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What do you anticipate to see this weekend, now that Carl Edwards has closed in on Jimmie Johnson in The Chase? Johnson had another tough week. What do you think is happening with the No. 48 team?
“I think it shows you how these cars are very temperamental. It is so easy to make an adjustment and go from a top-five car to losing a lap. Don’t think just because Jimmie and his guys have stumbled for a couple of weeks that they are thinking about things too much. That’s not what it is all about. It’s about how tough these cars are to get them to do what you want them to do. Carl Edwards and his team deserve a real pat on the back for winning two-straight races, but just know it isn’t easy. You can get off in a hurry.
“When it comes to this weekend in Phoenix, I think you will have to look at switching the pendulum back towards Jimmie Johnson. I think he will out perform. That means if he does that, Homestead could be a formality. However at Homestead-Miami, I think Carl is favored to do well at that race. I think Jimmie will have a chance this weekend to at least stop the bleeding over the challenges he’s had over the last week or so. It should be a fun race to watch.”
What is it that you like about PIR?
“My favorite thing about Phoenix International Raceway is both ends are different. If I built a track today, it would have different ends. The crazier the track is, the more entertaining the racing becomes. You have to accept what the conditions are and adapt to those conditions. The key to Phoenix is it takes a different setup for both ends. You will see guys who are fast in one end, and there will be guys faster in the other.
“Another thing I like about this track is Phoenix will require us to race our butts off. It’s going to be all about a guy’s foot getting that gas down and how he applies the brake. It’s going to be all about the driver when we get to Phoenix.”
Reutimann scored another top-10 for MWR at Texas. Progress continues at MWR. What are your goals for the NAPA team?
“With the way our car is running, I feel the NAPA team can establish itself as a top-20 contender for the rest of the season as well as in 2009. That’s what our goal is going to be for the NAPA team. We believe we can be a top-20 team week in and week out. I am looking forward to seeing what we can get accomplished in the last two races.”
JOSH WISE – #00 NAPA TOYOTA CAMRY – NATIONWIDE SERIES
Josh Wise will once again be behind the wheel of the #00 NAPA Toyota Camry in Saturday’s Nationwide race to be broadcast on ESPN2 at 4:30 est.
Michael Waltrip Fast Facts
- NAPA AUTO PARTS driver Michael Waltrip will be competing in his 724th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race when the 35th event of the season, the Phoenix 500, gets underway at Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale, Arizona.
- He will start in his 22nd race at the one-mile track. His best PIR start is 11th (Nov. 6, 1988 and Nov. 1, 1992) and best finish is second (April 23, 2005)
- During his career at Phoenix, Waltrip has earned two top-five, four top-10 and 11 top-25 finishes. His average start is 28th and average finish is 24th.
- Earlier this season, the NAPA Racing team rallied back from being two laps down to finish 24th in the Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway. The loss of laps due to pitting under green and then a caution three laps later did not deter the driver as his NAPA Camry was competitive throughout the 312-lap event.
- Waltrip has completed 5874 of 6555 laps (89.6%) at the track and has led a total of 25 laps in competition.
- Entering this week’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event, Waltrip is 29th in the driver and owner points standings. He is guaranteed a starting spot in Sunday’s race.
NAPA AUTO PARTS driver Michael Waltrip Phoenix International Raceway Statistics
DATE |
START |
FINISH |
DATE |
START |
FINISH |
11/6/1988 |
11 |
28 |
11/5/2000 |
42 |
32 |
11/5/1989 |
23 |
9 |
10/28/2001 |
26 |
23 |
11/4/1990 |
29 |
43 |
11/10/2002 |
38 |
20 |
11/3/1991 |
30 |
24 |
11/2/2003 |
17 |
5 |
11/1/1992 |
11 |
11 |
11/7/2004 |
19 |
17 |
10/31/1993 |
23 |
9 |
4/23/2005 |
28 |
2 |
10/30/1994 |
25 |
36 |
11/13/2005 |
42 |
33 |
10/29/1995 |
37 |
34 |
4/22/2006 |
42 |
42 |
10/27/1996 |
31 |
16 |
11/12/2006 |
19 |
42 |
11/2/1997 |
30 |
26 |
4/12/2008 |
28 |
24 |
11/7/1999 |
41 |
33 |
|
|
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EVENT FACTS
Race: 35 of 36
Phoenix 500
Track: Phoenix Intl Raceway
Length: 1.0-Mile Oval
Distance: 312 laps/500K
Date: Sunday, November 9
Time: 3:00 p.m. ET
TV: ABC
Radio: MRN
2007 Winner: Jimmie Johnson
2007 Pole: Carl Edwards
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TELEVISION TIDBITS
Sprint Cup Qualifying
Fri., Nov. 7 at 5:30 p.m. ET
ESPN2
Sprint Cup Practices
Fri., Nov. 7 at 2:00 p.m. ET
ESPN2
Sat., Nov. 8 at 1:30 p.m. ET
SPEED
Sat., Nov. 8 at 3:00 p.m. ET
ESPN2
This Week in NASCAR
Mon., Nov. 10 at 8 p.m. ET
SPEED
| 2008 NAPA AUTO PARTS PIT CREW |
| Front Tire Changer: |
Shannon Myers |
| Front Tire Carrier: |
Chris Hall |
| **Jackman: |
Tony Cardamone |
| Rear Tire Changer: |
Andy Thurman |
| Rear Tire Carrier: |
Dwayne Moore |
| Gas Man: |
Art Harris |
| Catch Can: |
Shawn Soules |
| ** New Crewmember |
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