Tag Archives: Michael Waltrip

Michael Waltrip Hopes to go Out on High Note, Too

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Michael Waltrip, driver of the #15 Aaron’s Toyota, during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 59th Annual DAYTONA 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 19, 2017 in Daytona Beach, Florida. Photo – Jared C Tilton/Getty Images

Even though he has two Daytona 500 victories on his resume. Michael Waltrip has unfinished business at the Birthplace of Speed.

Waltrip, who first ran the Great American race in 1987, doesn’t want his last memory of the track to be the 30th-place finish he posted in last year’s race.

“Well, when we ran last year’s Daytona 500, it didn’t go well,” Waltrip said on Wednesday morning during Daytona 500 Media Day at Daytona International Speedway. “We didn’t run good, and I guess we got into a little bit of a fender-bender and messed up the car, and I finished 30th, and I just didn’t want to quit like that.

“I went to Talladega and we got a 12th-place finish, and I ran up front a little bit, and then I decided we would just try to have one more competitive run down here this year. You’ve got to quit sometime, and the partnership with (sponsor) Aaron’s has been important to me. They could wrap their arms around us doing a final race together.”

NASCAR XFINITY Series, Alsco 300 at Kentucky Preview

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NASCAR XFINITY Series teams will race the Alsco 300 for 300 miles over 200 laps at Kentucky Speedway on Friday, July 8th.  Television coverage starts at 8:30 pm ET on NBCSN with radio coverage available at PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.

Brand New Kentucky Speedway Awaits the NASCAR XFINITY Series

Crew chiefs can toss out their old notes because Kentucky Speedway underwent a full repave during the off-season and its new surface debuts this weekend when all three of NASCAR’s national series head to The Bluegrass State.

In addition to the repave, turns one and two had their banking increased from 14 to 17 degrees. The racing groove narrowed in the process. Turns three and four stay at 14 degrees. Continue reading →

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Coke Zero 400 at Daytona Preview

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NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams are at Daytona International Speedway for the second time this season as the series starts counting down last ten races before the Chase begins at Chicagoland Speedway in September.  On Saturday, July 2nd they’ll race 400 miles over 160 laps in the Coke Zero 400 powered by Coca-Cola with NBC coverage starting at 7 pm ET and a green flag at 7:45 pm ET. Radio coverage is available on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.

Smoke Show: Stewart Fires Up Win at Sonoma

Even Smokey the Bear couldn’t have prevented the fire performance Tony Stewart produced in Sunday’s Toyota / Save Mart 350.

Stewart, who paced the field for 22 circuits, lost the lead to Denny Hamlin on the last lap, but moved him off the 11th turn to win his first race since June 2, 2013 at Dover – 110 events ago. The triumph marked Stewart’s first win in 84 starts. Continue reading →

Danica Patrick Sees Opportunity at Daytona International Speedway

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Photo - Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images

Photo – Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images

Daytona International Speedway has a pattern of producing first-time winners.

Five active drivers, all thought of as surprises at the time, made their inaugural visit to Victory Lane at “The World Center of Racing” known for its blazing speeds and tight restrictor-plate competition: Michael Waltrip (2001), Greg Biffle (2003), Trevor Bayne (2011), David Ragan (2011) and Aric Almirola (2014).

Danica Patrick hopes to be the next first-time winner at the 2.5-mile track in Saturday’s Coke Zero 400 powered by Coca-Cola (7:45 p.m. ET on NBC). Continue reading →

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Joining FOX Sports NASCAR XFINITY Series Booth as Analyst at Michigan International Speedway

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Photo - Getty Images

Photo – Getty Images

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is joining the FOX NASCAR television booth as a guest driver analyst for FOX Sports 1’s live coverage of the NASCAR XFINITY Series race from Michigan International Speedway on Saturday, June 11 at 1:30 PM ET. Earnhardt Jr. will team with FOX NASCAR play-by-play announcer Adam Alexander and analyst Michael Waltrip to offer analysis for the entire race.

Earnhardt will be the eighth NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver to serve as a guest driver analyst in the FOX NASCAR booth in 2016, following Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, Carl Edwards, Denny Hamlin, Clint Bowyer and Danica Patrick.

FOX Sports Group