Race 2 Win: Lenox Industrial Tools 300

Nextel Cup Series

Lenox Industrial Tools 300 - Michael Waltrip Notes

Michael Waltrip NASCAR NEXTEL New England 300 Fast Facts
Underdog Title No Longer Apropos for Michael Waltrip Racing

HUNTERSVILLE, NC – Names such as Roush, Hendrick, and Gibbs adorn the fire suits, stock cars, and private jets of NASCAR’s elite teams. In a recent issue of Forbes, the magazine valued NASCAR’s top teams using a formula calculating revenue, scale of operations, and sponsorship deals among other attributes. These three teams emerged at the top, valued together at over $467 million. The three owners combine to field 23 cars each weekend: 12 NEXTEL Cup and 11 Busch Series. And on any given Sunday, these 12 NEXTEL Cup cars are the odds-on favorites to be parked in a Gatorade Victory lane. It’s up to NASCAR’s remaining team owners to find a way to beat these odds. A quick look at the NEXTEL Cup driver and owner standings provides a glimpse of how difficult this feat is to accomplish, however, Michael Waltrip Racing, NASCAR’s instant story generator, may be on to something.

News that UPS would leave Robert Yates Racing at the end of the season to remain with Jarrett when he moves to Waltrip’s newly formed NEXTEL Cup team next year spread through the motorsports world like wildfire. The deal is a major boost for Waltrip who now finds himself in the enviable position of having three fully sponsored cars next year when he only expected to have two. The move leaves the No. 00 Dominos/Burger King car without a driver and NASCAR with its next big story: Who will be Michael Waltrip Racing’s third NEXTEL Cup driver?

According to the Forbes motorsports study, Michael Waltrip Racing was valued at $23 million, 14th among all NASCAR team owners. But with the addition of Toyota, three new sponsors, two NEXTEL Cup cars, Jarrett, and a driver to be announced in the near future, Waltrip intends to carve his name in the upper echelon of NASCAR’s elite teams.

Michael Waltrip Fast Facts…

Waltrip’s average starting position in 22 starts at New Hampshire International Speedway is 19.86; his average finish is 23.13. He has three top-10 finishes at the 1.058-mile oval, two in the last two years.

Waltrip’s best start at New Hampshire International Speedway is fourth and best finish sixth; both came in the 2004 New England 300.

Waltrip is among nine active drivers to compete in all 22 races at New Hampshire International Speedway.

Waltrip’s best start of the 2006 season came at Daytona for the Pepsi 400; he qualified in 19th position. Waltrip’s best finish of the 2006 season came at Daytona in the Daytona 500 where he finished in 18th position.

After 18 races, Waltrip is currently 35th in NASCAR NEXTEL Cup driver points standings, 1,340 points behind leader Jimmie Johnson. He is 130 points behind 34th ranked Sterling Marlin.

Michael Waltrip Racing will again field two NEXTEL Cup cars in the New England 300: the No. 55 NAPA Dodge and the No. 00 Burger King Chevrolet driven by Bill Elliott

The No. 55 NAPA Dodge will feature Chassis No. 99, the same chassis used in the Crown Royal 400 at Richmond International Speedway.

SPEED’s “7 Days” will feature Buffy Waltrip Monday, July 17, marking the second time in a month the show has featured a representative from Michael Waltrip Racing. Ty Norris also was featured in an episode of “7 Days” on June 19.

NAPA AUTO PARTS driver Michael Waltrip on New Hampshire International Speedway...

What are your thoughts and expectations for the New England 300?
“We have had a real shot at winning New Hampshire a couple of times lately. There was a time when we would head to the shorter, flat tracks and struggle; but over the last four years they have become one of the strongest types of tracks for me. It’s a lot like a Phoenix set up and I’ve been the car to beat there twice in the last four years. I just like that track and I love that part of the country.”

How do you approach the second half of the season so far out of contention for the Chase?
“A lot of people look at their season as being done when the race for the Chase begins and I am quite the opposite. I think that we can still accomplish great things. We have 17 races left after New Hampshire. Our goal right now is to win and to run up front. We obviously haven’t set the world on its ear this season, but we are coming up to a few tracks here that I really love. I feel I could have won Loudon a couple of times. We will be going back to Pocono where I’ve won the pole, and then back to Michigan where I’ve had a top 10 finish. So there is a bunch of real good tracks coming up for us. There is no reason to think we won’t do well.”