Michael Waltrip

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Michael Waltrip

Michael Waltrip

Waltrip wins EA Sports 500 at Talladega

About Michael Waltrip...
Birthdate: April 30, 1963 Birth Place: Owensboro, KY Height/Weight: 6' - 5" / 220 lbs.	Residence: Sherrills Ford, NC Wife: Elizabeth "Buffy" Children: Caitlin (13), Macy (5)

Following in the footsteps of Winston Cup Champion and older brother Darrell, Michael began racing go-karts in the Midwest in the late 1970s and early 80's.

His stock car career took the green flag in 1981 when he won the Mini-Modified division track championship at Kentucky Motor Speedway. In 1982, Michael competed in the Goody's Dash Series. He won the Goody's Dash series title in 1983 and earned the series Most Popular Driver award in 1983 and 1984.

Michael Waltrip's role has evolved since his inception into the Busch Series in 1988. He emerged from a driver, to an owner who currently manages and drives his Busch Series entry. He is running a limited schedule for the 2003 season with his sponsor Aaron's in the No. 99 "Dream Machine."

Michael's most memorable Busch Series race was the 1993 spring race at Bristol. He won the race and made the first ever backwards lap around the track in memory of his fallen competitor, Alan Kulwicki. The memorial Polish victory lap was a tribute to the Winston Cup Series champion who had been killed several days earlier. He also proposed to his wife, Buffy, in victory lane that day.

In 2001 Michael joined a winning partnership. Dale Earnhardt finally said the words one guy had been waiting to hear for quite some time, "I'm glad to announce that Michael Waltrip will be driving for DEI in the NAPA Monte Carlo for the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup season." Eyebrows raised when 38-year-old Waltrip was picked to pilot the NO. 15 Chevrolet on the Winston cup circuit, but for Waltrip, it was a long time coming.

Michael and Dale had been friends and competitors for a long time. Michael even stepped in to drive Earnhardt's Busch Series car a couple of times in the early 1990's. That friendship grew and the idea of teaming together had been brought up more than once since Earnhardt started his DEI Winston Cup program. Timing is everything, and it never seemed to be the right time for the pair. All that changed in September of 2000 when Michael became the newest member of the DEI/NAPA family.

#15 NAPA Chevrolet

Some of Michael's Favorites

Kind of Music: All Kinds
Song(s): "River to the Sea" - Steve Wariner
Color: Blue
Race Track: Daytona
Restaurant: The Palm
Holiday: Christmas
Actor: Tom Cruise
Childhood Toy: Slot cars / tracks
Charity: Motor Racing Outreach
Hobby: Basketball, Golf
Food: Chicken-n-Dumplins
TV Show: News Radio
Vehicle: Chevy Avalanche
Movie: As Good As It Gets
Vacation Spot: Bahamas
Day of the Week: Sunday
Actress: Julia Roberts
Grown-up Toy: New Holland Skid Steer
Sport to Watch: Kentucky Basketball
Author: John Grisham

#15 Stars and Stripes Scheme - Daytona

YEAR-BY-YEAR
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

2002 Celebrated Pepsi 400 victory becoming 16th driver to win both the Daytona 500 and the Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway. Won the Gatorade Twin-125 qualifying race. Finished 14th in the point's championship securing 10 top-10 and four top-five finishes.

2001 Won the Daytona 500, his first Winston Cup career victory. Scored three top-five finishes. Ended season 24th in final points standings.

2000 Hired by Dale Earnhardt Inc. to drive the No.15 NAPA Chevrolet in 2001.

1999 Posted one top-five finish and led two restictor-plate races after joining Mattei Motorsports.

1998 Recorded five top-10 finishes and finished 17th overall in final season with the Wood Brothers.

1997 Logged six top-10 finishes on his way to an 18th-place finish in the final point's standings.

1996 Won "The Winston", becoming the first driver ever to win the event after transferring from the Winston Open. He Finished 14th in the Winston Cup points standings and won over $1 million in one season for the first time in his career in his inaugural season with the Wood Brothers.

1995 Tied his career-best, 12th-place finish in the final point's standings and posted two top-fives and eight top-10s in his last season driving for Chuck Rider.

1994 Finished third in the Winston Select at Talladega. Ended season 12th in the final points standings.

1993 Credits Busch Series win at Bristol as most memorable racing moment. Waltrip drove the first-ever Polish victory lap in memory of Alan Kulwicki. Posted five top 10s in the Winston Cup Series and proposed to his wife in Victory Lane.

1992 Recorded one top-five and two top-10 finishes.

1991 Grabbed both of his career poles within a three-week period (Dover and Michigan). Claimed four top-five finishes and 12 top 10s.

1990 Drove to a career-high five top-five finishes. Posted 10 top 10s in 29 starts.

1989 Claimed five top-10 finishes and ended season 18th in final Winston Cup points standings.

1988 Recorded his first top-five finish at Pocono by finishing second.

1987 Posted his first top-10 finish at Martinsville (10th).

1986 Made 28 starts in his first full-time Winston Cup season.

1985 Made his NASCAR Winston Cup debut in the Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte. He started 24th and finished 28th.

#99 Aaron's Dream Machine - Busch Series

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