Michael Waltrip

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Michael Waltrip
BornMichael Curtis Waltrip
(1963-04-30) April 30, 1963 (age 60)
Owensboro, Kentucky, U.S.
Height6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight210 lb (95 kg)
Achievements1983 Darlington Dash Series champion
1996 The Winston Select winner
2001, 2003 Daytona 500 winner
2002, 2005 Gatorade Duel Winner
Awards1983, 1984 Darlington Dash Series Most Popular Driver
NASCAR Cup Series career
784 races run over 33 years
2017 position38th
Best finish12th (1994, 1995)
First race1985 Coca-Cola World 600 (Charlotte)
Last race2017 Daytona 500 (Daytona)
First win2001 Daytona 500 (Daytona)
Last win2003 EA Sports 500 (Talladega)
Wins Top tens Poles
4 133 4
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
279 races run over 22 years
Best finish13th (2004)
First race1988 Kroger 200 (IRP)
Last race2011 Aaron's 312 (Talladega)
First win1988 Grand National 200 (Dover)
Last win2004 Pepsi 300 (Nashville)
Wins Top tens Poles
11 105 14
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series career
9 races run over 6 years
Best finish61st (2004)
First race1996 Carquest 420K (Las Vegas)
Last race2011 NextEra Energy Resources 250 (Daytona)
First win2011 NextEra Energy Resources 250 (Daytona)
Wins Top tens Poles
1 4 0
24 Hours of Le Mans career
Years2011
TeamsAF Corse
Best finishDNF in LMGTE-PRO (2011)
Class wins0
Statistics current as of February 25, 2017.

Michael Curtis Waltrip (born April 30, 1963) is an American former professional stock car racing driver, racing commentator, racing team owner and published author. He is the younger brother of three-time NASCAR champion and racing commentator Darrell Waltrip. Waltrip is a two-time winner of the Daytona 500, having won the race in 2001 and 2003. He is also a pre-race analyst for the NASCAR Cup Series and color commentator for the Xfinity Series and the Craftsman Truck Series broadcasts for Fox Sports. He last raced in the 2017 Daytona 500, driving the No. 15 Toyota Camry for Premium Motorsports. All four of his NASCAR Cup Series wins came on superspeedways driving for Dale Earnhardt Inc.

Racing career[edit]

Beginnings[edit]

According to his autobiography Blink of An Eye, Waltrip's career started at age 12 when he phoned his older brother Darrell Waltrip, who was racing in the 1978 Daytona 500. Michael asked Darrell to help him build a career in NASCAR, but Darrell advised him to stay focused on school. Michael then obtained assistance from his older brother Bobby Waltrip, who was very close to him in their childhood. Michael began building a career by racing go-karts at carnivals and various racing clubs around his hometown. He won many races and, thanks to Bobby's help, was noticed by Dale Earnhardt. When Waltrip moved out of his house, he moved in with Kyle Petty and then ultimately lived with Richard Petty as a roommate. When Michael explained to Petty that he was going to try the Busch Series (now the Xfinity Series) to build his NASCAR career, Petty told Michael he was "wasting his time" and advised that Michael should immediately go for the Cup Series ride.

1989 car

Waltrip's stock car career got off the ground in 1981, when he captured the Mini-Modified division track championship at Kentucky Motor Speedway. A year later, Waltrip entered the Goody's Dash Series, where he won the series championship in 1983 and was voted the circuit's most popular driver that year and in 1984.

Waltrip made his Cup debut in 1985 in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte driving for Dick Bahre. He finished 28th in that race and finished 57th in the series standings after just five starts. His brother Darrell won the race. At the same time, Waltrip got confronted by Earnhardt, who questioned a previous move early in the race in which Waltrip nudged him out of the way and Dale responded by flipping the bird.

1986–90[edit]

This is what was salvaged from Waltrip's 1990 Kool-Aid sponsored Busch Series car after his accident at Bristol.[1]

In 1986, driving the No. 23 car for Bahari Racing, Waltrip finished second in the Rookie of the Year standings to Alan Kulwicki on the strength of a pair of 11th-place finishes at Martinsville and Pocono. The following season, he posted his first career Top 10 finish when he ended up 10th in Martinsville's spring race. In 1988, Waltrip began running Busch Series events, making five starts for his brother's team. He took the checkered flag for the first time at Dover in his 4th start. In 1989, he had his first Top 5 finish in the No. 30 Country Time Lemonade/Kool-Aid-sponsored Pontiac.

Crash at Bristol Motor Speedway[edit]

For Waltrip, 1990 was notable for a horrific crash at Bristol in the spring on the 170th lap of the Budweiser 250, where he destroyed his Busch Series Pontiac Grand Prix. After making contact with Robert Pressley in the No. 59, he hit a gate that was in the outside wall at the exit of turn two. The gate was used to allow vehicles in and out of the infield because the track did not have a tunnel. The impact broke the gate, and Michael went head-on into the end of the wall, disintegrating the car on impact and collapsing the car into itself. Onlookers were sure that Waltrip was severely injured, perhaps fatally, because of how massive the impact was and his brother Darrell rushed to the wreck fearing the worst. Amazingly, Waltrip not only survived the accident but he only suffered cuts, soreness, and bruises in the wreck.[2] After Mike Harmon had an almost identical impact several years later (and also amazingly walked away), the gate was moved down to just before the entrance of turn 3, thus lessening the chance of a car hitting it because cars are diving away from the wall at that point. Later, when asked about the crash by Ken Squier, he replied saying he had "some contusions and a little bit of confusion" and ended with "Hope we did a good job for Kool-Aid." Years later, Waltrip said that at first, he thought that Pressley wrecked him on purpose, and thought about fighting him after the incident before thinking better of it.[3]

1991–2000[edit]

In early race lineups, Waltrip was referred to by broadcasters as "Mike Waltrip" or Darrell's little brother. It wasn't until 1991 that he began being referred to in racing lineups as Michael (Waltrip).[citation needed]

Waltrip driving for Bahari in 1994

In 1991, he gained new sponsorship from Pennzoil and won the Winston Open, as well as his first two career pole positions. He came close to winning the 1991 TranSouth 500 at Darlington, but a jammed air hose on his final visit to the pits caused his stop to last 37.4 seconds, costing him the victory. He stayed with the Bahari team until the end of 1995 when he was replaced by rookie Johnny Benson. He joined Wood Brothers Racing to drive their No. 21 Citgo-sponsored Ford. He won the 1996 edition of The Winston after capturing the last transfer spot in The Winston Open. After posting one top-five finish over three years, and missing his first race since 1986 at the 1998 Dura Lube/Kmart 500, Waltrip departed the Wood Brothers at the end of 1998 to drive the No. 7 Philips-sponsored Chevrolet for Mattei Motorsports, posting three Top 10 finishes and ending that season 29th in points. However, mid-season the ownership of the team transferred from Mattei to Ultra Motorsports and Jim Smith. The next season, Nations Rent replaced Philips as the sponsor & Waltrip moved up to 27th in points but only finished in the Top 5 once, causing him and the team to part ways at the end of the season. Waltrip would later say in his 2011 book, In the Blink of an Eye, that 1999 and 2000 were the most disappointing years of his racing career and he began to lose hope that he would ever win a Cup Series race.

2001–05[edit]

Waltrip was hired by Dale Earnhardt to drive his team's new No. 15 NAPA Auto Parts-sponsored Chevrolet Monte Carlo entry, Waltrip drove for Earnhardt in the Busch Series in 1989 and 1994. In his first race with the team, the 2001 Daytona 500, Waltrip broke his streak of 462 consecutive Cup races without a victory and won his first career points-paying Cup race. His teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished in 2nd. However, the win itself was largely overshadowed by Earnhardt, Sr.'s fatal crash on the last lap. In the movie The Day: Remembering Dale Earnhardt, Waltrip said that Earnhardt let him in line late in the race, which allowed him to take the lead, noting that Earnhardt "never let anyone in line". This presumably is because Earnhardt wanted Waltrip and Earnhardt Jr. to finish in the Top 2 spots, as both were members of his team. Waltrip was not aware of the severity of Earnhardt's crash until over 30 minutes after the end of the race when he was celebrating in victory lane. Ken Schrader, after having been treated and released from the infield care center following the crash (his car hit Earnhardt's car during the crash), informed Waltrip that Earnhardt had been taken to Halifax Medical Center, 2 miles (3.2 km) from the speedway, where Earnhardt was pronounced dead at 5:16 PM EST.

Waltrip would later say in his book, and a 2019 podcast episode with Earnhardt Jr., that in the aftermath of the tragedy, he and the No. 15 team pushed forward to continue Earnhardt's legacy, "Because we knew we had to." However, his results slumped in the aftermath of the disaster, and he realized after 6 races that he was "not in a good place."[4] By June 2001, his crew chief, Scott Eggleston, left the team and was replaced by longtime DEI director Steve Hmiel.[5]

Waltrip did not have another Top 10 finish that season until returning to Daytona in July in the Pepsi 400, where he finished 2nd while holding off the field as teammate Earnhardt Jr. won his first plate race. Earnhardt Jr.'s Pepsi 400 finish was emotional to the entire DEI team and when Earnhardt Jr. did his burnout on the infield grass, Waltrip pulled up alongside him. Waltrip would later say to Kenny Wallace on his podcast in 2021, that the moment with Earnhardt Jr. in the infield was "even bigger than any races I've won, and I didn't even win." Waltrip would also have a second-place finish at Homestead with Bill Elliott winning and finished 24th in the standings.

The next season, Waltrip won the second Gatorade Duel. His next top ten finish would be a second-place finish at Talladega, where he and Earnhardt Jr. combined to lead more than two-thirds of the race, with Earnhardt Jr. taking home his second of four straight wins at Talladega. The following week, Waltrip finished tenth at Auto Club. He had eighth-place finishes in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte and the first Pocono race, and fourth place in the first Michigan race. He picked up his second career win at the Pepsi 400 at Daytona. After a ninth-place finish at Watkins Glen, and eighth-place finishes at New Hampshire and Talladega, Waltrip finished 14th in the points standings.

In 2003, Waltrip won a rain-shortened Daytona 500 and also took victory at the EA Sports 500 at Talladega (his only non-Daytona win), while running in the top-five for most of the season before falling back to 15th in points. Of trivial note, Waltrip won the first three NASCAR on Fox races at Daytona (2001 and 2003 Daytona 500s, and the 2002 Pepsi 400) with Michael's brother Darrell in the broadcast booth. His Talladega win was also his only win at a NASCAR on NBC race.

During the 71st lap of the 2004 Daytona 500, Waltrip was involved in a violent flip as part of a 12 car crash. Waltrip was on the outside of three wide under Brian Vickers and Johnny Sauter when Sauter and Vickers made contact and squeezed Waltrip into the outside backstretch wall. Vickers spun across Waltrip's nose and Waltrip spun down and into Robby Gordon. The impact into Gordon broke Waltrip's left-rear wheel and the car dug into the wet infield grass that got rained on the previous night and sent Waltrip flipping over violently 3 times while kicking up dirt before coming to a rest on its roof. Several minutes later, Waltrip would climb out of the car unhurt after the crews turned his car back over for him to climb out.[6] In 2004, Waltrip went winless and dropped five spots in the standings. In 2005 Waltrip only had seven top tens and one pole. It included a runner-up at Phoenix despite hitting the wall on the next to last lap. He had an incident with Robby Gordon at New Hampshire. After Waltrip intentionally wrecked Robby Gordon and spun as a result, Gordon furiously tried to back his damaged racecar into Waltrip's. When Gordon failed to hit Waltrip's car with his own, he climbed out of his racecar and threw his helmet at Waltrip's driver-side door. Waltrip repeated the words Gordon said the previous year in another helmet-tossing incident: "He just threw a helmet at my car." Waltrip was fined $10,000 (equivalent to US$15,493 in 2022) after he gestured at Gordon for the damage on his car from the helmet, but he and Teresa Earnhardt appealed and the fine was overturned after a short investigation proved the charge false. Gordon however was fined $50,000 (equivalent to US$77,467 in 2022) and put on probation for the rest of the year after he was discovered to have said "You know everybody thinks Michael is this good guy. He's not the guy he acts he is. The caution was out, and he wrecked me, and he's a piece of shit." Waltrip and Gordon conferred later on, apologized, and continued their careers. After the 2005 season, Waltrip left DEI for Bill Davis Racing.

2006–present[edit]

2006[edit]

Michael Waltrip's No. 55 NAPA Dodge (right) in 2006

On January 20, 2006, Waltrip and Doug Bawel, who owned Penske Racing's No. 77 car in 2005, announced the forming of Waltrip-Jasper Racing.[7] Because Waltrip was under contract with Bill Davis Racing, they reached a deal with BDR to oversee and supply the new team. Waltrip-Jasper fielded the No. 55 NAPA Auto Parts Dodge in the 2006 Nextel Cup Series, driven by Waltrip, with Bawel as listed owner, and Davis as a team executive. Bawel had a guaranteed starting spot in the first five races of 2006 by the No. 77 finishing 34th in the 2005 owner points, although Bawel was shutting down his team and needed a driver to pick up his team's owner points. This arrangement enabled Waltrip to make the first five races in 2006 without qualifying on time. After the first five races, this was unnecessary. Waltrip failed to qualify for the first time since 1998 at the Coca-Cola 600. He bought a slot from the No. 74 McGlynn Racing Dodge from Derrike Cope to drive in the race and to keep his streak of 262 consecutive races.[8] Waltrip ended up missing three races total in 2006 and did not have a top-ten finish. This was attributable to BDR's lawsuit with Dodge, which meant the team did not receive manufacturer support for Waltrip or teammate Dave Blaney.

Waltrip left Bill Davis Racing to form his own Nextel Cup team in 2007.

2007[edit]

Waltrip moved his Busch Series team, Michael Waltrip Racing, to the Cup Series full-time for the 2007 season. He hired Dale Jarrett and David Reutimann to race in the three-car operation. Reutimann in the No. 00, Jarrett in the No. 44, and Waltrip in the No. 55. Waltrip was listed as the owner of the No. 44 and No. 55, while his wife Buffy was listed as the owner of the No. 00.

After the first round of qualifying for the 2007 Daytona 500, NASCAR inspectors found evidence in the engine intake manifold that Waltrip, Reutimann, and Jarrett's teams had used an illegal unspecified oxygenate fuel additive to increase performance. NASCAR confiscated the cars, forcing Waltrip, Reutimann, and Jarrett to move to back-up cars for the Daytona 500. On February 14, 2007, NASCAR officials announced at a press conference the penalties that would be levied: Bobby Kennedy (Director of Competition for Michael Waltrip Racing) and David Hyder (Waltrip's crew chief) were removed from Daytona International Speedway, and suspended indefinitely.[9] David Hyder was also fined $100,000 (equivalent to US$141,133 in 2022) and was placed on a leave of absence, eventually to be released by the team in April. Waltrip, Reutimann, and Jarrett were docked 100 driver points and Waltrip and Buffy were docked 100 owner points each. Waltrip, Reutimann, and Jarrett's initial qualifying times were disallowed, but Waltrip and Reutimann were permitted to attempt to qualify by racing a backup car in their Gatorade Duel's qualifying race for the Daytona 500. Jarrett would qualify using his Past Champions provisional from his 1999 title, but was also permitted to race a backup car in his Gatorade Duel.[10] Waltrip's interim crew chief was announced as Scott Eggleston, who was Waltrip's former crew chief in 2001.[11] After a 30th-place finish in the Daytona 500, Waltrip became the first driver in series history to go into the second race of the season with a negative number of points (−27). Waltrip failed to qualify for the next eleven races following the Daytona 500, so he maintained his negative point total for almost 4 months. He qualified for the thirteenth race of the season at Dover and finished 28th, moving his point total above zero to 52 points.

On Saturday, April 7, 2007, he fell asleep behind the wheel of his Toyota Land Cruiser which overturned and hit a utility pole. Waltrip crawled out from the car suffering only minor cuts. There was no Nextel Cup race held that weekend. He was charged with reckless driving and failing to report an accident.[12][13]

After failing to qualify for the Pocono 500 in June, Waltrip bounced back the following week by finishing 10th at the Citizens Bank 400 in Michigan.

During the summer, Waltrip decided to make changes to the No. 00 and No. 55, which both sat outside the top 35 in owners points. He hired Terry Labonte, who held an automatic qualifying spot with his Past Champions provisional from titles in 1984 and 1996, to take over Waltrip's No. 55 at Infineon Raceway, Watkins Glen International, and Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Waltrip also hired P. J. Jones, a road course ringer, to take over David Reutimann's No. 00 at Infineon and Watkins Glen.

In October 2007, before the 2007 Bank of America 500. Dale Jarrett announced his retirement from points racing after the 2008 Food City 500, Waltrip decided to put David Reutimann (No. 00 driver) to take over the No. 44. Jarrett's final race was the All-Star race in May 2008.

On October 6, 2007, Waltrip won the pole for the UAW-Ford 500 at Talladega Superspeedway, the first restrictor-plate race to be run with the Car of Tomorrow.[14] He finished 25th after a wreck but bounced back the next week at Charlotte Motor Speedway with his second top-10 finish of the season.

2008[edit]

Waltrip's 2008 car at Daytona

In 2008, Michael Waltrip Racing changed following the disappointing 2007 campaign. Waltrip welcomed business owner Robert Kaufmann, owner/founder of the Fortress Investment Group and was made an equal partner and got more aid with real estate developer Johnny Harris buying into the team during the 2007 off-season. Former Cup owner Cal Wells was brought to MWR to oversee day-to-day operations, Dale Jarrett No. 44 retiring from points racing after the 2008 Food City 500, David Reutimann starting the season in the No. 00 then taking over Jarrett's No. 44, while Michael McDowell took over Reutimann's No. 00. Waltrip entered three full-time cars for 2008 David Reutimann/Michael McDowell/Mike Skinner/Kenny Wallace/A. J. Allmendinger and Mike Bliss No. 00, Dale Jarrett/David ReutimannNo. 44 and Waltrip No. 55. On February 10, 2008, Michael qualified second for the 50th running of the Daytona 500, which guaranteed him a second-place start in the race. Waltrip started the race with "gold wheels" on his car in tribute to the golden anniversary of the Daytona 500; after the race, the wheels were signed and sold to benefit NASCAR charities.[15] After leading the first two laps, he was not a factor in the race and finished 26th. Waltrip finished second at New Hampshire's Lenox Industrial Tools 301. He made his 1,000th NASCAR touring series start at Atlanta in October. He is second to Richard Petty in most career starts spanning all of the top divisions in NASCAR.

However, Michael McDowell struggled to keep the car in the Top 35 in owner points, which is necessary for automatic qualification into each race, and Waltrip replaced him with Mike Skinner, Kenny Wallace, A. J. Allmendinger and Mike Bliss to reclaim a Top 35 spot. In October 2008, MWR transferred its third team to the No. 47 Toyota of JTG Daugherty Racing, driven by Marcos Ambrose, and discontinued the No. 00 team for the balance of the season.

At the end of 2008 MWR sold the No. 44 to Richard Petty Motorsports and contracted to two cars with David Reutimann moving back to the No. 00, Waltrip in the No. 55.

2009[edit]

Waltrip in 2008

Waltrip entered two full-time cars for 2009 David Reutimann No. 00, Waltrip No. 55. In early 2009, Waltrip announced that he would be sharing the No. 99 NNS Aaron's dream machine with David Reutimann and Scott Speed during the season. On May 25, 2009, Waltrip scored his first win as an owner in Sprint Cup Series competition in the Coca-Cola 600, with David Reutimann winning the event.

In the 2009 season, Waltrip garnered two top-ten finishes (Daytona and Talladega) He came within a few laps of winning his third Daytona 500 as he was moving forward when the race was called for rain. He ended up seventh.

Waltrip decided to skip the road courses (Infineon Raceway and Watkins Glen International) handing it over to Patrick Carpentier to get the No. 55 back in the top 35 owners points.

On July 7, 2009, Waltrip announced he would be driving part-time in the 2010 season starting with the Daytona 500.[16] Waltrip also announced Martin Truex Jr. will take over Waltrip's car as the No. 56 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota full-time in 2010, using the No. 55 owners points.

2010[edit]

In 2010, Waltrip announced that he would only be racing at the Daytona 500 unless more sponsorship was found; Waltrip drove the No. 51 for the 2010 Daytona 500. Waltrip entered two full-time cars for 2010 No. 00 David Reutimann and No. 56 Martin Truex Jr., with Reutimann and Truex Jr. running the full schedule, Waltrip ran 6 races Daytona 500 (No. 51 MWR), Food City 500 (No. 55 Prism), Aaron's 499 (No. 55 Prism), Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400 (No. 55 Prism), Toyota/Save Mart 350 (No. 55 Prism), and AMP Energy Juice 500 (No. 55 MWR). Waltrip qualified 21st on Daytona Pole qualifying day. This was not fast enough to get in the race on speed, however. He then wrecked out of the first qualifying race. Waltrip was able to gain a spot in the starting grid when driver Scott Speed raced to make the 500 using his qualifying time in the second qualifying race, giving Waltrip the 43rd place starting position. He finished in a respectable 18th place. Since then, Michael has started the No. 55 Prism Motorsports entry at Bristol, finishing 41st. Waltrip qualified for the Aaron's 499 at Talladega Superspeedway and raced his way to the lead early, but wound up finishing 39th after "The Big One" on lap 84 of the race. It was announced in May that Waltrip would pilot the Toyota Sponsafier winning paint scheme on June 20 at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, CA, but he failed to qualify. Waltrip also ran the Amp Energy 500 in a Michael Waltrip Racing fielded No. 55 Toyota where he would lead three laps and finish 28th.

Waltrip and his business partner Rob Kaufmann have entered various GT endurance races, participating in the Dubai 24 Hours and also the 24 Hours of Spa, driving a Ferrari F430 GTE for the Italian team AF Corse in both races. Waltrip, Kaufmann, and the AF Corse team finished 5th overall and 3rd in class at Spa, clinching a podium spot.

2011[edit]

In 2011, Waltrip announced that he would attempt to make his 25th consecutive Daytona 500 start driving the No. 15. Waltrip retained his drivers for 2011 No. 00 David Reutimann in the No. 00 and No. 56 Martin Truex Jr. in the No. 56, both of whom would run the full schedule. As well as the Daytona 500, Waltrip ran three races that year: the Aaron's 499, the Quaker State 400, and the Good Sam Club 500. Aside from the Sprint Cup event at Daytona, Waltrip also competed in the Camping World Truck Series and Nationwide Series races there. He captured an emotional win in the NextEra Energy Resources 250, which came 10 years to the day of the death of Dale Earnhardt and his first Sprint Cup Series victory. The victory also made Waltrip the 22nd driver to win a race in all three NASCAR national touring series. He followed up his Friday night win with a solid 9th-place finish in the Nationwide Series race the next day. On Sunday afternoon, as part of the commemoration of the tenth anniversary of Dale Earnhardt's death in the 2001 Daytona 500, (which Waltrip won) Waltrip drove a replica of the No. 15 NAPA Auto Parts-sponsored car that he drove at the time. However, Waltrip finished 40th in the race after getting caught up in an early wreck that eliminated 14 cars. For the rest of 2011, Waltrip said he was working on plans to attempt the Sprint Cup Inaugural event at Kentucky Speedway in July, along with his first Le Mans start with AF Corse.[17] He ran in the 2011 24 Hours of Le Mans in June in one of the AF Corse entered Ferraris. The car he co-drove with Robert Kauffman and Rui Águas completed 178 laps before retiring, finishing 38th overall. On September 29, 2011, it was announced that Waltrip would be replacing Jeff Hammond in the FOX's Hollywood Hotel on NASCAR on Fox beginning with the Daytona 500 in 2012 with Chris Myers and his brother Darrell Waltrip.[18]

At the end of 2011, Waltrip hired Clint Bowyer to drive the No. 15 in 2012. On November 4, 2011, MWR announced that David Reutimann would not return as driver of the No. 00 for 2012 so Waltrip changed the number to No. 55 in honor of Aaron's 1955 founding and he hired Mark Martin and Brian Vickers to co-drive with Waltrip in 2012 and 2013

2012[edit]

In January, he was confirmed as a driver for AF Corse Ferrari in the inaugural season of the FIA World Endurance Championship.[19] Four weeks before the Daytona 500, Waltrip and Rob Kaufmann entered the 2012 Rolex 24 at Daytona. After a series of mechanical problems and off course excursions, Waltrip, Rob Kaufmann, Rui Águas, and Travis Pastrana never gave up and pressed on to finish 22nd in GT and 35th overall.

In early February it was announced that Waltrip would attempt to qualify for the 2012 Daytona 500 for Hillman Racing, driving the No. 40 Toyota with sponsorship from Aaron's.[20] He failed to qualify for the race, crashing in a single-car incident in the first Gatorade Duel race.[21]

On May 6, Waltrip qualified for the 2012 Aarons 499 at Talladega Superspeedway and led several laps before finishing 19th.

He also qualified for the fall Talladega race. On the last lap, Waltrip was running 5th when he jumped to the bottom lane and made a move for the lead to try to win heading into turn 4 with drafting help from Casey Mears. In turn 4, Tony Stewart tried to block Waltrip but underestimated Waltrip's speed. Waltrip tapped Stewart, and went up into the tightly bunched pack, collecting 23 cars, while Stewart flipped over once and slid on his side airborne and pushed by the wrecking field. Waltrip finished 25th.

2013[edit]

Waltrip competed in the 2013 Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown

Waltrip entered the 2013 Daytona 500 driving the No. 30 Toyota for Swan Racing,[22] which was changed for Daytona to the No. 26 as a charity car to raise funds for victims of the Newtown, Connecticut shooting. At his Budweiser Duel, Waltrip ran as high as close to the front but faded back in the final laps. He ultimately finished 15th, but it was enough to grab the final transfer spot for the Daytona 500. At the Great American Race, Waltrip led four laps and finished 22nd in the race.[23] He also finished in the top 5 at all other races (3 others) too.

In his first race in the No. 55 for the season at Talladega, Waltrip finished fourth. He also ran at Daytona in July and finished 5th.

On September 12, 2013, NASCAR penalized Michael Waltrip Racing for intentionally manipulating the outcome of the Federated Auto Parts 400. As a result, NAPA Auto Parts pulled its sponsorship of the team at the end of the year, forcing Waltrip to release Martin Truex Jr. from his contract.

2014[edit]

After originally announcing that he would field a part-time car for semi-retired Jeff Burton, plans changed when Waltrip sold the #56 team to investors of Identity Ventures who started a satellite team for MWR. Waltrip ran 4 races for Identity Ventures Racing owned by Jay Robinson, Mark Bailey, and James Hamilton.

Waltrip ran the Daytona 500, Aaron's 499, Coke Zero 400 and GEICO 500. At Daytona in Speedweeks, Waltrip was collected in a last-lap pileup caused when Jimmie Johnson ran out of gas on the final lap. Waltrip nonetheless made it into the race. He crashed on lap 144 and finished 41st. He finished 25th at the Aaron's 499 at Talladega.

For both races, he eschewed working with regular Identity Ventures Racing crew chief Scott Eggleston, with whom he had won his first Daytona 500, and instead paired himself with Chad Walter. At the summer Daytona race, Waltrip finally decided to work with Eggleston and ended up getting his first top-20 in over a year. However at Talladega in October, Waltrip again worked with Walter and did pick up another top-20. Identity Ventures Racing closed up shop after the season was over.

2015[edit]

Waltrip returned to driving for his team, piloting the No. 55 at both Daytona and Talladega in the spring. Waltrip skipped the summer Daytona race, but returned at Talladega in the fall, running a third MWR entry after leasing the owner points from the No. 98 of Premium Motorsports.

2016[edit]

Waltrip's 2016 Cup car for BK Racing

On February 4, Waltrip announced he would return to the Daytona 500, driving the No. 83 Camry for BK Racing.[24] Waltrip drove the No. 55 Camry for Premium Motorsports at Talladega in April with Peak BlueDEF as sponsor. Waltrip skipped again the summer Daytona race.

2017[edit]

Waltrip announced he would run the Daytona 500, driving the No. 15 Aaron's Camry for Premium Motorsports. It would be his final start in NASCAR-sanctioned racing.[25] Waltrip started 32nd out of the 40 car field, avoiding several large wrecks to end his NASCAR career with an eighth-place finish.[26]

Personal life[edit]

Waltrip in 2004

Waltrip was born in Owensboro, Kentucky. He currently lives in Huntersville, North Carolina.[27] Waltrip was married to Elizabeth "Buffy" Franks. They were divorced in 2010.[28] They have one daughter, Margaret Carol. Michael has an older daughter from a previous relationship, Caitlin Marie Waltrip-Kinnaird, who is married and has 2 kids of her own.[citation needed]

Waltrip is an avid runner. In 2001, he participated in the Boston Marathon.[29]

In October 2017, Waltrip had plans to attend the Route 91 Harvest music festival, but he canceled those plans. Later that night, a gunman, Stephen Paddock, fired shots at the festival from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel and casino, causing the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history. The following morning, Waltrip revealed on his Instagram account that he had befriended a family while in Las Vegas earlier in the day, that was also scheduled to attend the festival.[30] On October 4, he tweeted that he had contacted the father of the family, adding that they "are doing as well as could be expected."[31]

In popular media[edit]

Acting[edit]

Waltrip appeared on the two-part April 30, 2009/May 7, 2009 episode of My Name Is Earl entitled "Inside Probe."[32]

Television appearances[edit]

He works as a color commentator for NASCAR on Fox, covering the Xfinity Series since 2015 and the Truck Series since 2004.

On September 4, 2014, Waltrip was announced as one of the celebrities who would participate on the 19th season of Dancing with the Stars. He was paired with professional dancer Emma Slater. They were eliminated on November 3, 2014.[33]

On the December 2, 2019 episode of WWE Raw, Waltrip put on a referees uniform and helped Kyle Busch defeat R-Truth for WWE 24/7 Championship[34]

Book[edit]

Waltrip wrote a book published in 2011 called In the Blink of an Eye: Dale, Daytona, and the Day that Changed Everything. It became a New York Times best-seller.[35] A documentary film adaptation, Blink of an Eye, was released in 2019.[36]

Controversies[edit]

Feuds with rival drivers[edit]

After a race in 1992, Waltrip hit driver Dave Marcis while he was still in his car, punching him in the mouth and cutting his lip open, and was fined $500 (equivalent to US$1,043 in 2022) for his actions.[37]

In 1995 at Michigan International Speedway, Waltrip also hit driver, Lake Speed. Waltrip hit Speed twice on national television,[38] while Speed was strapped in his car. Waltrip was fined $10,000 (equivalent to US$19,205 in 2022) for his actions.

Waltrip had a much-publicized feud with fellow Kentucky-man Jeff Green, then the driver of Petty Enterprises No. 43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge Charger in the early part of the 2005 season, which came to a head during races at Martinsville and Darlington, where Green and Waltrip wrecked each other on several occasions.[39] The feud went back to 2002, when racing for the win at Rockingham caused both to lose control of their cars, allowing Jamie McMurray to win his second straight Busch Series race, although Waltrip and Green admitted to having been off-track friends and former high school schoolmates. After Waltrip retaliated against Green late in the Darlington race, NASCAR penalized Waltrip with a 1-lap penalty. Following the race, NASCAR brought Green and Waltrip together and warned them to avoid future incidents.

In the 2005 Sylvania 300, Waltrip wrecked Robby Gordon's No. 7 Jim Beam Chevrolet after the yellow flag had come out. The angered Gordon got out of his totaled car and threw his helmet at the No. 15 car as it was passing by. When TNT interviewed him about the crash he stated "You know Michael, everyone thinks Michael's this good guy. He's not the good guy he acts he is. The caution was out and he wrecked me and he's a piece of shit."[40] TNT apologized for the incident on both drivers' behalf, and both Gordon and Waltrip were required to meet with NASCAR officials after the race. Gordon was fined $50,000 and docked 50 drivers' points. Waltrip was also penalized, but the penalties were overturned on appeal. Gordon and Waltrip ultimately decided to auction the helmet for the benefit of the Harrah's Employee Relief Fund, a fund that provides aid to Harrah's employees displaced by Hurricane Katrina.[41]

In 2008, Waltrip made contact with Casey Mears with 46 laps to go resulting in Mears successfully passing him. As a reply, Waltrip rushed up to Mears, locked his hood on Mears' damaged car, and tried to push it around through a struggle lasting over 4 seconds. Eventually Mears crashed, and soon after, NASCAR parked Waltrip as a punishment.[42]

In the 2008 Sharpie 500, an irate Clint Bowyer, who was involved in a wreck involving Waltrip, said "Michael Waltrip is the worst driver in NASCAR, period! Could not believe NAPA (his primary sponsor) signed him back on!" However, Bowyer made it up with him after 2008 and eventually joined Waltrip's race team in 2012.[43]

Scandals[edit]

In 2007, Waltrip had his No. 55 Toyota confiscated by NASCAR officials after inspectors found an odorless, Vaseline-like substance in the car's engine. Later in the week, NASCAR handed down the punishment to Michael Waltrip Racing, which included the ejection of team vice president of competition Bobby Kennedy and Crew Chief David Hyder from the garage at Daytona. Hyder was also fined $100,000 (equivalent to US$141,133 in 2022), the largest fine ever handed down by NASCAR (until Kurt Busch was penalized for a pit road incident). Waltrip himself was penalized with a loss of 100 driver points and his qualifying time from pole day on Feb 11 was thrown out. Elizabeth Waltrip, Michael's wife and the official owner of his car was also docked 100 owners points. The substance found in the vehicle's fuel was referred to as "rocket fuel", later determined to be Sterno.[44]

In the 2013 Federated Auto Parts 400, the final race before the Chase for the Sprint Cup, Waltrip's team was penalized with the biggest penalty in NASCAR's history. In the race, MWR's Clint Bowyer spun out with 7 laps left after radio conversation hinting at an order to do so, and Brian Vickers was ordered to pit because the team "needed one more point". Following an investigation by NASCAR, the team was fined $300,000, stripped 50 driver points and 50 owner's points for each team, indefinitely suspended team vice-president Ty Norris and put every MWR crew chief on probation until December 31. With the points loss, Truex missed the Chase, which put Ryan Newman back in the wildcard spot. Waltrip stated as a reaction to the penalties that "I want to sincerely apologize to NASCAR, our sponsors, fans, and fellow drivers who were disappointed in our actions. We will learn from this and move on."[45]

Car accident[edit]

On April 11, 2007, Waltrip was charged with reckless driving and leaving the scene of the accident after crashing his car into a telephone pole.[46]

Motorsports career results[edit]

NASCAR[edit]

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Monster Energy Cup Series[edit]

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 MENCC Pts Ref
1985 Bahre Racing 23 Pontiac DAY RCH CAR ATL BRI DAR NWS MAR TAL DOV CLT
28
RSD POC MCH DAY POC TAL MCH
18
BRI DAR
24
RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT
31
CAR ATL
39
RSD 57th 207 [47]
1986 Bahari Racing DAY
DNQ
RCH
25
CAR
21
ATL
19
DAR
13
NWS
26
MAR
11
TAL
35
DOV
12
CLT
26
RSD
25
POC
39
MCH
22
DAY
18
POC
11
TAL
14
GLN
17
MCH
32
BRI
13
DAR
16
RCH
14
DOV
16
MAR
14
NWS
23
CLT
19
CAR
13
ATL
20
RSD
31
19th 2853 [48]
Buick BRI
32
1987 30 Chevy DAY
22
CAR
17
RCH
12
ATL
39
DAR
19
NWS
24
MAR
10
TAL
25
CLT
11
DOV
21
POC
16
RSD
32
MCH
39
DAY
19
POC
37
TAL
17
GLN
16
MCH
20
BRI
14
DAR
19
RCH
19
DOV
18
MAR
18
NWS
16
CLT
35
CAR
19
RSD
26
ATL
38
20th 2840 [49]
Pontiac BRI
13
1988 DAY
DNQ
RCH
31
ATL
12
DAR
21
BRI
12
NWS
32
MAR
22
TAL
33
CLT
23
DOV
36
RSD
11
POC
2
MCH
28
DAY
21
POC
17
TAL
20
GLN
33
MCH
7
BRI
31
DAR
25
RCH
12
DOV
12
MAR
25
CLT
23
NWS
25
CAR
19
PHO
28
ATL
7
18th 2949 [50]
Mueller Brothers Racing 89 Pontiac DAY
22
Bahari Racing 30 Chevy CAR
13
1989 Pontiac DAY
21
CAR
12
ATL
20
RCH
13
DAR
9
BRI
11
NWS
29
MAR
25
TAL
21
CLT
27
DOV
22
SON
10
POC
14
MCH
16
DAY
34
POC
28
TAL
36
GLN
10
MCH
31
BRI
32
DAR
13
RCH
23
DOV
6
MAR
12
CLT
17
NWS
23
CAR
17
PHO
9
ATL
26
18th 3057 [51]
1990 DAY
8
RCH
27
CAR
28
ATL
38
DAR
9
BRI
20
NWS
27
MAR
8
TAL
5
CLT
4
DOV
26
SON
9
POC
19
MCH
21
DAY
16
POC
23
TAL
21
GLN
4
MCH
30
BRI
9
DAR
26
RCH
14
DOV
5
MAR
30
NWS
15
CLT
3
CAR
15
PHO
43
ATL
14
16th 3251 [52]
1991 DAY
38
RCH
17
CAR
7
ATL
5
DAR
3*
BRI
23
NWS
7
MAR
7
TAL
5
CLT
15
DOV
32
SON
10
POC
18
MCH
34
DAY
6
POC
38
TAL
7
GLN
21
MCH
9
BRI
25
DAR
27
RCH
30
DOV
5
MAR
25
NWS
27
CLT
7
CAR
19
PHO
24
ATL
40
15th 3254 [53]
1992 DAY
18
CAR
4
RCH
34
ATL
28
DAR
14
BRI
17
NWS
29
MAR
27
TAL
38
CLT
25
DOV
15
SON
20
POC
15
MCH
27
DAY
27
POC
26
TAL
7
GLN
35
MCH
22
BRI
14
DAR
35
RCH
33
DOV
17
MAR
29
NWS
16
CLT
23
CAR
20
PHO
11
ATL
14
23rd 2825 [54]
1993 DAY
16
CAR
26
RCH
23
ATL
14
DAR
33
BRI
14
NWS
20
MAR
16
TAL
10
SON
23
CLT
13
DOV
27
POC
21
MCH
37
DAY
22
NHA
23
POC
14
TAL
20
GLN
12
MCH
16
BRI
10
DAR
13
RCH
19
DOV
23
MAR
8
NWS
14
CLT
27
CAR
18
PHO
9
ATL
6
17th 3291 [55]
1994 DAY
31
CAR
10
RCH
31
ATL
23
DAR
15
BRI
5
NWS
11
MAR
17
TAL
3
SON
16
CLT
10
DOV
7
POC
11
MCH
8
DAY
13
NHA
37
POC
14
TAL
11
IND
8
GLN
20
MCH
14
BRI
7
DAR
31
RCH
26
DOV
33
MAR
19
NWS
21
CLT
10
CAR
26
PHO
36
ATL
10
12th 3512 [56]
1995 DAY
6
CAR
17
RCH
23
ATL
35
DAR
7
BRI
22
NWS
22
MAR
15
TAL
12
SON
10
CLT
3
DOV
8
POC
9
MCH
12
DAY
15
NHA
14
POC
21
TAL
9
IND
14
GLN
14
MCH
11
BRI
15
DAR
5
RCH
28
DOV
29
MAR
25
NWS
12
CLT
17
CAR
38
PHO
34
ATL
12
12th 3601 [57]
1996 Wood Brothers Racing 21 Ford DAY
10
CAR
35
RCH
36
ATL
9
DAR
29
BRI
10
NWS
17
MAR
17
TAL
5
SON
22
CLT
8
DOV
11
POC
14
MCH
32
DAY
7
NHA
10
POC
13
TAL
42
IND
28
GLN
7
MCH
25
BRI
6
DAR
33
RCH
14
DOV
9
MAR
14
NWS
12
CLT
9
CAR
14
PHO
16
ATL
11
14th 3535 [58]
1997 DAY
32
CAR
26
RCH
27
ATL
7
DAR
7
TEX
9
BRI
21
MAR
26
SON
7
TAL
14
CLT
17
DOV
7
POC
13
MCH
16
CAL
11
DAY
35
NHA
29
POC
22
IND
39
GLN
25
MCH
22
BRI
25
DAR
9
RCH
35
NHA
32
DOV
42
MAR
36
CLT
24
TAL
28
CAR
14
PHO
26
ATL
13
18th 3173 [59]
1998 DAY
9
CAR
34
LVS
14
ATL
18
DAR
16
BRI
9
TEX
9
MAR
21
TAL
21
CAL
20
CLT
18
DOV
14
RCH
40
MCH
21
POC
14
SON
34
NHA
24
POC
10
IND
21
GLN
28
MCH
22
BRI
16
NHA
27
DAR
17
RCH
26
DOV
20
MAR
20
CLT
13
TAL
9
DAY
31
PHO
DNQ
CAR
22
ATL
22
17th 3340 [60]
1999 Mattei Motorsports 7 Chevy DAY
5
CAR
20
LVS
22
ATL
10
DAR
21
TEX
14
BRI
12
MAR
39
TAL
18
CAL
23
RCH
22
CLT
37
DOV
42
MCH
15
POC
37
SON
10
DAY
39
NHA
19
POC
12
IND
27
GLN
21
MCH
13
BRI
37
DAR
41
RCH
38
NHA
38
DOV
19
MAR
33
CLT
14
TAL
39
CAR
27
PHO
33
HOM
36
ATL
36
29th 2974 [61]
2000 DAY
39
CAR
23
LVS
33
ATL
25
DAR
32
BRI
11
TEX
29
MAR
3
TAL
31
CAL
30
RCH
19
CLT
18
DOV
39
27th 2797 [62]
Ultra Motorsports MCH
22
POC
43
SON
12
DAY
42
NHA
35
POC
17
IND
20
GLN
17
MCH
21
BRI
19
DAR
40
RCH
43
NHA
20
DOV
24
MAR
24
CLT
22
TAL
34
CAR
35
PHO
32
HOM
34
ATL
39
2001 Dale Earnhardt, Inc. 15 Chevy DAY
1
CAR
19
LVS
13
ATL
23
DAR
25
BRI
22
TEX
39
MAR
24
TAL
28
CAL
43
RCH
35
CLT
28
DOV
43
MCH
29
POC
30
SON
20
DAY
2
CHI
22
NHA
28
POC
19
IND
25
GLN
18
MCH
36
BRI
39
DAR
36
RCH
20
DOV
39
KAN
38
CLT
18
MAR
19
TAL
37
PHO
23
CAR
21
HOM
2
ATL
26
NHA
40
24th 3159 [63]
2002 DAY
5
CAR
40
LVS
22
ATL
40
DAR
15
BRI
30
TEX
28
MAR
13
TAL
2
CAL
10
RCH
24
CLT
8
DOV
21
POC
8
MCH
4
SON
22
DAY
1*
CHI
42
NHA
20
POC
18
IND
16
GLN
9
MCH
15
BRI
22
DAR
24
RCH
36
NHA
8
DOV
12
KAN
26
TAL
8
CLT
11
MAR
18
ATL
11
CAR
19
PHO
20
HOM
41
14th 3985 [64]
2003 DAY
1*
CAR
19
LVS
3
ATL
27
DAR
5
BRI
25
TEX
17
TAL
24
MAR
23
CAL
7
RCH
12
CLT
6
DOV
16
POC
18
MCH
5
SON
13
DAY
11
CHI
5
NHA
28
POC
4
IND
16
GLN
13
MCH
7
BRI
42
DAR
37
RCH
32
NHA
26
DOV
42
TAL
1
KAN
39
CLT
14
MAR
26
ATL
38
PHO
5
CAR
37
HOM
41
15th 3934 [65]
2004 DAY
38
CAR
33
LVS
37
ATL
23
DAR
35
BRI
10
TEX
20
MAR
15
TAL
12
CAL
32
RCH
10
CLT
2
DOV
6
POC
33
MCH
10
SON
4
DAY
13
CHI
9
NHA
6
POC
36
IND
20
GLN
20
MCH
17
BRI
27
CAL
23
RCH
13
NHA
9
DOV
16
TAL
25
KAN
11
CLT
28
MAR
19
ATL
14
PHO
17
DAR
33
HOM
17
20th 3878 [66]
2005 DAY
37
CAL
38
LVS
21
ATL
7
BRI
19
MAR
30
TEX
6
PHO
2
TAL
3
DAR
34
RCH
9
CLT
36
DOV
13
POC
5
MCH
7
SON
22
DAY
40
CHI
36
NHA
17
POC
26
IND
16
GLN
41
MCH
27
BRI
15
CAL
13
RCH
31
NHA
15
DOV
26
TAL
42
KAN
40
CLT
29
MAR
27
ATL
11
TEX
41
PHO
33
HOM
29
25th 3452 [67]
2006 Bill Davis Racing 55 Dodge DAY
18
CAL
36
LVS
35
ATL
20
BRI
32
MAR
29
TEX
26
PHO
42
TAL
25
RCH
31
DAR
35
CLT
DNQ
DOV
32
POC
28
MCH
25
SON
23
DAY
38
CHI
30
NHA
36
POC
40
IND
DNQ
GLN
36
MCH
23
BRI
16
CAL
31
RCH
DNQ
NHA
23
DOV
28
KAN
35
TAL
14
CLT
38
MAR
34
ATL
33
TEX
43
PHO
42
HOM
DNQ
37th 2350 [68]
McGlynn Racing CLT
41
2007 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota DAY
30
CAL
DNQ
LVS
DNQ
ATL
DNQ
BRI
DNQ
MAR
DNQ
TEX
DNQ
PHO
DNQ
TAL
DNQ
RCH
DNQ
DAR
DNQ
CLT
DNQ
DOV
28
POC
DNQ
MCH
10
SON NHA
DNQ
DAY
DNQ
CHI
30
IND POC
38
GLN MCH
40
BRI
23
CAL
42
RCH
DNQ
NHA
DNQ
DOV
15
KAN
30
TAL
25
CLT
10
MAR
18
ATL
11
TEX
DNQ
PHO
DNQ
HOM
DNQ
44th 1149 [69]
2008 DAY
29
CAL
28
LVS
31
ATL
30
BRI
23
MAR
35
TEX
31
PHO
24
TAL
27
RCH
37
DAR
24
CLT
27
DOV
28
POC
37
MCH
23
SON
25
NHA
2
DAY
27
CHI
36
IND
43
POC
43
GLN
39
MCH
19
BRI
30
CAL
33
RCH
28
NHA
25
DOV
10
KAN
35
TAL
19
CLT
24
MAR
18
ATL
37
TEX
27
PHO
24
HOM
38
29th 2889 [70]
2009 DAY
7
CAL
15
LVS
27
ATL
25
BRI
32
MAR
13
TEX
24
PHO
37
TAL
21
RCH
24
DAR
40
CLT
30
DOV
35
POC
17
MCH
30
SON NHA
24
DAY
37
CHI
20
IND
35
POC
31
GLN MCH
27
BRI
31
ATL
32
RCH
32
NHA
27
DOV
36
KAN
38
CAL
17
CLT
32
MAR
30
TAL
7
TEX
23
PHO
36
HOM
30
33rd 2839 [71]
2010 51 DAY
18
CAL LVS ATL 55th 284 [72]
Prism Motorsports 55 BRI
41
MAR PHO TEX TAL
39
RCH DAR DOV CLT POC MCH
DNQ
SON
DNQ
NHA DAY CHI IND POC GLN MCH BRI ATL RCH NHA DOV KAN CAR CLT MAR
Michael Waltrip Racing TAL
28
TEX PHO HOM
2011 15 DAY
40
PHO LVS BRI CAL MAR TEX TAL
28
RCH DAR DOV CLT KAN POC MCH SON DAY KEN
DNQ
NHA IND POC GLN MCH BRI ATL RCH CHI NHA DOV KAN CLT TAL
9
MAR TEX PHO HOM 42nd 56 [73]
2012 Hillman Racing 40 Toyota DAY
DNQ
PHO LVS BRI CAL MAR TEX KAN RCH 43rd 94 [74]
Michael Waltrip Racing 55 Toyota TAL
19
DAR CLT DOV POC MCH SON KEN
30
DAY
9
NHA IND POC GLN MCH BRI ATL RCH CHI NHA DOV TAL
25
CLT KAN MAR TEX PHO HOM
2013 Swan Racing 26 Toyota DAY
22
PHO LVS BRI CAL MAR TEX KAN RCH 40th 114 [75]
Michael Waltrip Racing 55 Toyota TAL
4
DAR CLT DOV POC MCH SON KEN DAY
5
NHA IND POC GLN MCH BRI ATL RCH CHI NHA DOV KAN CLT TAL
32
MAR TEX PHO HOM
2014 66 DAY
41
PHO LVS BRI CAL MAR TEX DAR RCH TAL
25
KAN CLT DOV POC MCH SON KEN TAL
16
MAR TEX PHO HOM 42nd 76 [76]
Identity Ventures Racing DAY
19
NHA IND POC GLN MCH BRI ATL RCH CHI NHA DOV KAN CLT
2015 Michael Waltrip Racing 55 DAY
26
ATL LVS PHO CAL MAR TEX BRI RCH TAL
36
KAN CLT DOV POC MCH SON DAY KEN NHA IND POC GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH CHI NHA DOV CLT KAN 43rd 58 [77]
98 TAL
13
MAR TEX PHO HOM
2016 BK Racing 83 Toyota DAY
30
ATL LVS PHO CAL MAR TEX BRI RCH 45th 42 [78]
Premium Motorsports 55 Toyota TAL
12
KAN DOV CLT POC MCH SON DAY KEN NHA IND POC GLN BRI MCH DAR RCH CHI NHA DOV CLT KAN TAL MAR TEX PHO HOM
2017 15 DAY
8
ATL LVS PHO CAL MAR TEX BRI RCH TAL KAN CLT DOV POC MCH SON DAY KEN NHA IND POC GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH CHI NHA DOV CLT TAL KAN MAR TEX PHO HOM 38th 29 [79]
Daytona 500[edit]
Year Team Manufacturer Start Finish
1986 Bahari Racing Pontiac DNQ
1987 Chevrolet 18 22
1988 Pontiac DNQ
Mueller Brothers Racing 24 22
1989 Bahari Racing Pontiac 23 21
1990 24 8
1991 13 38
1992 10 18
1993 28 16
1994 14 31
1995 15 6
1996 Wood Brothers Racing Ford 11 10
1997 12 32
1998 6 9
1999 Mattei Motorsports Chevrolet 13 5
2000 10 39
2001 Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 19 1
2002 4 5
2003 4 1
2004 9 38
2005 3 37
2006 Bill Davis Racing Dodge 30 18
2007 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota 15 30
2008 2 29
2009 27 7
2010 43 18
2011 8 40
2012 Hillman Racing Toyota DNQ
2013 Swan Racing Toyota 29 22
2014 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota 42 41
2015 34 26
2016 BK Racing Toyota 36 30
2017 Premium Motorsports Toyota 30 8

Nationwide Series[edit]

NASCAR Nationwide Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 NNSC Pts Ref
1988 Bahari Racing 03 Olds DAY HCY CAR MAR DAR BRI LNG NZH SBO NSV CLT DOV ROU LAN LVL MYB OXF SBO HCY LNG IRP
14
ROU 62nd 221 [80]
Silver Racing 14 Olds BRI
23
CLT
12
CAR MAR
Darrell Waltrip Motorsports 17 Chevy DAR
3
RCH DOV
1
MAR
1989 Bahari Racing 30 Olds DAY
8
CAR MAR HCY DAR
14
BRI
8
NZH
3
SBO LAN NSV CLT
3
DOV
30
ROU LVL
2
VOL MYB SBO HCY DUB IRP
1
ROU BRI
25
DAR
23
RCH
15
DOV
25
MAR CLT
2
23rd 1716 [81]
Dale Earnhardt, Inc. 3 Chevy CAR
7
MAR
1990 Bahari Racing 30 Pontiac DAY
36
RCH
1
CAR
11
MAR HCY
19
DAR BRI
26
LAN SBO NZH HCY CLT
18
DOV
1*
ROU VOL MYB OXF NHA
16
SBO DUB IRP
28
ROU BRI
29
RCH
3
DOV MAR CLT
21
NHA CAR MAR 30th 1185 [82]
Mac Martin Racing 92 Pontiac DAR
3
1991 Bahari Racing 30 Pontiac DAY
2
RCH
5
CAR MAR VOL HCY DAR
28*
BRI
25
LAN SBO NZH CLT
32
DOV ROU HCY MYB GLN OXF NHA
4
SBO DUB IRP ROU BRI
17
DAR
2
RCH
4
DOV CLT
26
NHA CAR MAR 34th 1246 [83]
1992 DAY
25
CAR RCH
17
ATL
28
MAR DAR BRI HCY LAN DUB NZH
6
CLT
23
DOV ROU MYB GLN VOL NHA TAL
2*
IRP
26
ROU MCH
8
NHA BRI DAR
1
RCH DOV
8
CLT
2
MAR CAR HCY 26th 1412 [84]
1993 DAY
33
CAR RCH DAR
15
BRI
1*
HCY ROU MAR NZH CLT
1
DOV MYB GLN MLW TAL
6
IRP
29
MCH NHA BRI DAR
34
RCH
29
DOV ROU CLT
2
MAR CAR HCY ATL
3
30th 1240 [85]
1994 DAY
25*
CAR RCH ATL
34
MAR DAR
7
HCY BRI ROU NHA NZH CLT
3
DOV MYB GLN MLW SBO TAL
41
HCY IRP MCH BRI DAR RCH
7
CLT
12
MAR 41st 983 [86]
Dale Earnhardt, Inc. 3 Chevy DOV
41
CAR
2
1995 Bahari Racing 30 Pontiac DAY
2
CAR RCH ATL
36
NSV
38
DAR BRI HCY NHA NZH CLT
35
DOV MYB GLN MLW TAL
20*
SBO IRP MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV CLT
DNQ
CAR HOM
4
48th 595 [87]
1996 Michael Waltrip Racing 12 Ford DAY
41
CAR
11
RCH
25
ATL
DNQ
NSV
29
DAR
2
BRI
19
HCY NZH CLT
11
DOV SBO MYB GLN
14
MLW NHA TAL
5
IRP MCH
38
BRI
5
DAR RCH
38
DOV CLT
30
CAR HOM 34th 1342 [88]
1997 21 DAY
3
CAR RCH ATL
15
LVS
4
DAR HCY TEX
26
BRI
4
NSV TAL
14
NHA NZH CLT
DNQ
DOV
10
SBO GLN MLW MYB GTY
DNQ
IRP MCH
23
BRI
40
DAR
33
RCH
28
DOV
36
CLT
30
CAL
4
CAR
14
HOM
19
29th 1738 [89]
1998 DAY
7
CAR LVS
20
NSV DAR
41
BRI
29
TEX
17
HCY TAL
40
NHA
34
NZH CLT
4
DOV RCH
20
PPR
31
GLN MLW MYB CAL
23
SBO IRP MCH
9
BRI
DNQ
DAR
15
RCH
14
DOV CLT
41
GTY CAR ATL
9
HOM 34th 1667 [90]
1999 Chevy DAY
40
CAR LVS
39
ATL
11
DAR
9
TEX
11
NSV BRI
11
TAL CAL
8
NHA RCH
8
NZH CLT
5
DOV
20
SBO GLN MLW MYB PPR GTY IRP MCH
6
BRI
2
DAR RCH
DNQ
DOV
35
CLT
1
CAR MEM PHO
41
HOM 29th 1762 [91]
2000 7 DAY
27
CAR
QL
LVS
15
ATL DAR BRI
32
TEX
DNQ
NSV TAL CAL
4
RCH NHA CLT
DNQ
DOV
7
SBO MYB GLN MLW NZH PPR GTY IRP MCH
2
RCH
16
CLT
14
PHO
37
HOM 37th 1356 [92]
99 BRI
8
DAR
15
DOV
36
CAR
DNQ
MEM
2001 DAY
37
CAR LVS
39
ATL
3
DAR BRI
10
TEX NSH TAL CAL RCH NHA NZH CLT
43
DOV KEN MLW GLN CHI
12
GTY PPR IRP MCH BRI
40
DAR RCH
18
DOV KAN
15
CLT
18
MEM PHO
20
CAR HOM
6
41st 1195 [93]
2002 DAY
2
CAR
26
LVS
2
DAR
14
BRI
30
TEX
42
NSH TAL
35
CAL
8
RCH
4
NHA NZH CLT
11
DOV NSH KEN MLW DAY
42
CHI GTY PPR IRP MCH
1*
BRI
7
DAR RCH
8
DOV KAN
33
CLT
2
MEM ATL
2*
CAR
7
PHO HOM
7
27th 2397 [94]
2003 DAY
34
CAR
18
LVS
7
DAR
36
BRI
33
TEX
11
TAL
7
NSH CAL
2
RCH
4*
GTY NZH CLT
10*
DOV NSH KEN MLW DAY
2
CHI
5
NHA PPR IRP MCH
8
BRI
1
DAR
3
RCH DOV KAN
24*
CLT
2
MEM ATL
4
PHO CAR
41
HOM
10
18th 2637 [95]
2004 DAY
19
CAR
4
LVS
4
DAR
8
BRI
7
TEX
13
NSH
1
TAL
8
CAL
6
GTY
14
RCH
28
NZH
8
CLT
11
DOV
16
NSH
38
KEN
14
MLW DAY
27
CHI
18
NHA PPR IRP
26
MCH
24
BRI
22
CAL
14
RCH
30
DOV
11
KAN
12
CLT
23
MEM
29
ATL
22
PHO
19
DAR
10
HOM
11
13th 3649 [96]
2005 DAY
7
CAL
38
MXC LVS
DNQ
ATL
7
NSH BRI
42
TEX
15
PHO
7
TAL
34
DAR RCH
34
CLT
16
DOV NSH KEN
42
MLW DAY CHI
14
NHA PPR GTY
16
IRP GLN
40
MCH
16
BRI
24
CAL
DNQ
RCH
9
DOV
40
KAN
DNQ
CLT
DNQ
MEM TEX
DNQ
PHO HOM
DNQ
35th 1587 [97]
2006 Dodge DAY
15
CAL
26
MXC
40
LVS
24
ATL
22
BRI
26
TEX
25
PHO
13
TAL
14
RCH
25
DAR CLT
20
DOV
31
NSH KEN MLW DAY
38
CHI
11
NHA
23
MAR GTY IRP GLN
13
MCH
17
BRI CAL RCH DOV
10
KAN CLT
2
MEM TEX PHO
39
HOM 27th 2126 [98]
Brewco Motorsports Ford NSH
10
2007 Braun Racing 32 Toyota DAY CAL MXC LVS ATL
43
BRI NSH TEX PHO TAL RCH DAR CLT DOV NSH KEN MLW NHA DAY CHI GTY IRP CGV GLN MCH BRI CAL RCH DOV KAN CLT MEM TEX PHO HOM 158th 34 [99]
2009 Michael Waltrip Racing 99 Toyota DAY
24
CAL
15
LVS BRI TEX
19
NSH
16
PHO
40
TAL
40
RCH DAR CLT DOV NSH KEN MLW NHA DAY
11
CHI GTY IRP IOW GLN MCH BRI CGV ATL RCH DOV KAN CAL CLT MEM TEX PHO HOM 65th 661 [100]
2011 Pastrana-Waltrip Racing 99 Toyota DAY
9
PHO LVS BRI CAL TEX TAL
31
NSH RCH DAR DOV IOW CLT CHI MCH ROA DAY KEN NHA NSH IRP IOW GLN CGV BRI ATL RCH CHI DOV KAN CLT TEX PHO HOM 117th 01 [101]
- Qualified but replaced by Dick Trickle·

Camping World Truck Series[edit]

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 NCWTC Pts Ref
1996 Michael Waltrip Racing 1 Ford HOM PHO POR EVG TUS CNS HPT BRI NZH MLW LVL I70 IRP FLM GLN NSV RCH NHA MAR NWS SON MMR PHO LVS
4
83rd 160 [102]
1997 WDW
31
TUS HOM PHO POR EVG I70 NHA TEX BRI NZH MLW LVL CNS HPT IRP FLM NSV GLN RCH MAR
35
SON MMR CAL
7
PHO LVS 67th 274 [103]
1998 WDW HOM PHO POR EVG I70 GLN TEX BRI MLW NZH CAL
31
PPR IRP NHA FLM NSV HPT LVL RCH MEM GTY MAR SON MMR PHO LVS 103rd 70 [104]
2004 Morgan-Dollar Motorsports 47 Chevy DAY ATL MAR MFD CLT
5
DOV TEX MEM MLW KAN KEN GTW MCH 61st 215 [105]
Andy Petree Racing 33 Chevy IRP
36
NSH BRI RCH NHA LVS CAL TEX MAR PHO DAR HOM
2006 Darrell Waltrip Motorsports 12 Toyota DAY CAL ATL MAR GTY CLT MFD DOV TEX MCH MLW KAN KEN MEM IRP NSH BRI NHA LVS TAL MAR ATL TEX PHO HOM
17
74th 112 [106]
2011 Vision Aviation Racing 15 Toyota DAY
1
PHO DAR MAR NSH DOV CLT KAN TEX KEN IOW NSH IRP POC MCH BRI ATL CHI NHA KEN LVS TAL MAR TEX HOM 84th 01 [107]

* Season still in progress
1 Ineligible for series points

Sports car racing[edit]

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position, Results are overall/class)

24 Hours of Le Mans results[edit]

24 Hours of Le Mans results
Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
2011 Italy AF Corse United States Rob Kaufmann
Portugal Rui Águas
Ferrari 458 Italia GTC GTE
Pro
178 DNF DNF

24 Hours of Daytona[edit]

24 Hours of Daytona results
Year Class No Team Car Co-drivers Laps Position Class Pos.
2012 GT 56 Italy AF Waltrip Ferrari 458 Portugal Rui Águas
United States Rob Kauffman
United States Travis Pastrana
645 35 22
2013 GT 56 Italy AF Waltrip Ferrari 458 Portugal Rui Águas
United States Rob Kauffman
United States Clint Bowyer
677 16 8

Superstar Racing Experience[edit]

(key* – Most laps led. 1 – Heat 1 winner. 2 – Heat 2 winner.

Superstar Racing Experience results
Year No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 SRXC Pts
2021 15 STA
11
KNX
4
ELD
10
IRP
6
SLG
12
NSV
7
8th 111
2022 FIF
13
SBO
11
STA
12
NSV
8
I55
7
SHA
13
9th 95

* Season still in progress

See also[edit]

References[edit]

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  99. ^ "Michael Waltrip – 2007 NASCAR Busch Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  100. ^ "Michael Waltrip – 2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  101. ^ "Michael Waltrip – 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  102. ^ "Michael Waltrip – 1996 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  103. ^ "Michael Waltrip – 1997 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  104. ^ "Michael Waltrip – 1998 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  105. ^ "Michael Waltrip – 2004 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  106. ^ "Michael Waltrip – 2006 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  107. ^ "Michael Waltrip – 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 2, 2023.

External links[edit]

Sporting positions
Preceded by
Larry Hoopaugh
NASCAR Darlington Dash Series Champion
1983
Succeeded by
Mike Swaim
Achievements
Preceded by The Winston Winner
1996
Succeeded by
Jeff Gordon
Preceded by
Dale Jarrett
Ward Burton
Daytona 500 Winner
2001
2003
Succeeded by