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Notebook Long gets into Waltrip's car after rain delay
Posted: Sunday May 28, 2000 11:19 PM
CONCORD, N.C. (AP) -- Darrell Waltrip passed Richard Petty for the most career laps at Lowe's Motor Speedway a quarter of the way through the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday night. The only five-time winner of this event needed 101 laps to pass Petty's 10,031 laps at the 1.5-mile track. Waltrip failed to qualify for Sunday's race, but was still able to gain entry into the event when Carl Long, an aspiring Winston Cup driver, agreed to give Waltrip the seat in his car. Long then replaced Waltrip after a rain delay on lap 254 with the car in 40th place. “I got what I wanted, I got to start my last 600 and he'll finish the race,” said Waltrip, who is retiring after the season. “I wanted it to be memorable. I didn't know it was going to be quite like this.”
Speeding RustyRusty Wallace had to play catch-up all night after a pair of speeding penalties in the pits cost him early in the Coca-Cola 600. Wallace was given a 15-second excessive speeding penalty on his first pit stop, then was handed a stop-and-go punishment for exiting the pits his next time in. Wallace is fourth in Coca-Cola 600 earnings with more than $731,000.
Anxious AndrettiInjured John Andretti had to wait 79 laps for the first caution to climb out of his Pontiac and be replaced by Tim Fedewa. Andretti cracked a rib Saturday during practice, but started the Coca-Cola 600 so his car wouldn't begin at the back of the field. “I'm a little bit smaller than Tim,” Andretti said of the switch. “With the steering wheel position and everything else, it just made it a little bit harder.” Andretti started the race in 17th position, but fell to 36th and one lap down before being replaced by Fedewa. “It's a big sigh of relief not to get involved in something,” said Andretti, referring to a wreck. “Especially when you can't afford to get hit.” Andretti said he was able to move OK in the car, but felt pressure on his chest. “I think the discomfort is just too fresh to get rid of,” he said.
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