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NASCAR WCUP: Michael Waltrip looking for big things at Daytona

30 June 1999

HARRISBURG, N.C. (June 30, 1999) - Philips Chevrolet driver Michael Waltrip
knows every week he races in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series is an opportunity
to run well, and with that in mind, tries to place equal value on each
event.  But, ever since he contended for the win in the season-opening
Daytona 500, the return trip to the 2.5-mile superspeedway has stood out on
the calendar.

This Saturday, that day arrives with the 41st running of the Pepsi 400.
Waltrip will enter that race with two strong restrictor plate performances
already to his credit in 1999, and is armed with the same racecar for the
third of four restrictor plate races on the 1999 schedule.


Michael Waltrip at restrictor plate tracks in 1999...
Starts:  2
Top 5s:  1
Top 10s:  1
Ave. start:  11.50
Ave. finish:  11.50
Winnings:  $336,031
Best start:  10th (Talladega)
Best finish:  5th (Daytona)

1999 Daytona 500 (Daytona)
Start:  13
Finish:  5
Laps completed:  200
Total laps:  200
Laps led:  0
Winnings: $290,596

1999 Diehard 500 (Talladega)
Start:  10
Finish:  18
Laps completed:  188
Total laps:  188
Laps led:  24
Winnings:  $45,435


Michael Waltrip on...

...his expectations for the Pepsi 400:

"We should be really good at Daytona.  We've been fortunate because we've
run both restrictor plate races with the same Philips Chevy.  We've been
able to learn about the car, refine it and make it better.  We should
qualify well and race well."

...improving on his fifth place finish in the Daytona 500:

"A lot of what we're going to do to be better the second time around at
Daytona has been done already at the shop with the car.  On top of that, our
crew has gotten better and better on their pit stops.  With all that in
mind, we should have a great chance to win at Daytona.  There's no way to
know how the race itself will play out.  Circumstances are always
different-who is leading, who is behind you-those things are going to
change.  But, the front looks like a pretty good place to be.  So, that's
the goal-to be leading at the end."

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