Michael Waltrip ready for Fontana

Michael Waltrip hoping California plays to his strength

HARRISBURG, N.C. (April 28, 1999) - After 13 full seasons in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, Philips Chevrolet driver Michael Waltrip knows his strengths, one of which is running big racetracks. California Speedway is one of those, which gives Waltrip a good feeling heading into round 10 of the 1999 schedule this Sunday in Fontana, Calif.

Michael Waltrip at California...

Starts                    2
Top 5s                    0
Top 10s                   0
Ave. Start                27.50
Ave. Finish               15.50
Winnings                  $84,050
Best start:               18th ('97)
Best finish:              11th ('97)
1998:                     20th

Michael Waltrip on...

...his impressions of California Speedway:

"I like it. It's a pretty neat place to go race. My Winston Cup results haven't been as good as I would like so far, but it's a place that I certainly look forward to going back to. There is no reason why we shouldn't run really well at California. It's a big track, and the big tracks and the banked tracks seem to be my strong suit."

...whether or not gas mileage will be a factor:

"You certainly have to be concerned about it. In '97, the race was decided on who could make it and who couldn't. It is very likely that could be the case again. I had a pretty good run there the first time, but I got 'out-gas mileaged' by a bunch of guys, so it's something you have to be thinking about."

...what California Speedway compares to:

"You can draw some comparisons between California and Michigan, but it's a lot different than Michigan, also. It reminds me more of a big, short track because the turns are kind of flat. It's a fun track to drive."