WALTRIP’S DAYTONA MEMORIES:
2001 JULY RACE & ‘84 REAGAN VISIT
CORNELIUS, N.C. – No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine driver Michael Waltrip makes his third 2012 start Saturday night in the 400-mile NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Daytona International Speedway. Two of his favorite memories came at this race as both a driver and a fan. In 2001 he finished second to Dale Earnhardt Jr. completing a Dale Earnhardt Inc. sweep of the two top spots just months after Dale Earnhardt Sr. lost his life.
In 1984 Waltrip drove with friends from their Owensboro, Ky., home to sit in the stands and watch his older brother Darrell race. It was the weekend Richard Petty earned his 200th victory and President Ronald Reagan gave the command to start the race. Waltrip and friends weren’t invited to the post-race picnic with President Reagan, but Waltrip remembers watching the president who he admires most celebrate with one of the most iconic figures in NASCAR.
IN HIS NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLING BOOK “IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE” WALTRIP RECALLED THE 2001 JULY RACE AT DAYTONA: “Crossing the finish line one-two—with me being the two guy—was absolutely perfect. I was ecstatic, and so were the fans. After the race was over, the cheers were so loud I could hear them over my engine. I hadn’t ever heard anything louder than my engine before. But that night in Daytona, the fans were that loud. When Dale Junior completed his victory lap, he pulled onto the infield grass at the start-finish line and began spinning his car around, waving his arm in the air. The crowd was going nuts. I needed to be part of that. So I pulled my car onto the grass beside Junior’s when he stopped spinning. As I pulled up, Junior ran over and leaned inside my car. ‘Can you believe this …” he said. That was awesome.’ Listen to those people. And he was right. It was awesome. The capacity crowd continued to cheer. Loudly. A hundred and fifty thousand people, maybe more, were there when the green flag was thrown. After the checkered, all of them had gotten up from their seats. But not a one of them had left. They were standing, cheering, screaming and celebrating our amazing finish. And they were celebrating the life of Dale Earnhardt.”
WALTRIP ON RONALD REAGAN: “I loved Ronald Reagan. He is one of my heroes. When I was a kid I admired him so much. I loved him running our country and being our leader. I looked up to Mr. Reagan. I respected him for what he believed in. I loved his attitude and how he was a no nonsense guy. I remember thinking that I want to have that guy’s spirit and live my life like him one day. I have just always looked up to him.”
Notes
· Click here to order In The Blink of an Eye
· CAREER: Saturday’s race at Daytona International Speedway marks Waltrip’s 769th career Sprint Cup start. He’s started 1,056 races in the Cup, Nationwide and truck series.
· MWR STATS: MWR’s Toyotas are seventh (Bowyer), eighth (Truex) and 13th (No. 55) in 2012 owner points. MWR and Roush Fenway Racing are the only teams with that many in the top 13. Bowyer and Truex are also seventh and eighth in driver points which would qualify each for a berth in the 2012 Chase for the Sprint Cup.
· It’s Christmas in July at Aaron’s. So Aaron’s want you to have a $25 Aaron’s gift card. Get yours today at Aarons.com.
· POLES: The No. 55 has won three poles (Phoenix, Richmond & Dover) in 2012 with Mark Martin behind the wheel.
· WALTRIP AT DAYTONA: Waltrip will make his 49th NSCS start at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday night. In his previous six starts Waltrip has three wins, six top-five and 13 top-10 finishes. The Kentucky native has led 251 laps in his 48 starts, averages a 17th place starting position and finish of 21st.
· LEADING THE WAY: MWR’s Toyotas have led 620 laps in the first 17 Sprint Cup Series races this season. Truex leads the MWR charge with 318 laps led, followed by Brian Vickers with 125, Martin with 79, Bowyer with 77 and Waltrip with 21.
· GOODYEAR “GIVES BACK” FOR THIRD STRAIGHT YEAR: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, exclusive tire supplier of NASCAR’s three major national series, is honoring the U.S. Armed Forces with the launch of the “Goodyear Gives Back” program, a charitable fund-raising effort to benefit Support Our Troops. This organization helps to boost the morale of active duty troops and their families through care packages sent to the front lines and programs for those at home. Goodyear is donating up to $250,000* during the program (July 1 – August 31), and running special “Support Our Troops” tires in the Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series races over the July 4th holiday race weekend. Fans can join in by visiting www.Goodyear.com/GivesBack, where they can bid on authentic race-used Goodyear NASCAR tires autographed by drivers and other racing memorabilia, make direct donations, and purchase limited edition Goodyear Gives Back merchandise – all to benefit the Support Our Troops organization.
NO. 55 PIT CREW ROSTER
Crew Chief – Rodney Childers
Car Chief – Steve Channing
Front Changer – Ryan Langley
Rear Changer – Shannon Myers
Front Carrier – Chris Hall
Rear Carrier – Mark Kennerly
Jackman – Tony Cardamone
Gas man – Brian Dheel
2nd Gas Man- Greg Moore
Spotter – Jeremy Brickhouse
Engineer – Billy Scott
2nd Engineer – Scott McDougall
Tires – Kevin White
Eng.Tuner- Denny Chandler (TRD)
Shocks – Mike (Nook) McCarville
Truck Driver – Glenn Shano
2nd Truck Driver – John Murphy
Pit Coach – Greg Miller
No. 55 LINEUP
July 15 NHMS – Vickers
July 29 Indy – Martin
Aug. 5 Pocono – Martin
Aug. 12 Watkins Glen- Vickers
Aug. 19 Michigan – Martin
Aug. 25 Bristol – Vickers
Sept. 2 Atlanta – Martin
Sept. 8 Richmond – Martin
Sept. 16 Chicago – Martin
Sept. 23 NHMS – Vickers
Sept. 30 Dover – Martin
Oct. 7 Talladega – Waltrip
Oct. 13 Charlotte – Martin
Oct. 21 Kansas – Martin
Oct. 28 Martinsville- Vickers
Nov. 4 Texas – Martin
Nov. 11 Phoenix – Martin
Nov. 18 Homestead – Martin
TELEVSION SCHEDULE
P1 4 p.m. SPEED
HH 6:30 p.m. SPEED
Qual 4 p.m. SPEED
Race 7:30 p.m. TNT
