Aaron's Dream Team

Rough Night at Richmond - Funai 250 at Richmond International Raceway

Richmond, VA (May 18, 2004) They call Richmond International Raceway “The Action Track” and Michael Waltrip saw his share there on Friday night. Heading into Richmond second in the championship points standings, Waltrip and the team were looking forward to another solid race and regaining the point’s lead. At this race last year, Waltrip started the Dream Machine on the pole and finished fourth, so hopes were high. However, the ¾-mile raceway was recently re-paved with new asphalt and the surface presented challenges for many teams, and the Aaron’s team was not exempt.

After struggling in the first practice Thursday, Michael qualified 22nd for the Funai 250. The green-flag dropped shortly after 8:00PM Friday night and it didn’t take long for the “action” to heat up. On lap 24, Waltrip and the No. 4 car battled going into turn 2, and the Dream Machine spun bringing out the first caution of the evening. There was no damage to the car but Michael brought it down pit road for new tires and a chassis adjustment to make it handle better.

The time spent in the pits put Waltrip back in the 31st position for the restart on lap-31, and Michael worked his way up to 22nd by lap 89 when the third caution came out. Waltrip again brought the Dream Machine down pit road for service and the crew did an excellent job changing the four tires and filling the car with fuel. Michael came in 22nd and came out 20th.

The action on the track was heating up as Waltrip dodged several spins and crashes and endured three more caution flags before the next pit stop on lap 174. While changing the

tires, the crew let the right-rear tire get out of the pit box and NASCAR issued a penalty. The Dream Machine had to start at the end of the longest line but Michael maintained the 18th position.

Trouble was not far off. Waltrip moved up to 14th and was working his way to the front when several cars ahead of him spun on lap 202. The track was covered in cars and there was nowhere for Michael to go and not enough track to stop. The Dream Machine crashed hard into the No. 18 car, and literally drove up and almost over the spinning J.J. Yeley. The damage to the front end of the Dream Machine was significant but after several stops for the

crew to make repairs, it was still in race able condition.

Still on the lead lap with 46 laps to go, the car was considerably slower than the leader, and Michael did an excellent job keeping pace and keeping out of trouble, until the No.8 and No.74 dove under the Waltrip in turn one as they battled for position. With the three cars going three-wide into the turn, something had to give, and that something was Michael. The Dream Machine spun and hit hard into the turn two wall. This time the damage was critical and Michael drove it back to the garage, ending a long evening at the “Action Track”.

Finishing 28th, Waltrip lost positions in the points battle. Coming into the race in second, only 16 points back, the less than memorable finish at RIR put him back to fourth, 98 points back from new points leader 19 year old Kyle Busch.

Michael will take the Dream Machine to Nazareth, PA as part of a Waltrip triple-header this weekend. Michael will run a Chevy All-Star Craftsman Truck Friday night at Charlotte, race his NAPA Cup car at the NEXTEL All-Star Challenge Saturday night at Charlotte, then drive the Dream Machine in the Busch race Sunday afternoon at the Nazareth speedway.

The Gould Pumps 200 NASCAR Busch series race at Nazareth Speedway starts Sunday, May 23, 2004 at 1:00PM and will be broadcast live on FX television and MRN radio. The NASCAR Craftsman Truck race starts at 8:30PM Friday night and will be broadcast live on the Speed Channel. The NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge starts 9:00PM Saturday night and will be broadcast live on FX television.