Michael Waltrip
62-Year-Old Driver
Ends Career with Top-10 Finish at Daytona
Waltrip ended his racing career exactly how he hoped. The only way it could have topped his NASCAR finale, which came at the track where he earned half of his four career Cup victories, would have been to end up in victory lane. He knew that was unlikely, so he set a more realistic goal : to finish in the Top 10 in his 30th and last Daytona 500. Waltrip took the checkered flag in eighth at Daytona International Speedway, providing him the ideal conclusion to a career that began in 1985, spanned more than three decades and included 784 Cup Series starts, the Associated Press reports.
ANALYSIS
Waltrip wasn't much of a factor during most of Sunday's Daytona 500. However, he used his 30 years of veteran experience and knowledge of superspeedway racing to avoid much of the accidents that dotted the second-half of this race. 'It's going to be a great memory, you know, to have a Top 10,'' Waltrip said. ''I had so many times I was in the middle of a crash and just missed it. So, you do a good job and you get lucky both. I'm thankful that I survived and I'm thankful for being able to run upfront and I'm happy about the finish. I'm ready for it to be my last one, so it's going to be a good one to remember it by.'' Waltrip caps a career that spans 33 seasons, four victories and 133 Top-10 finishes. With 784 starts he leaves the sport ranked 10th all-time in Monster Energy Series Cup starts.
Waltrip wasn't much of a factor during most of Sunday's Daytona 500. However, he used his 30 years of veteran experience and knowledge of superspeedway racing to avoid much of the accidents that dotted the second-half of this race. 'It's going to be a great memory, you know, to have a Top 10,'' Waltrip said. ''I had so many times I was in the middle of a crash and just missed it. So, you do a good job and you get lucky both. I'm thankful that I survived and I'm thankful for being able to run upfront and I'm happy about the finish. I'm ready for it to be my last one, so it's going to be a good one to remember it by.'' Waltrip caps a career that spans 33 seasons, four victories and 133 Top-10 finishes. With 784 starts he leaves the sport ranked 10th all-time in Monster Energy Series Cup starts.
Racing Stats
Loading Racing Stats...
Track Stats
Loading Track Stats...
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2017
2014
2008
2006
Waltrip will only race in one event in 2017. He has a one-off deal with Premium Motorsports in the season-opening Daytona 500. This will be the final start of Waltrip's very colorful career.
More Fantasy News
2017 Daytona 500 to be Waltrip's final race
The 2017 Daytona 500 will be Waltrip's final NASCAR race, Jim Utter of Motorsport.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Daytona 500 Plans Proceeding
It looks like Waltrip will run the Daytona 500 for Premium Motorsports, probably in the No. 55 Toyota, jayski.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Will Race in the Daytona 500
Two-time Daytona 500 champion Waltrip announced that he will compete in this year's season-opening NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event as driver of the BK Racing No. 83 Toyota, NASCAR.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Wednesday's second NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice brought the first major accident of Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway. Ty Dillon's No. 95 Cheerios Chevy spewed oil on the track, the result of an oil cooler cracked along the weld. The resulting chain reaction crash that played out caught up Waltrip's No. 83 Toyota and will force him into a backup car for Thursday night's Can-Am Duel 150, NASCAR Wire Service reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Michael Waltrip: Will Enter Daytona 500
Two-time Daytona 500 winner Waltrip will compete in the 2016 Daytona 500 for BK Racing. Waltrip had sponsorship for the race from Maxwell House, but he had not announced which team he would drive for until Thursday, ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.