Dover, DE (June 9, 2004) Michael Waltrip brought the Aaron’s Dream Machine to the Dover International Speedway this past weekend for the first time since September 2000. Waltrip has raced his Busch car at Dover fourteen times in the past and has racked-up two wins, two top-fives, and seven top-tens, so Michael was looking forward to another strong run and move closer to the front of the Championship points race.

Friday was a difficult day as the team struggled with the racecar setup during the first practice and the Dream Machine was not at its best during the qualifying run. Michael qualified 33rd. Race day saw rain all morning but the rain subsided long enough for the race to begin. Waltrip moved quickly from 33rd to 19th in only eight green-flag laps, but the rain returned and the race was postponed until Monday morning after completing only 28 laps.

On the restart Monday, pit strategy came into play. All of the lead-lap cars come onto pit road for service before the green-flag flew and

Crew Chief Jerry Baxter called for the two right-side tires to be changed and fill the tank with fuel. Michael came into the pits in 19th and left 17th despite having trouble with a lug nut on the left front tire. Waltrip continued his move toward the front and worked his way into the top-ten by lap 48. Michael moved as high as eighth until the third pit stop on lap-146.