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NASCAR WCUP: Mechanical problems sideline Waltrip early

4 July 1999

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 4, 1999) - Philips Chevrolet driver Michael
Waltrip suffered a huge disappointment Saturday night at Daytona
International Speedway, when mechanical problems ended his hopes of another
great restrictor plate run under the lights in the Pepsi 400.

 The first caution flag of the event flew just past the halfway point, and
for Waltrip, it was a welcome site.  He and his crew had worked on his car
during the first 80 laps, and were nearing the balance Waltrip needed for a
run to the front.  The caution allowed the Owensboro, Kentucky-driver to
come to pit road for regular service and an adjustment, while bunching the
field back up for the restart.

 But, Waltrip never saw the restart.  As he pulled away from his pit stall,
a gear broke, disabling his machine.  He pulled behind the pit wall where he
sat for 29 laps while his Mattei Motorsports teammates made the necessary
repairs.

 "This is disappointing," said Waltrip.  "The Philips Chevrolet was right.
We could have raced with them tonight, and wanted to.  But instead, we just
had to go back out and get as many points as we could."

 Waltrip returned to the racetrack in 41st position, and went on to gain two
more spots in the final rundown, finishing 39th.  The finish lowered him to
19th in the NASCAR Winston Cup points with half of the 34 races remaining on
the 1999 schedule.

 The series visits the one-mile oval at New Hampshire International Speedway
this week, with the race slated for Sunday afternoon.

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