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Pontiac Excitement 400 Miller Lite 400 Pocono 500 Save Mart/Kragen 300 |
Despite early season disappointments, the Pennzoil team went to Richmond International Speedway knowing that they helped DW become the driver with the 9th most points in May! June 6th was the first of 2 night races at RIR this year. Steve won his third BGN race there under the lights here on September 5th, 1997. Any of the fans who watched this victory will certainly remember the joy of watching Steve share that with Bob and Dottie!
Richmond has been a good track to DW, as he has not only the most wins (6) here, but also the most poles (7). Unfortunately it just wasn't enough, as the team just couldn't seem to get it dialed in. Practices went slow, finishing 38th after running 19 laps and a top time of 00:22.105 (122.144 m.p.h) in an earlier session, then moving up to 35th fastest in Happy Hour. Although he moved up the list, the car was slower, running 33 laps with a fastest time of 00:22.467 (120.176 m.p.h.) The team did end up taking a provisional again this week, but since DW has moved up high enough in the standings, he started in the 38th position.
After a long night of controversial racing, DW and the team ended up 5 laps down, although still running. It was just one of those nights that they couldn't get the car just right. We will all see how well Steve does in the car in September. Will be exciting to see his return to one of his winning tracks!
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"I caused what was probably the biggest fire ever in a NASCAR race at Richmond in 1973 when I was a rookie. I think we burned up about 15 cars that day. Bobby Allison was on the pole and I was on the outside pole in Bud Moore's car. After about ten laps we were all coming around turn four about to lap Baxter Price when he spun coming off the corner. Bobby saw him spin and ducked down pit road. All I could do was scream when I saw him sitting sideways in the middle of the track. I hit him wide open. It knocked his fuel cell out of his car. Cars started crashing and ended up against each other. It was next to impossible to get out of your car. About that time fuel started trickling out of Baxter's fuel cell right under all the cars.
"I started hustling up out of the car and then all of a sudden I heard Bud Moore's deep voice over the radio. It was about the first time I'd ever used a radio. So I hear Bud's voice, "Boy, you better get on out of that car and don't forget to bring that radio too!' There are cars burning everywhere while I'm trying to get out and Bud was more concerned about the radio than anything else. There still pictures floating around of drivers walking on the hoods of other wrecked cars getting away from the flames. But, I got Bud's radio out safely." |
"You haven't seen anything. I've said we can win races and I haven't changed my mind. You have to remember this Pennzoil team is a first-year team with a new driver. The difference for me is that these guys believe I can still drive. Plus, they turn some 17-second pit stops."
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Michigan Speedway was the site of the Miller Lite 400, held on June 14th. The previous week we were at one of the 2 tracks Steve won at last year in the Busch Series that WC runs at, and this week we are at the other! Steve's fans should remember the spectacular run he had, stretching the gas mileage to it's limit - 66 laps! Plus, who could forget Steve's stylish leap into the arms of his pit-crew. (We don't care if you slipped on the towel, it was still cool!) I personally cannot watch Jr. in that #3 without hearing Steve's "Does this AC Delco Monte Carlo Chevrolet kick butt or what!"
The Pennzoil team brought the same #1 car here that earned them a 5th place finish in California. Although both of the Penske owned Michigan and California tracks are similar, they are not identical. However, the races still usually come down to gas mileage, due to the lack of cautions. On Friday the team achieved the 18th fastest time of 00:40.031 (179.860 m.p.h.) after running 19 laps. They picked up a little speed by qualifying, coming in 12th place with a time of 00:39.915 (180.383 m.p.h.). It was only one spot behind where they qualified in California.
The race started slow, and in predictable fashion the first 2 pit-stops came under green flag conditions. For most of the race DW held his position, slipping back and going forward a couple spots at a time. Within just a few laps of being lapped by then leader Jeff Gordon, the caution flew due to debris on lap 118. DW raced back onto the lead lap like the driver of old. The #1 pit-crew turned a 16.33 second pit time, the fastest of the day, which moved DW up 4 positions. They made the decision to come back in a few laps later when another caution flew, which enabled DW to stay out 10 laps longer on the final pit-stop. The move didn't win any positions in the race, but it did enable DW to lead a lap for the first time this year.
DW remained on the lead lap, until he was finally passed with less than 5 to go.
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"That wasn't great, but it was pretty good," Waltrip said as he climbed
from the Pennzoil Monte Carlo. Then seconds later he smiled and added,
"you know that was actually really good."
"We were really good at the start and raced everyone pretty hard. But, in the last part of the race we just got tight in all that traffic."
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Winston Cup headed to the unique tri-oval track at Pocono Raceway. The Pocono 500, the first of 2 races here, was held on June 21st. (2nd race is 7/26) This is the first track Steve failed to qualify his Winston Cup car at last year, and he is hoping to get the opportunity to make up for it next month. It all still rides on whether or not he can get a ride in time.
The team sure got plenty of good practice preparing for Steve's return. Friday practice speeds started good, coming in 19th with a time of 00:54.163 (166.165m.p.h.) after 15 laps, and got better as then the team was 15th fastest with a time of 00:54.358 (165.569 m.p.h.)
They were able to qualify an impressive 18th with a time of 54.277 (165.816 m.p.h.).
Most of the race may not have been that exciting... surely waiting through over an hour of red flag rain delay was not the best way to spend Father's Day. But for every race fan who lasted it out, we were all treated to a little taste of what NASCAR is all about. On lap 171 (of 200) Philippe had DW come in and take on a gas-only pit stop, which put him from third into first. Everyone knew having older tires would make it hard to hang on to the lead, but the others still had to get around him to take it. DW led the race for more than a dozen laps, and I'm sure there wasn't a race fan out there who wasn't impressed!
| "I like my position and I don't plan on giving it up," Waltrip told the crew over the team radio. And he did just that. |
Racing wheel to wheel with Mayfield and Jeff Gordon, Waltrip revived visions of past glories and a renewed enthusiasm for the present as he held off the faster cars lap after lap before the new tires enabled Mayfield to get a good run on Waltrip and claim the lead. Four more cars on new tires slipped by Waltrip, but only five of about twenty lead lap cars could move ahead of the determined Waltrip as he pulled away from many of his closest competitors in the final laps.
As a youngster, Jeremy Mayfield said he dreamed of passing his hometown hero Darrell Waltrip in the closing laps to win his first NASCAR Winston Cup race. Waltrip's dream of late has been to show the world that not all of the skill, grit and determination that led youngsters like Mayfield to idolize the three-time Winston Cup champion has left Waltrip's 51-year-old old body. Mayfield's boyhood dreams came true. While Waltrip wowed the thousands of Pennsylvanians gathered to watch his 735th Winston Cup start, his young protégé' earned that first victory and did it just as he lived it in his dreams, by passing his Owensboro, Ky. hero in the closing laps of the race.
| "Jeremy is a good boy and I'm really happy for him. I doubt that is the last time he wins one of these races. Now that he has his first the next victories will come a bit easier for him." |
As Mayfield celebrated first place in victory lane, DW celebrated sixth place near the Pennzoil team hauler. Both were equally proud.
| "You know a whole lot of people buried ole' DW, but I guess they just didn't put enough dirt on me, because I'm still alive and I'm crawling out of a hole," DW joked immediately after climbing form the car |
DW didn't spend all of his time joking with the throng of reporters gathered around the Pennzoil Monte Carlo after the race. For a few minutes, the proud champion admitted how happy it was to return to the font of the field. And for just a few brief instances his voice changed tone, his eyes watered and he spoke seriously like a man a little bit surprised, but very thankful of his recent fortune.
| "I've been in some holes in my life, but today I'm feeling about as happy as I have in a long time. This means so much that it is hard to put into words. This has given me new life." |
With that, Waltrip walked off with his wife Stevie and their two daughters to celebrate one of the best Fathers Days in their recent memories. Their Dad might not have bettered his season-best fifth-place finish in California, but Dad darn near won the race!
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| DW and brother Michael at Pocono | DW, Dick Trickle, and Earnie Irvan (with daughter) |
The Save Mart/Kragen 350 on June 28th was the first road race of the year for the Winston Cup drivers. Sears Point Raceway re-designed the track since last year's race, eliminating the old "carosel" with the new "shute". 
This has taken out a little over a half mile, but extra laps were added. This brought the speeds up considerable, and qualifying records were broken by a considerable amount. Steve will have to wait until next year to get a feel for the new track. He did recently partake in a road course class, along with Dale Earnhardt Jr. During his broadcasting stint for the Lysol 200 he said they had a blast, and he has learned a lot about road racing.
This week the #1 Pennzoil team proved again that this may be a rookie team, but that their talent superseeds that! DW's 13th place finish may not look impressive on paper, as he started in that position, but watching him race and pass cars on the track showed the teams talent once again. This is the third race in a row where DW has led, leading 3 laps this week, something that he hasn't done for quite some time before moving into this ride. The old DW is more than back!
The excitement for the team started out with Friday's practice, where DW was 5th fastest after running 25 laps. The fastest time of those was 01:11.804 (97.716 m.p.h.). DW qualified in impressive form, ending up in the 13th position with a time of 01:11.882 (97.610 m.p.h.). However, practices on Saturday did not go as well. In the morning session, they were only 40th fastest, after running only 10 laps, achieving a top time of 1:13.309 (95.709 m.p.h.). In the afternoon session they were able to get back some speed. After running 18 laps the best time was 1:13.234 (95.807 m.p.h.). In Happy Hour, the team ran 20 laps, and was 24th fastest with a time of 1:13.496 (95.466 m.p.h.).
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"The motor ran good, the chassis was good and the pit stops were good today. We just had a fuel mileage plan so we came in late in the race and we thought all those guys ahead of us would have to make one more stop. Turns out they didn't have to."
"It was worth the risk. We want to win and we thought a good fuel strategy plan could have put us in victory lane today, but it just didn't work. It might next time. You never know." "I didn't think ours was a 13th place car today." |
Philippe and Angela Lopez became the proud parents of twin girls Sidney Frances and Ashley Colette Lopez. The twins were born Monday June 29 at 8:47 p.m. and 8:49 p.m. in Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte. Mother and babies are doing well. This is the couple's first and second child.
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