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NASCAR WCUP: Waltrip wondering what might have been

7 June 1999

 DOVER, Del. - For the first 100 laps at Dover Downs,
Philips Chevrolet driver Michael Waltrip looked like he was headed for a
finish that would be one to remember.  But in the blink of an eye, Sunday's
race became one that he and the Philips Racing Team would rather forget.

 Waltrip started the race from the 25th spot, but began charging forward
from the outset.  He spent much of the first 75 laps dealing with tight
traffic on the Dover high-banks.  But when given the opportunity, Waltrip
ran lap times just as quick as early race dominator Mark Martin, which
allowed him to move to 15th as he headed toward his first pit stop of the
day.

When he arrived on pit road, his Mattei Motorsports teammates gave him four
tires and fuel in 17 seconds.  The stop included an air pressure adjustment,
which returned Waltrip to the racetrack with an even better car than he had
before - one that was capable of sticking to the bottom groove of the
racetrack.  But, before he had a chance to show just how good his car was,
the engine let go, ending his day.

"We were a little tight from the start, just like everybody else was," said
Waltrip, who wound up 42nd in the running order.  "But, we made some changes
on the stop, and then I could run right on the bottom.  The car was great.
Then we blew up."

Waltrip, who is now 19th in the NASCAR Winston Cup point standings, will
look to get back on track this week when the series visits Michigan Speedway
for the 14th round of the 34-race schedule.

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