If NASCAR is motorsports' big top, then Michael Waltrip is the headline act of the nation's Sunday circus. A one-man show funambulist balancing high above the bedlam of horsepower and raw adrenaline, Waltrip juggles the roles of owner, driver, company spokesman, TV personality and commentator before a national television audience each week.
Taken from the pages of Lon Chaney's would be biography The Man of a Thousand Faces, Waltrip appears regularly on the sport's hottest shows, Tradin' Paint, Inside NEXTEL Cup, and Trackside Live. His NAPA AUTO PARTS commercials are continually filmed and aired nationwide. Waltrip is also a live TV commentator for SPEED's broadcasts of NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series qualifying and races. As the credits role and Waltrip's TV week fades to black, he is the driver of the No. 55 NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge and owner of Michael Waltrip Racing.
This weekend at Michigan International Speedway another bowling pin may be thrown into Waltrip's juggling act. If weather does not cooperate and a red flag is lowered on the Craftsman Truck Series Con-way Freight 200, which Waltrip is scheduled to commentate, David Reutimann may not be able to climb behind the wheel of Waltrip's Busch car for the Meijer 300. If this scenario plays out, Waltrip will step behind the wheel of the Aaron's Dream Machine at Kentucky Speedway on Saturday afternoon. Should this happen, Waltrip will pull double duty, logging 700 miles in two cities. Stay tuned.
Michael Waltrip Fast Facts…
NAPA AUTO PARTS driver Michael Waltrip will make his 21st start in the 3M Performance 400; Waltrip's best finish in the event was fourth (2002) and his worst 39th (1987).
Waltrip will celebrate Father's Day with his two daughters, Caitlin (16) and Macy (8).
Waltrip's average starting position in 41 starts at Michigan International Speedway is 21.439; his average finish is 20.000.
Waltrip has won one pole, two top-5, and eight top-10 finishes at Michigan International Speedway; he has four top-10s in his last four starts in the June race.
Waltrip has led 14 laps around Michigan International Speedway and 1,311 in his career.
Ninety races have passed since Waltrip's last NEXTEL Cup win at Talladega Superspeedway in the 2003 EA Sports 500.
Waltrip's best start of the 2006 season came at Talladega for the Aaron's 499; he qualified in 21st position. Waltrip's best finish of the 2006 season came at Daytona in the Daytona 500 where he finished in 18th position.
After 14 races, Waltrip's 2006 earnings total $1,448,340; Waltrip has earned $33,669,934 in 656 starts, averaging $51,326 per start.
Waltrip is currently 35th in NASCAR NEXTEL Cup driver points standings, 1138 behind leader Jimmie Johnson.
NAPA AUTO PARTS driver Michael Waltrip on the 3M Performance 400...
What are your thoughts and expectations for racing at Michigan on Father's Day?
"Michigan has been a track I've always liked. We've won a Busch race there and not done too bad in Cup so I've had a lot of confidence there. We've got a fairly good number of top-10s and a few top-5s and any time you're able to put together numbers like that you feel good about going back. We were seventh when the checkered fell last spring. It's Father's Day this weekend. NASCAR truly is a family sport and I'm thankful that although I'll be racing I can spend the day with my loved ones. You won't find that in many professional sports."
