Mikey Power

Pepsi 300 - 4/11/09

Michael Waltrip's #99 Best Western Camry finished 16th after a late race spin in the Pepsi 300, this afternoon's Nationwide race at Nashville Speedway.

Mikey qualified 12th this morning for today's race. Carl Edwards led the field to the green flag at 4:18pm ET. Edwards and Joey Logano ran side by side throughout the first lap, and while Logano moved ahead of Edwards going into Turn 3, Edwards held onto the top spot to lead lap 1. Meanwhile, Mikey dropped to 15th. Brad Keselowski, Jason Leffler, and Casey Atwood passed the next time around the track. Mikey was now 18th. Lap 4 saw the #99 drop to 21st. John Wes Townley passed on lap 6, moving Mikey back another spot. He regained the position on lap 11 by getting around Kertis Davis. Mikey was 20th on lap 12, having passed Townley. On lap 16, Scott Lagasse Jr got around the #99. Mikey was now 21st.

Joey Logano took the lead on the backstretch, going into lap 20. Nine laps later, Mikey got around Ken Butler III for 20th.

The competition caution came out on lap 31. Kenny Wallace received the free pass, and drivers pit under yellow. Edwards was the first driver off pit road, while Mikey picked up ten spots. David Ragan served a pass through penalty for speeding.

Edwards led the restart on lap 36 with Mikey running 10th. The #99 was running the high side, following Leffler's #38. Lap 38 saw Mikey get around Michael McDowell for 9th. On lap 44, McDowell and Burney Lamar moved Mikey back to 11th. The #99 was 12th one lap later. Steven Wallace and Jason Keller passed on lap 48; Mikey was now 14th.

Logano reclaimed the lead going into lap 50. Ten laps later, Joe Nemechek passed Mikey, who was now 15th. Mikey fell to 19th two laps later. One circuit after that, free pass recipient Wallace was lapped again. Lap 72 saw Mikey fall to 21st. Butler passed two laps later; Mikey was now 22nd.

Kyle Busch took the lead on lap 81, just before the yellow flag waved.

The second caution was on lap 82 for debris. Dennis Setzer in 24th received the free pass, and drivers made stops. Busch came off pit road first.

Racing resumed on lap 87 with Busch leading and Mikey in 17th. Logano dropped under Busch to take the top spot.

A wreck drew the third caution on lap 90. Brendan Gaughan spun while driving the high groove, across traffic. Morgan Shepherd turned David Green. Butler, Michael Annet, and Danny O'Quinn were also collected. After sliding through the grass, Gaughan drove down pit road before blending back into the field. Townley received the free pass.

Logano led the restart on lap 93 with Mikey in 15th. Five laps into the run, Busch got around Logano for the top spot. On lap 112, Steve Wallace passed Mikey, who was now 16th. The #99 got back around Wallace for 15th four laps later. Allgaier and Wallace passed Mikey on lap 121.

The fourth caution was on lap 124. Scott Wimmer had made a pit stop for a flat and had taken his gas can with him. The gas can had fallen off on track. Gaughan received the free pass. Drivers pit under yellow, and Edwards came off first.

Edwards led the restart on lap 128. Mikey was 18th.

Butler spun and rear-ended the wall, bringing out the fifth caution on lap 129. Butler's #23 went to the garage.

Edwards led and Mikey was 18th when racing resumed on lap 133.

The sixth caution on lap 134 was for Steve Wallace, who spun his #66. Wallace lost control of his car right in front of Mikey. Edwards was the only one to pit; he'd had a tire issue. Shelby Howard received the free pass. On lap 138 under yellow, Mikey dropped to the last driver on the lead lap.

The green flag returned on lap 141. Logano led, and Mikey was 25th. Two laps into the run, the #99 was 23rd, and Busch was back out front.

Gaughan wrecked David Green, bringing out the seventh caution on lap 145. Casey Atwood got the free pass, and McDowell was the only lead lap driver to make a stop.

Busch led the restart on lap 150; Mikey was 20th. Two laps into the run, Logano reclaimed the lead. On lap 155, Mikey passed Gaughan for 19th.

On lap 171, Busch reclaimed the lead. Jason Keller slowed three laps later, but the car suddenly started going again. On lap 178, Brian Scott's #10 went to pit road with overheating issues. Mikey was 18th the next time around the track.

Lap 185 saw the eighth caution for debris in Turn 3. Kenny Hendrick received the free pass, and drivers made stops. McDowell took fuel only due to his early stop, and he was now in the lead.

The green flag waved on lap 189. McDowell led the field while Mikey was in 15th. The #99 was up to 14th one lap into the run. Within the next couple laps, Kenny Hendrick began smoking heavily.

On lap 196, Busch took the lead from McDowell. The two made contact as McDowell attempted to get by him again, but Busch held onto the top spot. McDowell's #47 dropped to 4th. Meanwhile, Mikey was 15th. Lap 201 saw the #99 drop to 16th when Jason Keller passed. Two laps later, Mikey was back to 17th. Allgaier pit on lap 206, and his crew worked on damage to his car. He had to return to pit road due to a tire being out of the box; he had to serve a penalty.

The ninth caution was for Mikey with 15 laps to go. His Best Western Camry had spun.

Busch led the lap 215 restart with Mikey in 20th. One lap later, Logano took the lead.

A big wreck brought out the tenth caution with 12 laps to go. Annett had run into Gaughan, and cars wrecked behind them. Joe Nemechek flipped onto his roof but rolled back onto his wheels and kept going. Ricky Stenhouse Jr was also collected. NASCAR brought out the red flag at about 6:45pm ET to clean up after the wreck, mainly big chunks of metal off Nemechek's #87, which was surprisingly still rolling. The red flag lifted about four minutes later.

Logano led the restart with five laps to go. Mikey was 16th, which is where he finished. Logano went on to win.

Coverage of the Sprint Cup's Subway Fresh Fit 500 will take place Saturday April 18th at 8:00pm ET on FOX. The Nationwide series' Bashas' Supermarkets 200 will air the day before at 9:00pm on ESPN2.