Aaron's Dream Team

Waltrip Racing Triple-Header

Nazareth, PA (May 23, 2004) Michael Waltrip certainly put in some miles on the racetrack this past weekend. Waltrip's triple-header began with the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at the Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, NC Friday night where he started 13th, worked his way to the front of the pack, took the lead and looked poised to get his first truck series win. Unfortunately, Waltrip's truck was bumped by the No.99 truck and had his fender pushed in which slowed his truck and took him out of contention. He finished 5th.

Next on Michael's marathon race schedule was the NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge Saturday night at the Lowe's Motor Speedway. Michael started 8th and had an excellent car, quickly moving into the top-five and in position for a shot at the $1 million prize. However, late in the race his car was pushing through the turns and lost a little momentum. Waltrip finished 4th.

Michael then flew to Nazareth, PA for the NASCAR Busch Series race Sunday afternoon. As his time was full in the Charlotte area with the truck and Cup races, driver Shane Hmeil practiced and qualified the Aaron's Dream Machine. Shane practiced very well and qualified third for Sundays race. Since Michael did not qualify the car, NASCAR's rule is to have him start at the back of the pack for the 200-lap event.

Waltrip started 43rd and patiently worked his way towards the front. Fortunately there was a long green-flag run at the beginning of the race and Michael moved into 20th when the first

caution came out on lap-72. Changing four tires and making a chassis adjustment during the first pit stop, the Dream Machine was sporty on the restart and continued picking up positions. The second caution came on lap-144 and Waltrip was in 14th when he came in for the second and final pit stop. A lightning-quick four-tire change with a slight air pressure adjustment by the pit crew helped pick up four positions - Waltrip came out 10th.

With 48-laps to go Waltrip fought hard to pick up two more positions and finished eighth. Martin Truex, Jr. won his fourth race of the season followed by Bobby Hamilton, Jr., David Green, Jason Keller and David Stremme. Waltrip maintains his fourth-place position in the NASCAR Busch Series Championship point standings, 126 points back from the new points leader, Martin Truex, Jr.

This was the last NASCAR race to be run at Nazareth Speedway. After seventeen years of sanctioned events at the speedway, NASCAR announced last week that International Speedway Corporation would close the facility and utilize the race date at another track.

The next No.99 Aaron's Dream Machine race is this Saturday at the Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, NC. The Carquest Auto Parts 200 is scheduled for Saturday, May 29 at 1:00PM and will be broadcast live on FX television and PRN radio.