Darrell and Michael Waltrip are the only brother combination to win the Daytona 500 — NASCAR's biggest, richest and most prestigious event.
But many race fans don't realize that another Waltrip brother — Bobby — has also captured a winner's trophy at "The World Center of Racing."
Bobby Waltrip, whose older brother Darrell is the 1989 Daytona 500 champion and younger brother Michael is the 2001 and 2003 Daytona 500 champion, is a former go-kart racer who has competed at Daytona on the dirt track and even claimed a victory at Daytona International Speedway during Four-Cycle Day.
Nowadays, the 52-year-old Waltrip's voice can be heard over the public address system as he announces during the Dirt Track Championships at Municipal Stadium during Daytona KartWeek by Cometic Gasket.
Waltrip looks back on his go-kart memories at Daytona and explains why the trip is so special to him.
How long have you been racing go-karts?
"I've been racing go-karts since I was 12. I was the one in the family that never graduated from go-karts. I stayed in it. I made it my life. I make my living do it now. I quit driving back in 1996 or '97. Shortly thereafter I got involved in the broadcasting side as far as promoting karting on TV and became WKA's national dirt announcer. It's my fifth year at Daytona in the announcing booth."
Why is it so special to come to Daytona International Speedway and race go-karts?
"It's Daytona. It was always a deal where no matter what you do in racing, whether it's Cup or sports cars or go-karts, the best of the best come to Daytona. That's something you want on your resume. That's the reason why we make the trek down here. Starting back in 1991, I have raced here competitively and now I get to sit up in the tower and talk about it."
Are you proud to be a part of the Waltrip racing tradition at Daytona International Speedway?
"Darrell is my older brother and Michael is my younger brother. We have a history here at Daytona. I haven't won the Daytona 500 like those two have, which they are the only two brothers to have won the Daytona 500. But I won a big race at the big Speedway as well. I feel fortunate to be a part of that."
Do your brothers know you make the trek down here every Christmas?
"They've known it for years. I moved from Kentucky to North Carolina in 1990 and helped Darrell build his NEXTEL Cup shop. After we got that done — it took about a year and a half — I started competing in go-karts again. The biggest thing on my list was I had to go to Daytona to race go-karts. I've enjoyed every minute of it. It's the aura, the stigma that goes with it and the prestige of racing at Daytona. I think you'll find that with almost everybody you talk to. You want to come here and at least participate and have a chance to win."
