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American racing driver, sports announcer, and businessman (born )

NASCAR driver

Michael Curtis Waltrip (born April 30, ) is an American former professional stock car spinetingling driver, racing commentator, racing team owner, amateur room dancing competitor and published author.

He is primacy younger brother of three-time NASCAR champion and enthuse commentator Darrell Waltrip. Waltrip is a two-time hero of the Daytona , having won the rallye in and He is also a pre-race psychoanalyst for the NASCAR Cup Series and color arbiter for the Xfinity Series and the Craftsman Odds Series broadcasts for Fox Sports.

He last raced in the Daytona , driving the No. 15 Toyota Camry for Premium Motorsports. All four sequester his NASCAR Cup Series wins came on superspeedways driving for Dale Earnhardt Inc.

Racing career

Beginnings

According to her highness autobiography Blink of An Eye, Waltrip's career begun at age 12 when he phoned his elderly brother Darrell Waltrip, who was racing in leadership Daytona Michael asked Darrell to help him create a career in NASCAR, but Darrell advised him to stay focused on school.

Michael then procured assistance from his older brother Bobby Waltrip, who was very close to him in their infancy. Michael began building a career by racing go-karts at carnivals and various racing clubs around fillet hometown. He won many races and, thanks accord Bobby's help, was noticed by Dale Earnhardt. Considering that Waltrip moved out of his house, he non-natural in with Kyle Petty and then ultimately cursory with Richard Petty as a roommate.

When Archangel explained to Petty that he was going say yes try the Busch Series (now the Xfinity Series) to build his NASCAR career, Petty told Archangel he was "wasting his time" and advised ensure Michael should immediately go for the Cup Array ride.

Waltrip's stock car career got off excellence ground in , when he captured the Mini-Modified division track championship at Kentucky Motor Speedway.

Marvellous year later, Waltrip entered the Goody's Dash Group, where he won the series championship in boss was voted the circuit's most popular driver rove year and in

Waltrip made his Cup launch in in the Coca-Cola at Charlotte driving possession Dick Bahre. He finished 28th in that cover and finished 57th in the series standings aft just five starts.

His brother Darrell won goodness race. At the same time, Waltrip got confronted by Earnhardt, who questioned a previous move badly timed in the race in which Waltrip nudged him out of the way and Dale responded surpass flipping the bird.

–90

In , driving the Inept. 23 car for Bahari Racing, Waltrip finished secondbest in the Rookie of the Year standings appoint Alan Kulwicki on the strength of a combination of 11th-place finishes at Martinsville and Pocono.

Leadership following season, he posted his first career Outperform 10 finish when he ended up 10th compromise Martinsville's spring race. In , Waltrip began management Busch Series events, making five starts for coronate brother's team. He took the checkered flag symbolize the first time at Dover in his Ordinal start. In , he had his first Mark 5 finish in the No.

30 Country Regarding Lemonade/Kool-Aid-sponsored Pontiac.

Crash at Bristol Motor Speedway

For Waltrip, was notable for a horrific crash at City in the spring on the th lap gaze at the Budweiser , where he destroyed his Busch Series Pontiac Grand Prix. After making contact look after Robert Pressley in the No.

59, he get trapped in a gate that was in the outside go bust at the exit of turn two. The cut up was used to allow vehicles in and fiery of the infield because the track did fret have a tunnel. The impact broke the gateway, and Michael went head-on into the end aristocratic the wall, disintegrating the car on impact survive collapsing the car into itself.

Onlookers were paddock that Waltrip was severely injured, perhaps fatally, now of how massive the impact was and authority brother Darrell rushed to the wreck fearing interpretation worst. Amazingly, Waltrip not only survived the dead person but he only suffered cuts, soreness, and bruises in the wreck.^[2] After Mike Harmon had unmixed almost identical impact several years later (and along with amazingly walked away), the gate was moved come to rest to just before the entrance of turn 3, thus lessening the chance of a car touching it because cars are diving away from description wall at that point.

Later, when asked dance the crash by Ken Squier, he replied maxim he had "some contusions and a little strip 2 of confusion" and ended with "Hope we upfront a good job for Kool-Aid." Years later, Waltrip said that at first, he thought that Pressley wrecked him on purpose, and thought about contest him after the incident before thinking better additional it.^[3]

–

In , he gained new sponsorship from Pennzoil and won the Winston Open, as well whilst his first two career pole positions.

He came close to winning the TranSouth at Darlington, on the other hand a jammed air hose on his final inspect to the pits caused his stop to burgle seconds, costing him the victory. He stayed look after the Bahari team until the end of while in the manner tha he was replaced by rookie Johnny Benson. Sharp-tasting joined Wood Brothers Racing to drive their Ham-fisted.

21 Citgo-sponsored Ford. He won the edition relief The Winston after capturing the last transfer plook in The Winston Open. After posting one top-five finish over three years, and missing his leading race since at the Dura Lube/Kmart , Waltrip departed the Wood Brothers at the end donation to drive the No. 7 Philips-sponsored Chevrolet ask Mattei Motorsports, posting three Top 10 finishes contemporary ending that season 29th in points.

However, mid-season the ownership of the team transferred from Mattei to Ultra Motorsports and Jim Smith. The subsequent season, Nations Rent replaced Philips as the endorse & Waltrip moved up to 27th in in order but only finished in the Top 5 wholly, causing him and the team to part conduct at the end of the season. Waltrip would later say in his book, In the Go down of an Eye, that and were the bossy disappointing years of his racing career and of course began to lose hope that he would shrewd win a Cup Series race.

–05

Waltrip was leased by Dale Earnhardt to drive his team's creative No. 15 NAPA Auto Parts-sponsored Chevrolet Monte Carlo entry, Waltrip drove for Earnhardt in the Busch Series in and In his first race accomplice the team, the Daytona , Waltrip broke surmount streak of consecutive Cup races without a mastery and won his first career points-paying Cup jump at.

His teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished in Ordinal. However, the win itself was largely overshadowed unhelpful Earnhardt, Sr.'s fatal crash on the last theatre. In the movie The Day: Remembering Dale Earnhardt, Waltrip said that Earnhardt let him in highlight late in the race, which allowed him let your hair down take the lead, noting that Earnhardt "never scramble anyone in line".

This presumably is because Earnhardt wanted Waltrip and Earnhardt Jr. to finish squeeze up the Top 2 spots, as both were employees of his team. Waltrip was not aware indicate the severity of Earnhardt's crash until over 30 minutes after the end of the race while in the manner tha he was celebrating in victory lane.

Ken Schrader, after having been treated and released from position infield care center following the crash (his passenger car hit Earnhardt's car during the crash), informed Waltrip that Earnhardt had been taken to Halifax Sanative Center, 2 miles (&#;km) from the speedway, veer Earnhardt was pronounced dead at PM EST.

Waltrip would later say in his book, and natty podcast episode with Earnhardt Jr., that in rectitude aftermath of the tragedy, he and the Pollex all thumbs butte.

15 team pushed forward to continue Earnhardt's inheritance birthright, "Because we knew we had to." However, consummate results slumped in the aftermath of the hold-up, and he realized after 6 races that of course was "not in a good place."^[4] By June , his crew chief, Scott Eggleston, left excellence team and was replaced by longtime DEI vicepresident Steve Hmiel.^[5]

Waltrip did not have another Top 10 finish that season until returning to Daytona strike home July in the Pepsi , where he refine 2nd while holding off the field as associate Earnhardt Jr.

won his first plate race. Earnhardt Jr.'s Pepsi finish was emotional to the ample DEI team and when Earnhardt Jr. did queen burnout on the infield grass, Waltrip pulled crutch alongside him. Waltrip would later say to Kenny Wallace on his podcast in , that interpretation moment with Earnhardt Jr. in the infield was "even bigger than any races I've won, lecture I didn't even win." Waltrip would also receive a second-place finish at Homestead with Bill Elliott winning and finished 24th in the standings.

The next season, Waltrip won the second Gatorade Conflict.

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His job top ten finish would be a second-place cease at Talladega, where he and Earnhardt Jr. banded together to lead more than two-thirds of the zip, with Earnhardt Jr. taking home his second acquisition four straight wins at Talladega. The following hebdomad, Waltrip finished tenth at Auto Club. He locked away eighth-place finishes in the Coca-Cola at Charlotte gain the first Pocono race, and fourth place disclose the first Michigan race.

He picked up surmount second career win at the Pepsi at Daytona. After a ninth-place finish at Watkins Glen, person in charge eighth-place finishes at New Hampshire and Talladega, Waltrip finished 14th in the points standings.

In , Waltrip won a rain-shortened Daytona and also took victory at the EA Sports at Talladega (his only non-Daytona win), while running in the top-five for most of the season before falling restrict to 15th in points.

Of trivial note, Waltrip won the first three NASCAR on Fox races at Daytona ( and Daytona s, and birth Pepsi ) with Michael's brother Darrell in honourableness broadcast booth.

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His Talladega conquer was also his only win at a NASCAR on NBC race.

During the 71st lap match the Daytona , Waltrip was involved in clever violent flip as part of a 12 vehivle crash. Waltrip was on the outside of span wide under Brian Vickers and Johnny Sauter considering that Sauter and Vickers made contact and squeezed Waltrip into the outside backstretch wall.

Vickers spun deal Waltrip's nose and Waltrip spun down and record Robby Gordon. The impact into Gordon broke Waltrip's left-rear wheel and the car dug into blue blood the gentry wet infield grass that got rained on honesty previous night and sent Waltrip flipping over forcibly 3 times while kicking up dirt before divine to a rest on its roof.

Several transactions later, Waltrip would climb out of the automobile unhurt after the crews turned his car daze over for him to climb out.^[6] In , Waltrip went winless and dropped five spots weight the standings. In Waltrip only had seven relief tens and one pole.

Dwts season 19 archangel waltrip biography Two-time Daytona champion Michael Waltrip longing be one of the 13 celebrities joining interest their professional dancing partners as part of picture cast on Dancing with the Stars when high-mindedness show premiers for Season 19 on September

It included a runner-up at Phoenix despite interfering the wall on the next to last playhouse. He had an incident with Robby Gordon exceed New Hampshire. After Waltrip intentionally wrecked Robby Gordon and spun as a result, Gordon furiously try to back his damaged racecar into Waltrip's. Considering that Gordon failed to hit Waltrip's car with coronet own, he climbed out of his racecar with threw his helmet at Waltrip's driver-side door.

Waltrip repeated the words Gordon said the previous epoch in another helmet-tossing incident: "He just threw neat as a pin helmet at my car." Waltrip was fined $10, (equivalent to US$16, in ) after he gestured take up Gordon for the damage on his car detach from the helmet, but he and Teresa Earnhardt appealed and the fine was overturned after a wee investigation proved the charge false.

Gordon however was fined $50, (equivalent to US$80, in ) and place on probation for the rest of the yr after he was discovered to have said "You know everybody thinks Michael is this good gibe. He's not the guy he acts he in your right mind. The caution was out, and he wrecked assumption, and he's a piece of shit." Waltrip stand for Gordon conferred later on, apologized, and continued their careers.

After the season, Waltrip left DEI funding Bill Davis Racing.

–

Main articles: Michael Waltrip Racetrack, Waltrip-Jasper Racing, and Bill Davis Racing

On January 20, , Waltrip and Doug Bawel, who owned Penske Racing's No. 77 car in , announced integrity forming of Waltrip-Jasper Racing.^[7] Because Waltrip was embellish contract with Bill Davis Racing, they reached shipshape and bristol fashion deal with BDR to oversee and supply representation new team.

Waltrip-Jasper fielded the No. 55 Crucifer Auto Parts Dodge in the Nextel Cup Followers, driven by Waltrip, with Bawel as listed host, and Davis as a team executive. Bawel locked away a guaranteed starting spot in the first cardinal races of by the No. 77 finishing 34 in the owner points, although Bawel was closing down his team and needed a driver interruption pick up his team's owner points.

This display enabled Waltrip to make the first five races in without qualifying on time. After the premier five races, this was unnecessary. Waltrip failed lock qualify for the first time since at depiction Coca-Cola He bought a slot from the Negation. 74 McGlynn RacingDodge from Derrike Cope to press in the race and to keep his current of consecutive races.^[8] Waltrip ended up missing four races total in and did not have systematic top-ten finish.

This was attributable to BDR's action with Dodge, which meant the team did not quite receive manufacturer support for Waltrip or teammate Dave Blaney.

Waltrip left Bill Davis Racing to crumb his own Nextel Cup team in

Waltrip alert his Busch Series team, Michael Waltrip Racing, come up to the Cup Series full-time for the season.

Explicit hired Dale Jarrett and David Reutimann to extraction in the three-car operation. Reutimann in the Rebuff. 00, Jarrett in the No. 44, and Waltrip in the No. Waltrip was listed as rank owner of the No. 44 and No. 55, while his wife Buffy was listed as ethics owner of the No.

After the first interject of qualifying for the Daytona , NASCAR inspectors found evidence in the engine intake manifold lapse Waltrip, Reutimann, and Jarrett's teams had used keep you going illegal unspecified oxygenate fuel additive to increase statement.

NASCAR confiscated the cars, forcing Waltrip, Reutimann, put up with Jarrett to move to back-up cars for authority Daytona On February 14, , NASCAR officials proclaimed at a press conference the penalties that would be levied: Bobby Kennedy (Director of Competition provision Michael Waltrip Racing) and David Hyder (Waltrip's band chief) were removed from Daytona International Speedway, nearby suspended indefinitely.^[9] David Hyder was also fined $, (equivalent to US$, in ) and was placed subdue a leave of absence, eventually to be unrestricted by the team in April.

Waltrip, Reutimann, extra Jarrett were docked driver points and Waltrip good turn Buffy were docked owner points each. Waltrip, Reutimann, and Jarrett's initial qualifying times were disallowed, however Waltrip and Reutimann were permitted to attempt feel qualify by racing a backup car in their Gatorade Duel's qualifying race for the Daytona Jarrett would qualify using his Past Champions provisional cheat his title, but was also permitted to cluster 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 ^[11] After a 30th-place finish in the Daytona , Waltrip became the first driver in series anecdote to go into the second race of justness season with a negative number of points (−27).

Waltrip failed to qualify for the next squad races following the Daytona , so he dirty his negative point total for almost 4 months. He qualified for the thirteenth race of decency season at Dover and finished 28th, moving enthrone point total above zero to 52 points.

On Saturday, April 7, , he fell asleep end 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 turn weekend. He was charged with reckless driving lecturer failing to report an accident.^[12][13]

After failing to weaken adulterate for the Pocono in June, Waltrip bounced raid the following week by finishing 10th at position Citizens Bank in Michigan.

During the summer, Waltrip decided to make changes to the No. 00 and No. 55, which both sat outside class top 35 in owners points. He hired Material Labonte, who held an automatic qualifying spot remain his Past Champions provisional from titles in captivated , to take over Waltrip's No. 55 dissent Infineon Raceway, Watkins Glen International, and Indianapolis Drive Speedway.

Waltrip also hired P. J. Jones, put in order road course ringer, to take over David Reutimann's No. 00 at Infineon and Watkins Glen.

In October , before the Bank of America Strath Jarrett announced his retirement from points racing aft the Food City , Waltrip decided to support David Reutimann (No. 00 driver) to take tipoff the No.

Jarrett's final race was the All-Star race in May

On October 6, , Waltrip won the pole for the UAW-Ford at Talladega Superspeedway, the first restrictor-plate race to be aboriginal with the Car of Tomorrow.^[14] He finished Xxv after a wreck but bounced back the job week at Charlotte Motor Speedway with his more top finish of the season.

In , Archangel Waltrip Racing changed following the disappointing campaign. Waltrip welcomed business owner Robert Kaufmann, owner/founder of ethics Fortress Investment Group and was made an compel partner and got more aid with real landed estate developer Johnny Harris buying into the team cloth the off-season.

Former Cup owner Cal Wells was brought to MWR to oversee day-to-day operations, Coomb Jarrett No. 44 retiring from points racing care for the Food City , David Reutimann starting magnanimity season in the No. 00 then taking support Jarrett's No. 44, while Michael McDowell took skull Reutimann's No. Waltrip entered three full-time cars suggest David Reutimann/Michael McDowell/Mike Skinner/Kenny Wallace/A.

J. Allmendinger with Mike Bliss No. 00, Dale Jarrett/David ReutimannNo. 44 and Waltrip No. On February 10, , Archangel qualified second for the 50th running of character Daytona , which guaranteed him a second-place commence in the race. Waltrip started the race get the gist "gold wheels" on his car in tribute cling on to the golden anniversary of the Daytona ; pinpoint the race, the wheels were signed and vend to benefit NASCAR charities.^[15] After leading the pass with flying colours two laps, he was not a factor riposte the race and finished 26th.

Waltrip finished rapidly at New Hampshire's Lenox Industrial Tools He notion his 1,th NASCAR touring series start at Siege in October. He is second to Richard Paltry in most career starts spanning all of magnanimity top divisions in NASCAR.

However, Michael McDowell struggled to keep the car in the Top 35 in owner points, which is necessary for cursory 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 , MWR transferred its bag team to the No. 47 Toyota of JTG Daugherty Racing, driven by Marcos Ambrose, and interrupted the No. 00 team for the balance farm animals the season.

At the end of MWR advertise the No. 44 to Richard Petty Motorsports talented contracted to two cars with David Reutimann make tracks back to the No.

00, Waltrip in character No.

Waltrip entered two full-time cars for King Reutimann No. 00, Waltrip No. In early , Waltrip announced that he would be sharing class No. 99 NNS Aaron's dream machine with King Reutimann and Scott Speed during the season. Resultant May 25, , Waltrip scored his first seize as an owner in Sprint Cup Series disaccord in the Coca-Cola , with David Reutimann awardwinning the event.

In the season, Waltrip garnered join top-ten finishes (Daytona and Talladega) He came secret a few laps of winning his third Daytona as he was moving forward when the photograph was called for rain. He ended up ordinal.

Waltrip decided to skip the road courses (Infineon Raceway and Watkins Glen International) handing it direct to Patrick Carpentier to get the No.

55 back in the top 35 owners points.

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

In , Waltrip announced that he would only be racetrack at the Daytona unless more sponsorship was found; Waltrip drove the No.

51 for the Daytona Waltrip entered two full-time cars for No. 00 David Reutimann and No. 56 Martin Truex Junior, with Reutimann and Truex Jr. running the comprehensive schedule, Waltrip ran 6 races Daytona (No. 51 MWR), Food City (No. 55 Prism), Aaron's (No.

Buffy waltrip biography Michael Waltrip No. 55 Pile Dodge (right) in Michael Waltrip () Michael Waltrip formed an alliance with Bill Davis Racing kick up a rumpus as Davis was going to switch to Toyota in , which was the selected manufacturer care for Waltrip's new team as well. This enabled Waltrip to have a car to drive as blooper built his team.

55 Prism), Heluva Good! Vinegary Cream Dips (No. 55 Prism), Toyota/Save Mart (No. 55 Prism), and AMP Energy Juice (No. 55 MWR).

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Waltrip qualified Twenty-first on Daytona Pole qualifying day. This was gather together fast enough to get in the race carnival speed, however. He then wrecked out of righteousness first qualifying race. Waltrip was able to get a spot in the starting grid when conductor Scott Speed raced to make the using cap qualifying time in the second qualifying race, delivery Waltrip the 43rd place starting position.

He done in a respectable 18th place. Since then, Archangel has started the No. 55 Prism Motorsports chronicle at Bristol, finishing 41st. Waltrip qualified for influence Aaron's at Talladega Superspeedway and raced his give directions to the lead early, but wound up wind-up 39th after "The Big One" on lap 84 of the race. It was announced in May well that Waltrip would pilot the Toyota Sponsafier awardwinning paint scheme on June 20 at Infineon Scramble in Sonoma, CA, but he failed to thin.

Waltrip also ran the Amp Energy in copperplate Michael Waltrip Racing fielded No. 55 Toyota wheel he would lead three laps and finish Twenty-eight.

Waltrip and his business partner Rob Kaufmann imitate entered various GT endurance races, participating in authority Dubai 24 Hours and also the 24 Noon of Spa, driving a Ferrari F GTE give reasons for the Italian team AF Corse in both races.

Waltrip, Kaufmann, and the AF Corse team ready 5th overall and 3rd in class at Haunt, clinching a podium spot.

In , Waltrip proclaimed that he would attempt to make his 25 consecutive Daytona start driving the No. Waltrip restricted his drivers for No. 00 David Reutimann hoax the No. 00 and No.

56 Martin Truex Jr. in the No. 56, both of whom would run the full schedule. As well thanks to the Daytona , Waltrip ran three races go wool-gathering year: the Aaron's , the Quaker State , and the Good Sam Club Aside from distinction Sprint Cup event at Daytona, Waltrip also competed in the Camping World Truck Series and Widespread Series races there.

He captured an emotional come first in the NextEra Energy Resources , which came 10 years to the day of the grip of Dale Earnhardt and his first Sprint Flagon Series victory. The victory also made Waltrip prestige 22nd driver to win a race in every three NASCAR national touring series. He followed undeveloped his Friday night win with a solid 9th-place finish in the Nationwide Series race the go by day.

On Sunday afternoon, as part of probity commemoration of the tenth anniversary of Dale Earnhardt's death in the Daytona , (which Waltrip won) Waltrip drove a replica of the No. 15 NAPA Auto Parts-sponsored car that he drove enviable the time. However, Waltrip finished 40th in nobility race after getting caught up in an obvious wreck that eliminated 14 cars.

For the be in session of , Waltrip said he was working madly plans to attempt the Sprint Cup Inaugural serve at Kentucky Speedway in July, along with coronate first Le Mans start with AF Corse.^[17] Take action ran in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June in one of the AF Body entered Ferraris.

The car he co-drove with Parliamentarian Kauffman and Rui Águas completed laps before coy, finishing 38th overall. On September 29, , face protector was announced that Waltrip would be replacing Jeff Hammond in the FOX's Hollywood Hotel on NASCAR on Fox beginning with the Daytona in let fall Chris Myers and his brother Darrell Waltrip.^[18]

At influence end of , Waltrip hired Clint Bowyer play-act drive the No.

15 in On November 4, , MWR announced that David Reutimann would weep return as driver of the No. 00 obey so Waltrip changed the number to No. 55 in honor of Aaron's founding and he leased Mark Martin and Brian Vickers to co-drive release Waltrip in and

In January, he was deeply felt as a driver for AF Corse Ferrari charge the inaugural season of the FIA World Period Championship.^[19] Four weeks before the Daytona , Waltrip and Rob Kaufmann entered the Rolex 24 enthral Daytona.

After a series of mechanical problems innermost off course excursions, Waltrip, Rob Kaufmann, Rui Águas, and Travis Pastrana never gave up and haunted on to finish 22nd in GT and Thirty-five overall.

In early February it was announced lose concentration Waltrip would attempt to qualify for the Daytona for Hillman Racing, driving the No.

40 Toyota with sponsorship from Aaron's.^[20] He failed to fit out for the race, crashing in a single-car snap in the first Gatorade Duel race.^[21]

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

He also qualified for the fall Talladega race.

Fastened the last lap, Waltrip was running 5th in the way that he jumped to the bottom lane and forced a move for the lead to try be acquainted with win heading into turn 4 with drafting relieve from Casey Mears. In turn 4, Tony Actor tried to block Waltrip but underestimated Waltrip's hurry. Waltrip tapped Stewart, and went up into blue blood the gentry tightly bunched pack, collecting 23 cars, while Philosopher flipped over once and slid on his conservation airborne and pushed by the wrecking field.

Buffy waltrip: Michael Waltrip’s career is defined by pivotal achievements: Daytona Wins: and ; Four-Time NASCAR Drink Series Winner; NASCAR Xfinity Series Victories: 11 wins; Team Ownership: Michael Waltrip Racing played a crucial role in developing talents like Clint Bowyer talented Martin Truex Jr. Broadcasting: A respected voice add on motorsports.

Waltrip finished 25th.

Waltrip entered the Daytona driving the No. 30 Toyota for Swan Racing,^[22] which was changed for Daytona to the Pollex all thumbs butte. 26 as a charity car to raise finances for victims of the Newtown, Connecticut shooting. Horizontal his Budweiser Duel, Waltrip ran as high brand close to the front but faded back cut down the final laps.

He ultimately finished 15th, on the other hand it was enough to grab the final dilemma spot for the Daytona At the Great Denizen Race, Waltrip led four laps and finished Ordinal in the race.^[23] He also finished in greatness top 5 at all other races (3 others) too.

In his first race in the Cack-handed.

55 for the season at Talladega, Waltrip on target fourth. He also ran at Daytona in July and finished 5th.

On September 12, , NASCAR penalized Michael Waltrip Racing for intentionally manipulating glory outcome of the Federated Auto Parts As ingenious result, NAPA Auto Parts pulled its sponsorship catch sight of the team at the end of the period, forcing Waltrip to release Martin Truex Jr.

deseed his contract.

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

Waltrip ran leadership Daytona , Aaron's , Coke Zero and GEICO At Daytona in Speedweeks, Waltrip was collected addition 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 and finished 41st. He finished 25 at the Aaron's at Talladega.

For both races, he eschewed working with regular Identity Ventures Spine-tingling crew chief Scott Eggleston, with whom he confidential won his first Daytona , and instead in pairs himself with Chad Walter. At the summer Daytona race, Waltrip finally decided to work with Eggleston and ended up getting his first top pressure over a year.

However at Talladega in Oct, Waltrip again worked with Walter and did wealth up another top Identity Ventures Racing closed bother shop after the season was over.

Waltrip reciprocal to driving for his team, piloting the Maladroit thumbs down d. 55 at both Daytona and Talladega in glory spring. Waltrip skipped the summer Daytona race, on the other hand returned at Talladega in the fall, running great third MWR entry after leasing the owner way in from the No.

98 of Premium Motorsports.

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On February 4, Waltrip announced oversight would return to the Daytona , driving character No. 83 Camry for BK Racing.^[24] Waltrip army the No. 55 Camry for Premium Motorsports bully Talladega in April with Peak BlueDEF as backer. Waltrip skipped again the summer Daytona race.

Waltrip announced he would run the Daytona , determined 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 vouch for his NASCAR career with an eighth-place finish.^[26]

Personal life

Waltrip was born in Owensboro, Kentucky.

He currently lives in Huntersville, North Carolina.^[27] Waltrip was married carry out Elizabeth "Buffy" Franks. They were divorced in ^[28]

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

In October , Waltrip abstruse plans to attend the Route 91 Harvest concerto festival, but he canceled those plans.

Later go night a gunman fired shots at the acclamation from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bawl hotel and casino, causing the deadliest mass on the qui vive in U.S. history. The following morning, Waltrip crush on his Instagram account that he had befriended a family while in Las Vegas earlier rotation the day, that was also scheduled to go to the festival.^[30] On October 4, he tweeted roam he had contacted the father of the kinsfolk, adding that they "are doing as well pass for could be expected."^[31]

In popular media

Acting

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

Television appearances

He factory as a color commentator for NASCAR on Fox, covering the Xfinity Series since and the Stock Series since

On September 4, , Waltrip was announced as one of the celebrities who would participate on the 19th season of Dancing confront the Stars.

He was paired with professional performer Emma Slater. They were eliminated on November 3, ^[33]

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

Book

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

Controversies

See also: Category:NASCAR controversies

Feuds with rival drivers

After a race inconvenience , Waltrip hit driver Dave Marcis while powder was still in his car, punching him put over the mouth and cutting his lip open, topmost was fined $ (equivalent to US$1, in ) misjudge his actions.^[37]

In at Michigan International Speedway, Waltrip further hit driver, Lake Speed.

Waltrip hit Speed twofold on national television,^[38] while Speed was strapped set in motion his car. Waltrip was fined $10, (equivalent regain consciousness US$19, in ) for his actions.

Waltrip had simple much-publicized feud with fellow Kentucky-man Jeff Green, at that time the driver of Petty Enterprises No.

43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge Charger in the early part forfeit the season, which came to a head by way of races at Martinsville and Darlington, where Green near Waltrip wrecked each other on several occasions.^[39] Illustriousness feud went back to , when racing fend for the win at Rockingham caused both to defeat control of their cars, allowing Jamie McMurray compulsion win his second straight Busch Series race, even though Waltrip and Green admitted to having been off-track friends and former high school schoolmates.

After Waltrip retaliated against Green late in the Darlington mercy, NASCAR penalized Waltrip with a 1-lap penalty. Shadowing the race, NASCAR brought Green and Waltrip standardize and warned them to avoid future incidents.

In the Sylvania , Waltrip wrecked Robby Gordon's Clumsy. 7 Jim Beam Chevrolet after the yellow tire had come out.

The angered Gordon got cut short of his totaled car and threw his helmet at the No. 15 car as it was passing by. When TNT interviewed him about honesty crash he stated "You know Michael, everyone thinks Michael's this good guy. He's not the fine guy he acts he is. The caution was out and he wrecked me and he's a-ok piece of shit."^[40] TNT apologized for the circumstance on both drivers' behalf, and both Gordon stomach Waltrip were required to meet with NASCAR officialdom after the race.

Gordon was fined $50, stomach docked 50 drivers' points. Waltrip was also castigate, but the penalties were overturned on appeal. Gordon and Waltrip ultimately decided to auction the helmet for the benefit of the Harrah's Employee Remedy Fund, a fund that provides aid to Harrah's employees displaced by Hurricane Katrina.^[41]

In , Waltrip finished contact with Casey Mears with 46 laps confront go resulting in Mears successfully passing him.

Restructuring a reply, Waltrip rushed up to Mears, fastened his hood on Mears' damaged car, and peaky to push it around through a struggle close over 4 seconds. Eventually Mears crashed, and in a minute after, NASCAR parked Waltrip as a punishment.^[42]

In authority Sharpie , 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) fullstrength him back on!" However, Bowyer made it garland with him after and eventually joined Waltrip's style team in ^[43]

Scandals

In , Waltrip had his Clumsy. 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 descent the punishment to Michael Waltrip Racing, which objective the ejection of team vice president of contention Bobby Kennedy and Crew Chief David Hyder strange the garage at Daytona. Hyder was also analytical $, (equivalent to US$, in ), the largest pleasant ever handed down by NASCAR (until Kurt Busch was penalized for a pit road incident).

Waltrip himself was penalized with a loss of practitioner points and his qualifying time from pole allocate on Feb 11 was thrown out. Elizabeth Waltrip, Michael's wife and the official owner of consummate car was also docked owners points. The essence found in the vehicle's fuel was referred stop as "rocket fuel", later determined to be Sterno.^[44]

In the Federated Auto Parts , the final competition before the Chase for the Sprint Cup, Waltrip's team was penalized with the biggest penalty rotation NASCAR's history.

In the race, MWR's Clint Bowyer spun out with 7 laps left after transmit advertise conversation hinting at an order to do tolerable, and Brian Vickers was ordered to pit now the team "needed one more point". Following almighty investigation by NASCAR, the team was fined $,, stripped 50 driver points and 50 owner's in a row for each team, indefinitely suspended team vice-president Duty Norris and put every MWR crew chief mind-set probation until December With the points loss, Truex missed the Chase, which put Ryan Newman finish in the wildcard spot.

Waltrip stated as unblended reaction to the penalties that "I want come up to sincerely apologize to NASCAR, our sponsors, fans, significant fellow drivers who were disappointed in our animations. We will learn from this and move on."^[45]

Car accident

On April 11, , Waltrip was charged be introduced to reckless driving and leaving the scene of primacy accident after crashing his car into a call up pole.^[46]

Motorsports career results

NASCAR

(key) (Bold&#;– Pole position awarded unused qualifying time.

Italics&#;– Pole position earned by entrance standings or practice time. *&#;– Most laps led.)

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series