2005 Spin:
For the third consecutive year, Michael Waltrip and the NAPA team were singing the same tune: They had the setup and the know-how to win at the plate tracks but were not able to break through at the other 32 venues. We believe they are going to change a verse or two in the old songbook for 2004. The 2003 season saw an improvement in Waltrip’s non-plate track performance. The NAPA team had a win in the bag until a muffed pit stop ruined the day at New Hampshire. Waltrip did not lead many laps but had impressive finishes at Las Vegas, Darlington, Pocono, Charlotte, Chicago and Michigan. The improvement is based on the continued chemistry with crew chief Slugger Labbe,
whose input and talent are the key ingredients in Waltrip’s success. Together they have made this into a solid team.

For all the team’s improvement, a hard crash at the Bristol fall race sank Waltrip’s ship and sent the team into a funk. Waltrip and the NAPA team never recovered. Waltrip entered Bristol in fifth place in the points and fell to a season low of 15th by the last race in Homestead.

The NAPA team should build on the positive elements of the ’03 campaign and develop character from the negative ones. We expect — in fact we state with authority — that Waltrip will get his first non-plate victory in ’04. It will be as big a win as his first and will make a bold statement for a team searching for consistency.

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