Waltrip buys Coke 600 ride.

Michael Waltrip will race in Sunday's Coca Cola 600 at the Lowe's Motor Speedway despite failing to qualify his #55 Waltrip-Jasper Racing Dodge.

The double Daytona 500 winner has bought Derrike Cope's #74 McGlynn Motorsports ride for the longest race of the Nextel Cup season and will re-number the car as #55.

Waltrip failed to qualify for his first races since 1998 on Thursday evening after setting the 47th fastest time in Bud Pole qualifying. With his #55 team outside the top 35 in owner points, his Lowe's DNQ virtually cemented the #55's place outside the top 35 teams for the remainder of the season.

Even though Waltrip will swap McGlynn's #74 for his own #55 plate and NAPA stickers, the owner points gained in the race will go to McGlynn and not Waltrip.

Michael's actions mirror those of his elder brother Darrell, who failed to qualify for the 2000 Coca Cola 600 but then bought Carl Long's ride for the race.