The Chase just tightened up. Are you surprised?
“Chad Knaus was right. Last week on “This Week in NASCAR”, he said the Chase was far from over. His team couldn’t have any problems or it would invite teams back into the mix. After Texas, Mark Martin and Jeff Gordon are back in contention. It is going to be so much fun for the fans to watch these last two races with the outcome being very much in doubt. A guy like Mark Martin who has been so close to winning several championships now has another chance to race his teammate and win the deal. I think Jimmie Johnson is one of the most underrated drivers in the history of NASCAR. He does more with a race car than I think anyone has ever done. He is going for a fourth-straight championship. I think what happened in Texas wasn’t good for Jimmie obviously, but we now have a battle going into Phoenix.”

What do you like about racing at Phoenix International Raceway?
“What I love about Phoenix is the fans. They come from all over – Canada, the west coast and the central part of the United States. It’s cool to see the fans watching from Rattlesnake Hill. It is just a great event. There is a lot of excitement for the racing in Phoenix because of the intense action on the one-mile track.”

Phoenix has a unique curved pit road. Does it present any challenges?
“I think it is interesting that the curviest part of pit road is the most desirable place to pit. The access road on pit road is an element we have to consider when we have to merge back out onto the track.”

Do you think a shorter schedule would benefit teams and NASCAR?
“I like the schedule just the way it is with 38 weekends during the course of a season. It keeps our sport on the pages of the newspapers and on television all year long. I think we need it to stay the same.”

Do you think we should shorten some of the lengths of the races from 500 miles to 400 miles?
“I think our crown jewel events like the Coca-Cola 600, Daytona 500, Southern 500 and Brickyard 400 should remain the same and make those races the big deals. Then shorten the rest of them to 300 or 400 miles. I think it would make those races be more significant, but yet enhance the competition and make our racing more entertaining at the other venues.”

Michael Waltrip Fast Facts

• NAPA AUTO PARTS driver Michael Waltrip will start in his 758th NASCAR Sprint Cup race when he competes
  at Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale, Ariz.

• He will start in his 24th race at the one-mile track. His best PIR start is 11th (Nov. 6, 1988 and Nov. 1, 1992)
  and best finish is second in the NAPA machine (April 23, 2005).

• During his career at Phoenix, Waltrip has earned two top-five, four top-10 and 12 top-25 finishes. His average start is 28th and average finish is 25th.

• Waltrip has completed 6492 of 7180 laps (90.4%) at PIR and has led a total of 26 laps in competition.
  • Entering this week’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event, the NAPA team is 32nd in the owner points standings and is guaranteed a starting spot in Sunday’s race.

   

  NAPA AUTO PARTS Driver Michael Waltrip Sprint Cup Statistics - Phoenix

  DATE	START	FINISH	DATE	START	FINISH
  11/6/1988	11	28	10/28/2001	26	23
  11/5/1989	23	9	11/10/2002	38	20
  11/4/1990	29	43	11/2/2003	17	5
  11/3/1991	30	24	11/7/2004	19	17
  11/1/1992	11	11	4/23/2005	28	2
  10/31/1993	23	9	11/13/2005	42	33
  10/30/1994	25	36	4/22/2006	42	42
  10/29/1995	37	34	11/12/2006	19	42
  10/27/1996	31	16	4/12/2008	28	24
  11/2/1997	30	26	11/9/2008	25	24
  11/7/1999	41	33	4/18/2009	32	37

   

  2009 NAPA AUTO PARTS PIT CREW

  Ryan Langley	Front Tire Changer
  Richard Coleman	Front Tire Carrier
  Getty Cavitt	Jack Man
  Mike Ellershaw	Rear Tire Changer
  Britt Caulder	Rear Tire Carrier
  Art Harris	Gasman
  Shawn Soules	Catch Can
  Ron Otto	Eighth Man
  Craig Harper	Gas Runner
  Mark Maloney	Second Gas Can