Michael Waltrip was running about 15 minutes late for his "Fan Forum" appearance Wednesday morning.
Walking briskly onto the stage inside the Daytona USA fan attraction next to the speedway, the two-time Daytona 500 champion still needed a couple minutes to wrap up some personal business. So the 50 or so fans ringing the stage watched quietly as Waltrip sat there lost in thought, a cell phone pressed tightly to his right ear.
Leaning back into his director's chair, Waltrip craned his neck to take in the historic exhibits and video displays surrounding him, mentally taking notes for fan-friendly features he could mimic in his High Point shop.
Waltrip rewarded the fans' patience by explaining the holdup as he snapped his phone shut.
"I got a new airplane, and I'm trying to get the right number," he began.
With any luck, his jet's Federal Aviation Administration registry N-number would be N11KE. If they put the first '1' close enough to the 'N', Waltrip explained, it would look like he and his plane had the same name. A couple of fans in faded T-shirts and jeans nodded in apparent empathy. I mean, who among us hasn't faced the headache of getting a private plane customized with the equivalent of a personalized license plate?
That's why NASCAR fans love the sport. Meeting these drivers, sometimes it's just like looking into a mirror.
