TOM SORENSEN
CORNELIUS --Michael Waltrip remembers going to Daytona International Speedway three months ago for his first race as a team owner.
"Boy was I happy," Waltrip says. "I look around and think, `I get to race with you guys. Hey Mr. Hendrick. Hey Chip (Ganassi). How's everybody doing? It's Mike over here. I got my stuff here. My stuff's got chrome wheels on it. See that cool W?' "
The chrome wheels and W are still cool and easy to distinguish since most Sundays the car is parked.
Since February, Waltrip has seen his team busted by NASCAR and his crew chief run out of the sport for using a banned fuel additive; run his SUV off the road and into a telephone pole less than a mile from his house; failed to get his Toyota into the last 10 races.
Here's how bad it has become. Traffic is backed up off exit 28 Thursday morning and when I see a Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota pickup in front of me I believe I know why.
"If I were writing this story I'd want people to know that I'm just thankful," says Waltrip, 44. "Just getting to race a car -- nobody ever said I'd get to do that. I've been fortunate and lucky."
Waltrip stops at Starbuck's for a sunrise muffin and a cup of coffee, adds three packs of Sweet'N Low and a little cream, and drives his electric blue Toyota Tundra 4X4 to Race World USA.
Race World USA is the 140,000 square foot home of Michael Waltrip Racing, and like no race shop I have seen. Fans can take a conventional tour or pay $15 for a pass.
The pass enables fans to get so close that if they leave with grease beneath their nails and a MWR insignia on their shirt it will be no surprise. The shop opened to fans Wednesday.
"We want to take fans inside the shop and inside the sport," he says. "We want people to know why race cars do what they do, and we think they care."
Fans, in turn, care what Waltrip thinks. Although he has never come close to a championship, fans love him. He's tall, looks good, is funny, signs autographs, and has a famous last name and a passion for his sport.
Because fans care, some questions: You think the penalties NASCAR has issued for cheating have been consistent?
"What I'm telling you is that while it was devastating for my team it doesn't appear to be that big of a deal for anybody else," says Waltrip, citing Ray Evernham and DEI. "Just get caught, pay your fine and go on."
You drove for DEI. Surprised about the split between owner Teresa Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr.?
"Nope," says Waltrip.
He pauses and adds: "We could say that -- and I'm joking when I say this so be sure and say I was joking -- you could say my departure from DEI was the beginning of the end."
He said jokingly?
"He said jokingly," Waltrip says.
Are you and Junior buddies?
"We're not buddies, but I love him," says Waltrip. "He runs with a different crowd. My wife (Buffy) wouldn't let me hang out with them even if I wanted to."
What was your relationship like with Teresa?
"I know her as a friend," says Waltrip. "We never had cross words about anything. But there was a time ... when, if she knew I wanted to talk to her about my race car or team, it wasn't happening."
Can you run a team that way?
"Well, how's it going (for DEI)?" Waltrip asks.
About hitting the pole, leaving his Toyota SUV on the side of the road and walking home, he says fatigue, and not alcohol, was the cause.
Waltrip adds: "You have a wreck late at night and no one gets hurt and you don't know why -- other than God blessed me and he didn't think it was the place for me to leave this world or the time."
Waltrip admits he underestimated the enormity of starting a team and with a new manufacturer. But he says he now has a crew chief who has made the team his, and everybody in the shop can sense improvement.
Once the car is competitive, Waltrip has no doubts he will be.
"I think that I'm a good race car driver," he says. "It will never be written that I'm a great race car driver."
Are you?
"In my mind I am," he says. "I don't care what anybody else thinks. I think if I get all my (stuff) together nobody is going to beat me."
But after failing to qualify for 10 straight races, do you feel humbled?
"I didn't need to be humbled," says Waltrip. "I'm humble enough."
IN MY OPINION Tom Sorensen
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CORNELIUS --Michael Waltrip remembers going to Daytona International Speedway three months ago for his first race as a team owner.
"Boy was I happy," Waltrip says. "I look around and think, `I get to race with you guys. Hey Mr. Hendrick. Hey Chip (Ganassi). How's everybody doing? It's Mike over here. I got my stuff here. My stuff's got chrome wheels on it. See that cool W?' "
The chrome wheels and W are still cool and easy to distinguish since most Sundays the car is parked.
Since February, Waltrip has seen his team busted by NASCAR and his crew chief run out of the sport for using a banned fuel additive; run his SUV off the road and into a telephone pole less than a mile from his house; failed to get his Toyota into the last 10 races.
Here's how bad it has become. Traffic is backed up off exit 28 Thursday morning and when I see a Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota pickup in front of me I believe I know why.
"If I were writing this story I'd want people to know that I'm just thankful," says Waltrip, 44. "Just getting to race a car -- nobody ever said I'd get to do that. I've been fortunate and lucky."
Waltrip stops at Starbuck's for a sunrise muffin and a cup of coffee, adds three packs of Sweet'N Low and a little cream, and drives his electric blue Toyota Tundra 4X4 to Race World USA.
Race World USA is the 140,000 square foot home of Michael Waltrip Racing, and like no race shop I have seen. Fans can take a conventional tour or pay $15 for a pass.
The pass enables fans to get so close that if they leave with grease beneath their nails and a MWR insignia on their shirt it will be no surprise. The shop opened to fans Wednesday.
"We want to take fans inside the shop and inside the sport," he says. "We want people to know why race cars do what they do, and we think they care."
Fans, in turn, care what Waltrip thinks. Although he has never come close to a championship, fans love him. He's tall, looks good, is funny, signs autographs, and has a famous last name and a passion for his sport.
Because fans care, some questions: You think the penalties NASCAR has issued for cheating have been consistent?
"What I'm telling you is that while it was devastating for my team it doesn't appear to be that big of a deal for anybody else," says Waltrip, citing Ray Evernham and DEI. "Just get caught, pay your fine and go on."
You drove for DEI. Surprised about the split between owner Teresa Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr.?
"Nope," says Waltrip.
He pauses and adds: "We could say that -- and I'm joking when I say this so be sure and say I was joking -- you could say my departure from DEI was the beginning of the end."
He said jokingly?
"He said jokingly," Waltrip says.
Are you and Junior buddies?
"We're not buddies, but I love him," says Waltrip. "He runs with a different crowd. My wife (Buffy) wouldn't let me hang out with them even if I wanted to."
What was your relationship like with Teresa?
"I know her as a friend," says Waltrip. "We never had cross words about anything. But there was a time ... when, if she knew I wanted to talk to her about my race car or team, it wasn't happening."
Can you run a team that way?
"Well, how's it going (for DEI)?" Waltrip asks.
About hitting the pole, leaving his Toyota SUV on the side of the road and walking home, he says fatigue, and not alcohol, was the cause.
Waltrip adds: "You have a wreck late at night and no one gets hurt and you don't know why -- other than God blessed me and he didn't think it was the place for me to leave this world or the time."
Waltrip admits he underestimated the enormity of starting a team and with a new manufacturer. But he says he now has a crew chief who has made the team his, and everybody in the shop can sense improvement.
Once the car is competitive, Waltrip has no doubts he will be.
"I think that I'm a good race car driver," he says. "It will never be written that I'm a great race car driver."
Are you?
"In my mind I am," he says. "I don't care what anybody else thinks. I think if I get all my (stuff) together nobody is going to beat me."
But after failing to qualify for 10 straight races, do you feel humbled?
"I didn't need to be humbled," says Waltrip. "I'm humble enough."
IN MY OPINION Tom Sorensen
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