of Gordon as he went down too.
Bootie called for half a round down on the right rear when they'd pit next. "17."
Mikey was 24th on lap 187 as David continued in 10th.
"09. That's beautiful. Let's keep digging like that, nice and smooth. Leader ran a 99, so hell, you're within a tenth. You're good.
"02.
"99.
"07.
"02.
"97. Leader run a 95. You're good.
"05.
"06.
"You've got ten car lengths behind you."
Aric Almirola lost a left side tire.
"Slow one. No caution," Ty said. "Keep rolling. He's on pit road. Bootie, that's the fifth one who blew a right front."
"Yeah, 10-4 on that," Bootie replied.
David Gilliland slowed as well and went to pit road.
"27.
"24.
"13."
Kyle Busch got a flat and almost hit the wall in Turn 1 on lap 205. He went to pit road.
"Clear, clear. Keep rolling, keep rolling." Busch had been outside the #55 when it happened.
"15."
"Still outside. Still there on your corner. Clear, clear."
"01. Paul, come see me. Come see me."
By lap 207, Mikey was 23rd with Busch going to pit road.
"16."
"Keep rolling. Stay smooth. You've got a straightaway on the leader."
"Yeah, you're doing good, man. You just keep doing your pace. 06."
Mikey was 22nd on lap 209.
"04.
"02."
"Still outside on your corner. Clear clear, clear."
"14. Michael, we're going to take a quarter pound out of each rear. That's all. You're doing good.
"04.
"14."
"Slow one on the bottom. The 7. He's got a tire issue again. All clear."
"04.
"15.
"03. Good lap. Two cars back. The 18 has tires.
"95. Great lap."
"Clear two back to the 18. Got a big run on you there. Still half back. Looking inside, inside. All by himself. Clear there. Three back to the 8. 8 also had to pit for tires. Half back to the 8. Right there half back. Got a run. Looking on the bottom, looking on the bottom. Inside, the 8. Still there. It's going to be clear behind him. Clear two back to the 42. Clear there. Still one back."
Scott Speed was back on track, 72 laps down.
"Still clear there, half back. Outside, outside. 42's on your corner. Clear up, clear. Leader now. Still there, still there. Clear. Great job, brother! Way to work it. Let's drive away. Leader now."
"17."
On lap 234, Mikey got around David Stremme for 21st.
"05.
"09, the leader an 06. So you're doing it, man. Great job.
"13.
"20."
David was 11th on lap 238; Jimmie Johnson had passed.
"14.
"18.
"19."
Brian Vickers passed David, moving him back to 12th on lap 240.
"19.
"15.
"12.
"05.
"17.
"15.
"13. The leader is the next car back, but keep doing what you're doing."
David was 13th on lap 249; AJ Allmendinger had passed.
"Eight back. Outside. Still there. Still there. Clear."
"28."
"Okay, bud, nice and smooth. Two back."
"11."
With 247 to go, Almirola hit the wall again.
"Stay low, stay low. No caution yet. There inside, the 8 car's still struggling. Caution's out, caution's out, caution's out. You beat him right there."
On lap 257, Almirola caused the sixth caution as he couldn't get to the pits with his flat. Then Speed lost a tire too.
"I want to lead a lap. If he stayed on the lead lap, we're going to lead a lap. Get the official. Get the damn official. Beautiful job, man."
It was confirmed that Mikey had. Bootie asked about the car.
Ty told Mikey to back up; he was not on the lead lap but was the free pass car. He needed to let Hamlin get by him again.
"Okay, let them go," Bootie said Mikey would be the free pass car, so they wouldn't lead. "Michael, I'll just shut up, and you talk to me when you want to."
"Yeah, I just starved for a little bit of forward bite that whole run."
Bootie called for a quarter pound of each pound out. "Good job, man. That made up for the beginning for sure."
Cars pit under yellow. Bootie called for a tear-off too.
"48, Michael, 4800."
"I pit now, right?" Mikey asked.
"10-4. Yeah, come on. 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1," Bootie guided him to his box. "Don't go yet, Michael. Don't go just yet. The fenders look good, guys? Okay, go."
Ty noted where the pace car was. "The guys with the tire problems are the same guys - 7, 41, 8, 18. Most of the time, it's been the same guys. So I'm not so sure it's a tire issue as it's a set-up issue."
"Ours look golden, Michael."
"Y'all did good with the set-up here," Mikey said. "I don't know how I could say I could be better. I just need some track position. And when I got track position, I was just a little too loose."
"10-4," Bootie replied. "Okay, you'll be tail end of the longest line, of course. There are 21 cars on the lead lap."
"Michael, just so you know, that was about 25 laps from a complete fuel run," Bootie noted.
"All right, when you get around here, it will be one to go. Who's the first one on our lap?"
"The 39," Bootie responded.
"All right, pace car's off. Right there. Ready? Ready? Start rolling. Everyone outside. Clear clear."
Racing resumed with 235 laps to go. Hamlin led, Mikey was 21st, and David was 13th.
"Still there, still there on the bottom. Still there. At your quarter. Still there. Clear now. It will be three wide off this corner. The 34 on the bottom. Still there, still there. 34 real slow on the bottom. Clear there, clear. Half back, one back. Still there, still there. Clear clear. Clear, clear. Inside, inside. Looking inside, the 7. Still there, inside. Still there. Still there inside. Still there, 34 still there, still there. We'll get him soon here. Still there. Clear. All right, two back."
"85."
"No pressure out the back, buddy. Keep it rolling."
"90."
"Still there, still there. Still there, still there. Still there. Still there inside, the 43. Quick clear there, if you want it. Inside, inside. Inside to your door. Still there, still there. Still there. There you go. Clear there. Clear half back."
On lap 276, Mikey was up to 20th.
"Inside, inside. Still there. Inside to your quarter. Still there to your door. Inside. Still there. Still there at your door."
Carl Edwards lost a tire with about 220 to go when David got into him.
"Still there. Watch them checking up. Clear. The 99's on pit road. Clear."
David was 12th on lap 281. Mikey was 21st.
"Clear two back behind you. No pressure."
Mikey was 20th two laps later.
"21.
"16.
"06."
"Still there, still there. Still on your quarter. Clear up, clear up."
"84.
"86.
"88.
"97.
"93."
"Clear five back behind you. Good job, brother. Keep rolling."
"92."
"Still outside. Still there, still there. All clear. Leader's only about a half straightaway back."
"97."
On lap 298, David was up to 11th.
"Watch, he's checking up. Keep coming, keep coming. Everybody's straight. Still there. Clear three back. Two back to the 16. The 11 at the line now. Clear on the bottom, clear on the bottom. Still there, still there. Still outside on your corner. Still there. Clear, clear. Clear half back. Clear two back. 11's right there. You're still clear. Right there on your bumper. Looking low. He's right there on your quarter. Still there at your door. Still there."
With 192 laps to go, Denny Hamlin put Mikey a lap down.
"Clear there, three back. Hang in there. You're still better than those other guys. You'll get 'em. Clear two back. Keep doing it, buddy. Inside, inside."
On lap 316, David picked up 10th.
"Still there. Got the 88 with him. Still there inside. That's the lucky dog spot. Clear there, half back. Clear there, half back. Still clear two back. 33's right there, right on your bumper, half back. Inside, inside. He's there. Still the lucky dog, buddy. You're still the lucky dog. Clear there, one back. Still half back to the 88 and 48. Still clear, still clear. Keep it up, brother. Still the lucky dog. 48's there, half back, half back. Inside, inside. It will be clear there, back to the 88. He's right there, on your bumper. 88's right there, half back. Inside, inside. Inside, the 88, all by himself. Clear there."
"Good job, Michael. Just stay smooth. You're doing good," Bootie praised.
"Still clear one back."
"31."
"Still the lucky dog, brother, keep it up."
"26."
"Inside, inside. 20. The one behind you is going to be for the lucky dog. Inside. Still there, still there. Quick clear, clear. Back inside. Still there inside. Still there, still there. Still there. Clear half back, clear half back."
David was 9th by lap 331. Meanwhile, Scott Speed went to pit road with significant damage.
"23. You're still the lucky dog, man. Keep digging."
"Still clear, one back. Right there on you, right on your bumper. Still clear, clear. Inside, looking inside. Looking inside. They got a run, the 43. Inside inside inside Still there. Still there. Still there, still there. Still there. Clear there. Clear three back to the lead... uh, the 14, lead lap. Back to 14. Just looking low, looking low. On your quarter, on your quarter. Clear. Inside, inside. 7 half back. Inside, inside. Inside, inside. There's a car against the wall going into 1. You're clear. Now looking inside. Clear. Inside inside. He's there. Clear behind him. He's pitted so many times, he might have tires. Clear two back."
Mikey was 21st on lap 346.
"5 car right there on your bumper. He's there. Still there."
"My adjustments didn't work. It helped me tight in the centre, but it didn't help my drive off at all," Mikey reported. Bootie acknowledged this.
"41 going to be looking low. Inside, inside. He's there. Inside. Clear there. Clear two back."
On lap 350, Mikey was 21st and David 10th.
"41, I think he just regained the field."
The seventh caution was on lap 354 for debris. Sorenson received the free pass.
"Caution's going to be out for debris. Caution's out, caution's out."
Bootie said they'd put the air back and would make an adjustment. "Michael, I'm watching you too. We hurt you in the centre, but your forward bite is getting worse, correct."
"It sounds like shit. I can't hear a frickin word. What happened was it made it too tight in the centre. It helped the forward bite for a while, but then it fell off."
"10-4 on that." Bootie told a crew member to pull out the fender. "Nice and smooth, boys. 4900, 49. I've got you, Michael. 6, 5, 4, 3. Right here, right here. 2, 1."
The Napa Camry was in the box.
"Straight out, straight out. There you go. 49. Good job."
"4900."
"Okay, Michael, Ty, I'll let you know who we're racing here in one second," Bootie said. "Okay, Ty, it will be the 1, us, then the 12."
"10-4. The 12 is five cars behind you. Okay, one to go when you get here. Watch all that oil. How many laps down is that 99? Two or three?"
"10-4. He's two."
Hamlin led the restart with 142 laps to go. Mikey was 21st and lapped, and David was 10th.
"Ready? Watch them checking up. Green. Still outside, still outside. 88 still outside. Clear there, clear there. Behind the 88. Clear back. Still clear all clear, one back. Still clear. One back on the bottom, one back on the top. Clear, one back. Clear, all clear. Still out there. Still there. Still there. Clear clear clear. All right, brother, nice job."
"51.
"60."
Robby Gordon spun, bringing out the eighth caution on lap
"Caution's out, front straightaway. Caution's out. When you get here, it will be clear."
"All right, Michael, we are going to stay out, stay out," Bootie determined. "The 1 will be the lucky dog, and then naturally, you'll be next. We'll get it in just a few minutes."
"I'm too tight," Mikey complained.
"10-4. Okay, fellows, look at me. What we'll do is..." Bootie faded out.
"One to go when you get around here. One to go."
"All right, Ty, it's us, then the 12, then the 98."
"First car on our lap is the 12, and he's five cars behind us. Then there's the 98, and he's seven cars behind us. Nice and smooth here. You can't beat the leader. He was really j acking with them last time."
Hamlin led the restart with 129 laps to go. Mikey was just inside him, the first car one lap down in 21st. David was 10th.
"Still there. Still there to your corner. Clear. Clear one back, half back. Inside, inside. Inside with the 48, 48's with him. Now you're clear. Clear half back to the 48. Inside, all the way inside. 33 trying to look, 33 trying to look. You're clear. Big run inside, inside. Clear there. One back. Got a run. Going to be looking low. Going to be inside. Clear half back right there to the 6. Two more lappers before we get to a lead lap car, so just keep it rolling."
"69."
"Keep going. One back."
"68.
"67.
"53."
"Pulling away, man. Four back."
"48. Great lap.
"58.
"58.
"59.
"60.
"68.
"64. You're doing beautiful.
"75.
"61.
"Leader ran a 68. You're doing good, man.
"63.
"71.
"69.
"69.
"83.
"77.
"75.
"79.
"79.
"88."
"Clear, all clear."
"79.
"83.
"78."
"There on your corner. Still there. Clear up, clear up."
"98.
"A 90 and a 97.
"90.
"89. Great lap.
"Flat."
"Doing good, bud. Just now catching those guys. Just now catching the 43."
"97."
"Still there. Still there. Clear. Still there. On your quarter. Still there. Clear. Keep rolling, man. Keep rolling. What the fuck was he thinking there? Inside. still there. Inside, inside. Clear there. Just stay chilled out. We're still 21st."
"You're doing fine. Just don't bother with him," Bootie said. "Flat.
"93."
"Still there. Still there. Clear. 75 to go, bud. You're doing fine. Good times."
"82."
Mayfield hit the wall with 74 laps to go.
"Car in the fence in Turn 4. No caution yet. Keep rolling. Clear two back."
Mayfield could not get back around, drawing the ninth caution.
"Caution's out, caution's out."
"Okay, Michael, you were extremely fast right there. What do you need there?" Bootie asked.
"I need to be probably just turn a little bit better in the centre," Mikey replied. "I was really good. Everything you did helped, it helped me everywhere. I don't know, if I could turn just a tad bit better in the centre, and then just try that same forward bite."
"10-4, 10-4." Bootie called for four tires. "Second time by."
"Next time, buddy. Next time," Ty added.
"Not this time. Not this time. Okay, Michael, make sure you shift when the right sides go down. Nice and smooth, guys. 10-4. I'm looking for you buddy. Gotcha. 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1."
Mikey was in his pit box.
"One lane one lane. Straight straight straight. Now your good. 4800."
"Checking up off of pit road here," Ty warned. "All right, the one has to come back in. He has a lug nut issue. That means we're going to be racing with the 43."
"How many to go?" Mikey asked.
"69 right now, Michael," Bootie replied. "You got it, Ty. The 43. The 2 car was the lucky dog, right."
"10-4. Michael, it will be the 43 and then us."
"All right, I talked to the 8. Mark said he'll let us know."
"You're P20."
Ty told Mikey to catch up as it was one to go until the restart. "Work around that 98, see if they'll let you. All right, coming to the green."
Jimmie Johnson led the restart with 67 laps to go. Mikey was 20th and lapped, and David was 16th.
"Still there, outside. Still there. Clear there. Still clear, half back to the 24 up top. You're in good shape. One back. Still clear. Looking inside, inside, inside. Clear there, half back. The 18's several down, one back. Looking low. Inside. Got one down there with him, the 5. Inside. Still there inside. Inside, inside. That's 20th, half back. Inside, inside. Clear there, one back. Get that bottom, we'll be able to get that 43, brother. Still clear half back. Still clear half back. Still there, still there. Clear the 43."
With 56 laps to go, Mikey picked up 19th from Reed Sorenson.
Ty told Mikey some car was on the lead lap. "Two back, two back. Inside, inside. Half back, one back. Inside, inside, inside. Still there. Clear, clear."
The tenth caution was on lap 448 for Almirola's spin. The free pass went to the #55.
"Caution's out, caution's out, caution's out. Track will be clear when you get here."
"Way to go, man! Way to go, brother!" Bootie praised.
"Yeah, thank y'all," Mikey said. "I love to drive when it can co like this. I hate that we don't have any track position, so good job."
Bootie called for four tires.
"Whether it's my fault or their fault or whosever, but on new tires, I just get murdered on exit. I get my foot down, but it just numbs up real bad. So I don't know what to do. I'll be quiet right now."
"All right, pit road was open. You should be able to pull around, but they haven't said it yet. Hold on." Ty told Mikey to go and warned him about the jet dryers. "Easy around here, around that caution car and those trucks. Come on down right there. Another big truck in Turn 3. There you go."
"Is it this time, Ty?" Mikey asked.
Both Ty and Bootie told Mikey to pit.
"4800, 4800. Don't speed," Bootie warned.
"I ain't going to speed, man!"
"You just looked like you were going to jump on me." Bootie guided Mikey in and out of the box.
"Okay, Paul, we have now, but get us another set and start bringing them up right now. Michael, what we did was we gave you four tires. We just didn't put any fuel in it. We're working 50 to go right now. The 96, the 2, and then us, Ty."
"10-4," Ty replied. "They're giving us one to go, one to go. The 38 and all that crowd is going to go under us. Stay behind that 2. All right, not going to go, not going to go. All right, bud. One to go again. One to go."
Johnson led the restart with 45 laps to go. Mikey was 19th, and David was 16th.
"All right, bud, be ready. Going to be coming to the green. 45 to go. Rolling, rolling. Green green green green. Clear two back. Inside, inside. Clear. Still there on the bottom. There on the bottom. Clear now. Clear all clear."
One lap into the run, Hamlin reclaimed the lead.
"Still clear, clear. Stacking up on the bottom. Keep rolling, keep rolling. There in front of you, the 96. Clear clear. Slow one up top. He's rolling now. Everybody's good. Clear clear. Inside, inside. Clear. 17's got some sort of issue on the high side. Still there on the inside, still there. 87 still down there, inside. Clear there, clear. See it right in front of you. Keep rolling. Keep straight. Clear half back, one back. Still there. Clear clear. Still there. 96 down there. Still there inside, still there. Still there inside, the 96. Clear by a fender. Still there. Spin in front of you. Stay up. Stay all the way up. Keep coming. No caution yet. Caution's out."
The eleventh caution was for David, who was wrecked by Stremme when Stremme was many laps down. David fell a lap down and was now 20th.
"We got through it okay. I don't think you hit anything."
Mikey had made contact with another car.
"My tires are fine, if I just didn't hurt my body," Mikey said.
"No, you didn't hurt the body. You're fine."
"I must have done a hell of a job."
"Your body's fine," Bootie said. "Showing 31 to go, Michael."
"One to go here. One to go," Ty said.
Hamlin led the restart with 29 laps to go. Mikey was 15th, David 21st.
"Watch those lappers coming on the inside. Going to be 29 to go. Be ready. Pace car's off. Green green green. Still there inside. Still there. Still down there, 16. Still there. Spinning behind you. No caution yet. Caution's out, caution's out."
The 12th caution was on lap 473 for an accident involving Martin Truex Jr and Bobby Labonte, who tangled.
"All right, we gotta come in, we gotta come in. Michael, your right front is cut," Bootie said.
"You gotta clear this fender," Mikey said.
"We did, we did."
"You don't have to pit now. You come around."
"Get a hammer. Beat the fender up on the underside," Mikey said.
Bootie told the crew a few times to "beat it up some".
"No hurry. Make sure you've got it clear."
"4800. Go go go go go. Go go go go go."
"All right, you're still in pretty good shape. 4800. 4900," Ty said.
"How'd it get cut? Could you tell yet?"
Bootie said it was mashed down and was difficult to tell.
"Go ahead and roll."
"Look at it here."
"10-4. I'm watching. You're good, you're good."
"One to go when you get around here."
"We brought those pressures up some, Michael. You're 17th with 25 to go." Bootie told Mikey to pull up to the 42.
"Pace car's off. 47 three cars in front of you is having a brake issue, so be aware of it. Get rolling. Ready? Green green green. Inside. Still there inside. Still there inside."
The restart had been with 22 laps to go with Hamlin leading, Mikey 17th, and David 21st and lapped.
"Still there, the 83. Still there, still there. Still down there. Still there, the 34. Still there inside, still there. Clear there, all clear. Clear one back. Clear three back. 20 to go, 20."
By lap 481, David was 20th, having passed Casey Mears.
"Still outside. That 9's backing up. Checking up. Clear clear. Clear one back. Still clear all clear. Still out there, two there. Still there, still there."
Going into 15 to go, Johnson nudged Hamlin out of the way to take the lead.
"Still there, still there, still there. Still outside on your quarter. Still there. Clear clear. Still there, the 16. Still out there. Still there. The 16. Still there, still there. Clear clear."
By lap 488, Mikey was 15th.
"Still out there. Still there. Still outside, still there. There on your quarter, clear clear, one back. You're all clear. 12 to go. Still outside on your quarter. Still there, still there. Still out there, still on your quarter. Still there, still there. Clear, clear. Still clear, clear one back."
On lap 490, Mikey was up to 14th, having passed Marcos Ambrose's #47.
"Two back to the 47. Still out there. Still out there. Still outside on your quarter. Still there still there still there. Still there by a nose. Still there. Clear, clear."
On lap 492, Mikey was 13th.
"6 to go, 6 to go. Clear two back. Still outside. Still there, still there, still there. Still by a nose. Still on your quarter by a nose. Still there. Clear, clear. 42, 29. 4 to go. Two to go. The 17 up against the fence. Keep coming, no caution. Caution is going to come out. One more, buddy. One more."
Caution did not come out.
"Keep going around. All right, man, I think that's P13," Ty said.
"Yeah, that's it. Great job, Michael. Great job, crew," Bootie praised. "Nice."
"Good job, team, I'm proud of you," Mikey said. "I'm proud of the job you did before you even got here. You brought good cars, and that's how this shit happens."
"Whoo! I need to go lay down. You know what, man, you hung in there all day. You almost got that top ten like you said you would."
"Yeah, I need top tens bad. I want them bad."
"Well, we're going to get them in Texas. Okay, we are the random guy. We are the random."
The #55 would go through post-race tech inspection as the random draw.
David came in 13th while Jimmie Johnson won.
Next weekend, Mikey will be in Texas. Coverage of the Sprint Cup's Samsung 500 will air Sunday at 1:30pm ET on FOX. The Nationwide series race will take place the day before. Coverage of the O'Reilly 300 begins at 2:30pm ET on ESPN2.
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© 2009 Kellyanne Lynch, in association with Cyber Speed Design. All rights reserved.
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