WALTRIP FINISHES 20TH IN SHOWDOWN
CONCORD, N.C. - Michael Waltrip and the NAPA Racing team finished 20th after starting 14th in Saturday's Sprint Showdown at the Lowe's Motor Speedway. The 40-lap qualifying race that would produce two transfer spots into the All-Star Race along with a Sprint Fan Vote turned into a test session for the NAPA team. Waltrip's car would not turn during the first half of the race, and after significant changes were completed over the course of two pit stops, the NAPA Camry was just too loose for Waltrip to contend for the win.
"I really wanted to do well in this race," said Waltrip. "I drove so hard and yet I am so disappointed. I could keep pace with Reutimann, but when I did, I felt like I was going to wreck. It made no sense to take a risk like that when we were running outside the top 10. If we were up front, the risk might have been worth it. But in this case, it was not. We needed to be out there at the end to learn as much as we could to prepare for next week."
The first segment of the Sprint Showdown produced two caution flags. The first came on lap three for a single-car incident with rookie Patrick Carpentier in Turn 2. Then on lap seven, AJ Allmendinger got into the pole sitter Elliott Sadler. During this 20-lap segment, the NAPA AUTO PARTS team was running just outside the top 10 in 13th position. Waltrip notified crew chief Bobby Kennedy that his Camry was not working at all. The team used the scheduled caution on lap 20 to make significant changes to the car. The crew adjusted the track bar, air pressure and wedge. The NAPA driver returned to the track in 20th place.
The second and final segment was slowed just six laps into the run when Johnny Sauter hit the wall in Turn 2. Kennedy used the caution to continue to work on the NAPA Camry since it was now turning better in the front end, but too loose for Waltrip's liking. The track bar was adjusted during the four-tire stop. After the race resumed on lap 28, the driver worked his way up to 13th position, a gain of eight spots. Unfortunately, as the laps ticked away, the NAPA Camry regained the loose condition and couldn't be competitive. Waltrip had to settle for 20th place.
"That was the hardest I drove in my entire life," continued Waltrip. "I did everything I could to hold on. The NAPA Camry was so loose. We were able to help out the front end of the car, but the rest of the things we did just didn't work. I tried so hard and I really wanted to win this thing. We'll use this race and prepare for the Coca-Cola 600."
Winning the Sprint Showdown was Allmendinger. Earning the final transfer spot after finishing second was Sam Hornish Jr. The driver who scored the most fan votes was Kasey Kahne. Kahne took full advantage of the opportunity to go on and win the All-Star Race.
Waltrip's teammates David Reutimann finished sixth in the Showdown. Dale Jarrett finished 22nd in the final Sprint Cup event of his career.
Next up for the Sprint Cup teams is the sport's longest race of the season, the Coca-Cola 600 next Sunday at Lowe's Motor Speedway. The race broadcast will start at 5 p.m. ET on FOX and PRN radio.
Sprint Showdown Results:
http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2008/103/data/results_unofficial.html
Sprint All-Star Race Results:
http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2008/105/data/results_unofficial.html
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