NOTE: many of the links in the past news will be old and may not work
decided it was not worth the time to go thru each one on all the Team Past News pages
2007 News
Richie Gilmore Back at Work: Richie Gilmore has returned to work and to his new job full time. Gilmore, Dale Earnhardt Inc.'s former vice president of competition, had suffered a mild stroke in early October. He is back at work as chief operating officer of Earnhardt-Childress Racing Technologies.(SceneDaily.com)(12-11-2007)
Teams Testing at Kentucky: UPDATE: #15-Paul Menard will be testing at Kentucky Speedway on Tuesday and Wednesday. In addition, Bill Davis Racing will be testing with test driver Frank Starr on Wednesday and Thursday. Fans are able to view sessions for free from the designated area outside the Kentucky Speedway Fan Center located off of Interstate 71 Exit 57 and Ky. Hwy. 35 N., in Sparta, Ky.(Kentucky Speedway PR)(12-11-2007) UPDATE: BDR isn't testing at Kentucky this week. It was cancelled. Blaney and the #22 team are scheduled to test at Rockingham Wednesday and possibly Thursday.(12-11-2007)
#15 DEI team testing: The #15 DEI team is scheduled to be testing at Kentucky Speedway this Wednesday and Thursday in preparation for next year's intermediate track events. Paul Menard will be on hand for the test and to assist in the preparation for the 2008 Sprint Cup season.(Co-Pilott Motorsports Marketing PR)(11-27-2007)
Some changes at DEI? New crew chief for Menard? UPDATE confirmed: hearing that Dave Charpentier, current Paul Menard's crew chief on the #15 Menards/Dale Earnhardt Inc Chevy, will become DEI's Technical Director, overseeing the engineering support of the four Cup Teams [#01,#1,#8,#15] and development of DEI's race cars going forward. Also, hearing that Doug Randolph, current crew chief of Petty Enterprises #43 Dodge team that Bobby Labonte drives for, will become Paul Menard's crew chief of the #15 in 2008.(11-6-2007) UPDATE: Dale Earnhardt Inc. continued to strengthen its motorsports operation with the promotion of several key industry experts and the addition of a veteran crew chief to its roster. Dave Charpentier, current crew chief of the #15 Menards Chevy, has been promoted to technical director, and Doug Randolph, current crew chief of the #43 Petty Enterprises car driven by Bobby Labonte, will take over as crew chief for Paul Menard and the #15. Charpentier, a long-time Dale Earnhardt Inc. employee, will oversee all aspects of engineering for the four-car Nextel Cup Series operation. He was trained as a nuclear engineer during a seven-year career in the United States Navy, and since 1989 has served in an engineering capacity with multiple NASCAR teams. He is a graduate of the University of Maryland with a degree in nuclear science. Randolph is a University of Tennessee graduate and served as a crew chief at MB2 Motorsports/Ginn Racing for the previous four seasons. He will join the team on November 26. Walter Giles, current race engineer on the #1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet, was named Director of Race Engineering and Jason Anderson was named Director of Design and Project Engineering. Giles and Anderson will report to Charpentier. In addition, Rex Garrett has been promoted to Director of Motorsports Operations. The nine-year Dale Earnhardt Inc. veteran will oversee the day-to-day activities of the race shop.(DEI PR)(11-8-2007)
Four court cases against Ginn dismissed, settled? Former Ginn Racing drivers Joe Nemechek and Sterling Marlin as well as former crew chiefs Peter Sospenzo and Richard "Slugger" Labbe apparently have reached settlements with former team owner Bobby Ginn. All four cases - filed in North Carolina Superior Court in Concord, N.C. - have been dismissed, indicating that settlements have been reached. The drivers and crew chiefs were asking for the fulfillment of their contracts. The case files do not indicate how much they were paid, only that the drivers and crew chiefs have dismissed their claims. Ginn Racing merged with Dale Earnhardt Inc. in July, leaving Nemechek, Marlin, Sospenzo and Labbe as well as several other crew members without jobs. There are still two lawsuits involving other crew members pending against Ginn.(SceneDaily.com)(11-6-2007)
DEI's Gilmore back in hospital: Richie Gilmore, vice president of competition for Dale Earnhardt, Inc., is back in the hospital, four weeks after suffering a brain aneurysm, said DEI’s Vice President of Motorsports Operations, John Story. According to Story, Gilmore was scheduled to return to work at DEI on Monday, but after a medical examination was checked into a hospital in the Winston-Salem, N.C., area on Saturday. Sunday morning at Texas Motor Speedway, Story said he had no update on Gilmore’s condition or prognosis for when he might return to work. Gilmore suffered the aneurysm four weeks ago, prior to the Talladega race weekend. He was hospitalized briefly in Birmingham and then returned to his home in North Carolina.(SPEEDtv.com)(11-5-2007)
Chevy Renews with DEI: Chevy will continue its partnership with Dale Earnhardt, Inc. in 2008 and beyond. "Chevy enjoyed a successful relationship, including six NASCAR Cup championships, with the legendary Dale Earnhardt behind the wheel of his Richard Childress Racing Chevy, and we're proud of our longstanding relationship with Dale Earnhardt, Inc. which extends all the way back to when Dale and Teresa Earnhardt founded the business," said Ed Peper, Chevy general manager. "We're pleased to be a part of the DEI family and look forward to continued success with one of racing's leading organizations."(Chevy PR)(10-26-2007)
DEI workers blamed for airborne shot at Bobby Ginn: Three DEI employees who allegedly planned and paid for a derogatory banner to fly over Lowe’s Motor Speedway last weekend have been fired. The banner, which read, “How much does Bobby Ginn owe you?” was pulled by a plane and flown over Lowe’s before the start of last Saturday night’s race. The banner was directed at the former NASCAR team owner, who allowed his organization to be acquired by DEI after just one year of ownership, leaving about 100 people out of a job.
But Kasey Brooks, Mike Clark and Greg Price were hired by DEI after the merger, and are believed to be responsible for the banner. Clark and Price were fabricators at DEI, and Brooks worked in the parts department. “We addressed the situation internally, dealt with it appropriately and we’re quite frankly embarrassed that this situation ever arose,” DEI general manager John Story said. There have been grumblings throughout the garage that Ginn owes former employees back salaries, and drivers Sterling Marlin and Joe Nemechek and two crew chiefs have sued him for payment. That lawsuit is in the final stages of being settled, and Ginn sent a Sept. 27 letter to most of his former employees that promised back-owed team bonuses would be paid in full via an Oct. 3 direct deposit.(AP/Thatsracin)(10-20-2007)
Dale Earnhardt Inc. and Steve Hmiel Part Ways: UPDATE: Dale Earnhardt Inc. and director of competition Steve Hmiel have parted company. Hmiel’s responsibilities have been redistributed throughout the organization and his replacement will be named soon. “I have enjoyed a wonderful association with Dale Earnhardt Inc. over the past nine years,” said Hmiel. “It is time for me to pursue other endeavors and reestablish new goals for myself.”(DEI PR)(10-18-2007) UPDATE: Steve Hmiel says it was a difference in opinion that led to his departure from Dale Earnhardt Inc. "Just a difference in philosophy," Hmiel said of the split Friday at Martinsville Speedway. "It was a job I grew into, so there wasn't really ever a definition [of the position]. I started out doing one thing, then added things along the way and pretty soon, you find yourself doing a lot of different stuff. But I really enjoyed it. It's a different world now, a different time. Some of the things I saw chaffed against me, and some of the things I did chaffed against them. So we sat down and talked about it and thought we might ought to just go do this."(SceneDaily.com)(10-19-2007)
Gilmore falls ill, hospitalized, released UPDATE 2: SPEED qualifying coverage reported that DEI's VP of Competition Richie Gilmore, was taken to a Birmingham, AL hospital for a possible stroke, but was later diagnosed as an aneurysm. Gilmore was released and is headed in NC.(SPEED qualifying coverage)(10-6-2007) UPDATE: Dale Earnhardt, Inc. vice president Richie Gilmore has been treated and released from a Birmingham, Ala. hospital after suffering what has been diagnosed as a minor aneurysm. Gilmore suffered stroke-like symptoms on Friday and was taken to Birmingham for evaluation. He is currently back home in Mooresville, NC. “I spoke with both Richie and his wife Lisa on a couple of different occasions today and Richie is doing well,” said Max Siegel, president of global operations for Dale Earnhardt, Inc. “He was released today from the hospital and he’s back home getting some rest. He will undergo further evaluation and precautionary testing next week.”(DEI PR)(10-7-2007) UPDATE 2: Richie Gilmore is expected to be out at least a month after suffering a brain aneurysm last weekend at Talladega Superspeedway. Gilmore was released from a Birmingham, Ala., hospital on Saturday and returned to Charlotte by plane. He was hospitalized again on Monday for tests, but his blood was too thick to do a proper dye test. He underwent the dye test on Wednesday and was scheduled for two MRI's on Thursday. Hmiel said Robbie Benson has taken over Gilmore's duties heading up DEI's side of the engine program with Richard Childress Racing.(ESPN.com)(10-11-2007)
DEI West to house Cup cars; #01 stays: Max Siegel, president of Global Operations for Dale Earnhardt Inc., said the facility DEI inherited in the merger with Ginn Racing has been renamed DEI West. Siegel said Sunday that the #15 Chevrolet team and the #01 Chevy operation already have moved to the DEI West building. The #8 team and the #1 operation will stay at DEI headquarters until the end of the season. "We don't want to do anything to disrupt the 1 [Martin Truex Jr.] or the 8 [Dale Earnhardt Jr.] right now," Siegel said. "Those teams work really well together." Truex is DEI's one driver in the Chase. After all the Cup teams move to the new facility, current DEI headquarters will house all the administrative offices, along with the Busch Series team and Busch East operation. Siegel also said he hopes to make an announcement within two weeks on a new sponsor for the #01 Chevy. Siegel confirmed that DEI has decided to continue to use 01 as the number.(ESPN.com)(10-1-2007)
Sylvania on the hood of the #15: Not only is Sylvania the title sponsor of this weekend's race at New Hampshire, but it's also Paul Menard's hood sponsor on the #15 Menards Chevry. The company is based in nearby Danvers, Massachusetts and has been a partner sponsor to the Menards Racing program since Menard joined Dale Earnhardt Inc. in 2004.(Team Menard PR)(9-13-2007)
Marlin, Nemechek file lawsuit against Ginn Racing, DEI Sterling Marlin and Joe Nemechek have sued Ginn Racing and Dale Earnhardt Inc. for alleged breaches of their contracts, which included a base salary of $1.2 million apiece. The separate suits, filed Sept. 7 in Cabarrus County, N.C., do not specify how much they have been paid or what they exactly are owed. Also suing Ginn and DEI are crew chiefs Richard "Slugger" Labbe and Peter Sospenzo. Ginn and DEI merged prior to the Indianapolis race in July, and Marlin and Nemechek found themselves without a place in the organization. The points of the #14 of Marlin ended up moving to the #15 of DEI with Paul Menard as the driver, while the #13 Nemechek team was eliminated. "Demand for payment has been made ..., but [Ginn and DEI] have failed and/or refused to pay all or any part," the complaints state. The contracts of both drivers and both crew chiefs were filed as part of the complaints and give an insight to what the current rate is for drivers. Both drivers joined the organization when it was MB2 Motorsports. Marlin began in 2006 with a base salary of $1.1 million, and that increased to $1.2 million for 2007. Nemechek started with MB2 in 2004 and received $900,000 for 2004, $1 million for 2005, $1.1 million for 2006 and $1.2 million for 2007. Both drivers got to keep 45% of their race winnings (Nemechek, who was 27th in points in 2006, had $4,099,914 million total in race winnings last year, while Marlin, 34th in points, had $3,248,034 million) and 33% of souvenir sales. Their bonus schedules were $50,000 per win, $25,000 for a top-five, $10,000 for a top-10 and $5,000 per pole. Winning a Cup title was worth a $500,000 bonus, while second through fifth in the final standings were worth $250,000; sixth through 10th were $150,000; 11th through 15th were $100,000 and 16th through 20th were $50,000. Each received a $500 per race travel allowance, a seat on the team plane and a hotel room for each race. They also got a personal car. They agreed to 50 hours of personal appearances for a sponsor plus two days for commercials or media events as well as unlimited track hospitality visits not to exceed 30 minutes in length. They were both responsible for their own insurance. There is a morals clause in each contract stating they "shall not associate with gamblers or other notorious characters; shall not use illegal drugs; and shall not consume alcoholic beverages except in moderation but in no event within eight hours prior to driving in a race or practice."
As far as the crew chiefs, Labbe, hired as the crew chief for Marlin in August 2006, and Sospenzo, hired as crew chief for Nemechek in October 2006, were earning $450,000 annual salaries. Labbe was guaranteed another $50,000 if his bonus money didn't reach that amount, while Sospenzo was guaranteed $25,000. Their bonuses were $20,000 for a win, $10,000 for second-fifth, $5,000 for sixth-10th, $2,500 for 11th-15th and $1,000 for a pole. A season championship was worth $100,000, second-fifth ($75,000) and sixth-10th were $50,000 for Labbe and sixth-12th were $50,000 for Sospenzo. They also got a personal vehicle as well as reimbursement for motorhome expenses. They agreed to make 10 away-from-the-track appearances. They also signed confidentiality agreements related to technical data and car setups. They also agreed that if they left they company, they would not attempt to hire any crew members for a year.(SceneDaily.com)(9-10-2007)
Menard's #15 to have Energizer on the Hood: #15-Paul Menard’s hood sponsor for the Pennsylvania 500 is Energizer Battery Company. Energizer is one of the world's largest manufacturers of dry cell batteries and flashlights.(Team Menard PR)(8-3-2007)
Menard chips in to help DEI/Ginn merger happen? UPDATE denied: The other half of the Ginn-DEI story began to emerge yesterday, and it isn’t as pretty a picture as the one painted at Thursday’s press conference. According to one report, which could not be immediately confirmed, John Menard, the wealthy businessman whose son, Paul, is a first-year tour racer at DEI, apparently stepped in with a check to help make the merger happen. Ginn concedes sponsorship problems forced him to shut down two of his three Nextel Cup teams.(Winston Salem Journal)(7-28-2007) UPDATE: With rookie driver #15-Paul Menard being a major beneficiary of the Dale Earnhardt Inc.-Ginn Racing merger, and his father, John, being a multi-billionaire, it would be easy to conclude that maybe the Menard family played a role in bankrolling the merger. DEI Vice President John Story said that was not the case in the merger, where Menard got the owner points from the #14 Ginn car and is now in one of the top 35 locked-in positions instead of having to qualify for races on speed. "John Menard got a phone call from us after the transaction was complete to let him know that it was done and Paul was now 30th in [owner] points," Story said Saturday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. "It was never contemplated nor [was] the request ever made to John Menard to be a potential player in this transaction. ... [Team owner] Teresa Earnhardt has done well for herself over many, many years." The merger also should slow rumors that Paul Menard could leave and take the car sponsorship from the family company with him. "Paul has really given us his commitment and we've given him ours that we're going to work together and we're going to build this program over the next couple of years," Story said.(SceneDaily.com)(7-29-2007)
No crew chief changes at the new DEI: There will be no immediate crew chief changes as a result of the Dale Earnhardt Inc.-Ginn Racing merger, but not all the crew chiefs will work out of the same shop. Paul Menard's #15 team will move immediately into the Ginn Racing building, where the former Ginn #01 team also will be housed, DEI Vice President John Story said Thursday. The DEI teams of #1-Martin Truex Jr. and #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. will remain at the current DEI shop until the end of the season. As far as drivers, Mark Martin and Aric Almirola will complete the season co-driving the #01 car. That leaves Regan Smith, who was named last week to drive the now-defunct #14 Ginn car, without a Cup ride. Having started the year as Martin's co-driver, Smith will compete in the Craftsman Truck Series race Friday night in Indianapolis. The rest of the schedule for Smith is still being evaluated. As far as crew chiefs, Dave Charpentier, who became Menard's crew chief in June, will remain as his crew chief, and Ryan Pemberton remains with Mark Martin. Former Ginn crew chiefs Richard "Slugger" Labbe and Peter Sospenzo (who worked with the now-defunct #14 and #13 Ginn teams) are in the pool of employees who are waiting to see what happens. Crew chiefs aren't the only ones in limbo: DEI already had two development drivers - Jeffrey Earnhardt and Trevor Bayne - in its fold. With the merger, it also now has Kraig Kinser, Jesus Hernandez and Ricky Carmichael. Story said Carmichael's program is fairly solid because it has sponsorship from Monster energy drink, and DEI currently has Earnhardt's and Bayne's cars sold for the rest of this season. As far as executives, it still is to be determined what role former Ginn Racing Chief Executive Officer Jay Frye will play in the company. "We've only just begun to discuss it," Story said. "Jay has put his heart and soul and blood and guts into this company over the years, and we really want to know what Jay wants to do. We haven't gotten to that point where we've drawn a new [organizational] chart."
Workers in the fabrication shop know where they're headed. As part of the transition, DEI will move all of its fabrication work all to the Ginn shop, which has a seven-post shaker rig, a million-dollar piece of machinery that evaluates how a car handles. The Ginn shop has 180,000 square feet in one large room, which will allow all four Cup teams to be on the same floor and should improve communications among the teams, Story said. The two shops are at most 10 minutes apart. Story said the existing DEI shop will house two Busch Series teams in the future, as well as possibly a Craftsman Truck Series program and a two-car Busch East program.(SceneDaily.com)(7-26-2007)
Dale Earnhardt Inc. and Ginn Racing Merge; Official Announcement: Dale Earnhardt Inc. has become even stronger through a merger with Ginn Racing. Effective immediately, the team will feature the Chevys of #15-Paul Menard, #1-Martin Truex Jr., #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr., #01-Mark Martin and #01-Aric Almirola. Martin and Almirola will combine to drive the #01 Army Chevy for the remainder of the 2007 season as well as the entire 2008 season. Menard drives the Menards Chevy, Truex drives the Bass Pro Shops Chevy and Earnhardt handles driving duties of the Budweiser Chevy. All four entries are inside the top 35 in Nextel Cup points heading into this weekend's Brickyard 400. Regan Smith, who was originally slated to drive the Ginn Clubs and Resorts Chevy in the Brickyard 400, will instead compete in the Craftsman Truck Series race at Indianapolis Raceway Park Friday night in the Ginn Resorts Chevy Silverado. Specific schedules for Martin, Smith and Almirola will be announced later. In addition to Nextel Cup Series competition, the company will continue to field entries in the Busch Series, the Busch East Series and will analyze its future involvement in the Craftsman Truck Series. The numerous teams of Dale Earnhardt Inc. will operate from both the original facility built by Dale and Teresa Earnhardt as well as the nearly 180,000-square-foot facility currently housing Ginn Racing's teams. The buildings are less than five miles apart in Mooresville, N.C. Dale Earnhardt Inc.'s current management team will be responsible for all day-to- day activities and transition plans have already begun to develop. John Story, vice president of motorsports operations for DEI will oversee the expansion of the company's racing efforts. In completing this merger, points on Ginn Racing's #13 car, which was 34th in Nextel Cup owner's points, have been eliminated.(Dale Earnhardt Inc PR), been told the #78 team will NOT be allowed to buy the points for the #13 car, so the #21 Ford supposedly will move up into the top 35 of owners pts and get the guaranteed spot. Bill Elliott will run the #21 car at Indy with Ken Schrader in the #49, no word yet if Schrader will return to the #21 at Pocono next week.(7-25-2007)
DEI, Ginn Merger to Be Announced Wednesday: Dale Earnhardt Inc. will announce on Wednesday that it is merging with Ginn Racing, effective immediately, and will acquire all Ginn assets, including its massive headquarters. Sources said the company will be known as Dale Earnhardt Inc., but that Ginn owner Bobby Ginn will remain a partner in the business. DEI president Max Siegel will oversee the operation, and Ginn CEO Jay Frye will assist DEI executives John Story, Steve Hmiel and Richie Gilmore in sorting out personnel details, sources said. DEI will field four fully-funded racecars in the Allstate 400 this weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway -- the #1 Chevy driven by Martin Truex Jr., the #8 driven by Dale Earnhardt Jr., the #15 driven by Paul Menard and the #01 driven by Mark Martin. One of Ginn's other two former cars, the #13 or 14, essentially becomes Menard's #15 team, and the other team will simply discontinue operation [rumors still say that the #78 team will get the owner points from the team]. Menard will pick up the owner's points held by Ginn's # 13 car that was 34th. DEI plans to move its entire operation to Ginn's Mooresville, N.C., facility. The organization begun by the late Dale Earnhardt has been looking for land for almost a year because there is no room to expand at the current facility. #13-Joe Nemechek and #14-Sterling Marlin were given their release last week, with rookie Regan Smith moving into Marlin's car for the remainder of the year before the merger. Smith likely will finish the season splitting the #01 with Martin. Sources said Martin is committed to running at least 22 races for DEI next season and working long-term with the developmental driver program as he was at Ginn.(ESPN.com)(7-25-2007)
DEI buying Ginn? UPDATE 3: hearing a deal could be announced in the next week or so, where Dale Earnhardt Inc. would buy into or outright Ginn Racing. Ginn Racing currently fields the #01-Mark Martin/Regan Smith, #13-Joe Nemechek and #14-Sterling Marlin teams.(7-16-2007) UPDATE: Dale Earnhardt, Inc. [#s 1, 8, 15] and Ginn Racing [#s 01, 13, 14] are working on a merger agreement that, if finalized, would meld the two organizations into a single company, multiple sources close to negotiations told ESPN.com on Monday. The deal is not done, but a decision will be made soon. Both organizations hope, sources said, to firm up outstanding details and announce a partnership immediately. This deal is an elaborate proposition that entails several obstacles, including how best to reduce from six Nextel Cup teams to the maximum four. The obvious answer, sources said, would be to eliminate Ginn's financially-strapped #13 and #14 teams.(ESPN.com)(7-16-2007) UPDATE 2: Tim Packman talked with Dave Moody on Sirius Speedway Tuesday afternoon and stated that Dale Earnhardt, Inc. has entered into a meger/acquisition of Ginn Racing. Reportedly, the #14 team's points will go to #15-Paul Menard and he will be locked into the field. #01-Mark Martin will drive at Indianapolis under the DEI banner, and the #13 team points will possibly be sold to Furniture Row Racing and #78-Kenny Wallace to lock him into the field. It is unknown what will happen to Regan Smith, who was scheduled to drive the #14 this weekend.(7-24-2007) UPDATE 3: ESPN's David Newton reported on NASCAR Now Tuesday that #01-Mark Martin, #1-Martin Truex, Jr., #8-Dale Earnhardt, Jr, and #15-Paul Menard will drive for DEI this weekend at the Brickyard. Menard will be locked into the race using the #14 team's points. Ginn Racing CEO Jay Frye will stay with DEI. DEI will move it's motorsports operations to the Ginn facilities in Mooresville, NC. A determination has not been made on Regan Smith's future with the team. An announcment should come sometime Wednesday.(7-24-2007)
#78 to get #13 owners points? UPDATE: hearing the #78 Furniture Row Racing team will 'buy' the owners points of the #13 Ginn Racing team unless a sponsorship deal can be put together for the #13 team to run at Indy. A deal could be announced for the owners pts early this week. Joe Nemechek was driving the #13 Chevy for Ginn Racing and was recently told he was free to look for another ride by Ginn Racing. Kenny Wallace drives the #78 Chevy for Furniture Row Racing. The #78 is 43rd in owners pts and out of a guaranteed starting spot; the #13 is 34th in owners pts and has a guaranteed spot in the starting lineup.(7-24-2007) UPDATE: Ginn Racing hopes to have a decision on the future of the #13 car before Friday's Nextel Cup qualifying at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a source close to the situation told ESPN.com. The financially strapped organization has been in discussions with Dale Earnhardt Inc. about possibly selling the #13 team for its owner's points or merging with the company formed by the late Dale Earnhardt. There have also been discussions with selling the points to the #78 car of Kenny Wallace in time for Sunday's race at Indianapolis. The Barney Visser-owned team is 42nd in points and has made only nine races this season. Ginn could also race the car with Joe Nemechek if a sponsor can be lined up at the last minute for the high-profile race. But sources said it is clear the car, 34th in owner's points and comfortably inside the top 35 guaranteed a spot in each race with a 244-point lead over 36th, will not be idle this weekend.(ESPN.com)(7-24-2007)
DEI interested in adding existing Nextel Cup team: Dale Earnhardt Inc. is looking to expand its Nextel Cup operation and has inquired about acquiring an existing team [#13 Ginn Racing?]. DEI vice president John Story said Monday the purchase of a team in the top 35 of car owner points would be used to shore up DEI's #15 team driven by Paul Menard. Menard is 39th in owner points and has failed to qualify for six races.(Fort Worth Star Telegram/AP)(7-11-2007)
DEI News, Dale Jr replacement; Menards to return: Max Siegel, president of global operations for DEI said that he hopes to have a replacement for Dale Earnhardt Jr. hired by the end of the month. He would not discuss possible drivers for that seat. Siegel also said that despite some speculation Paul Menard and sponsor Menards will return for next season. DEI hired Kevin Buskirk to lead its test team. Buskirk, who had been an engineer and crew chief at Robert Yates Racing, replaces Tony Eury Sr., who left to join JR. Motorsports.(Roanoke Times)(7-8-2007)
RCR-DEI Engine Debut at Daytona: Earnhardt-Childress Racing Technologies will debut the new common engine package this weekend at Daytona International Speedway. All six Richard Chiledress Racing [#07,#29,#31] and Dale Earnhardt, Inc. (DEI) cars [#1,#8,#15] will run the new engine.(RCR PR)(7-4-2007)
New York Investors Looking for Cup Teams: The buzz in the garage in New Hampshire is that at least two New York-based investment banking firms have been making the rounds among Nextel Cup teams, looking to invest in one or more teams, eventually taking a race team public with a stock offering. So far, there have been no takers among the NASCAR team owners. At least one of the investment firms has talked with multiple teams in the garage, including Robert Yates Racing [#38 & #88], Dale Earnhardt, Inc. [#1, #8, #15] and Roush Fenway Racing [#6, #16, #17, #26, #99], multiple sources said. The idea has been for the companies to make cash investments of upwards of $50 million in a team and then at some point sell their interests, perhaps by public stock offering. “We looked at their business plan and it didn’t make sense to us,” said Roush Fenway Racing President Geoff Smith, who confirmed his team had been contacted by a New York-based investment fund that he did not identify by name. Robert Yates talked extensively with the potential investors and reached the same conclusion. “You sit in a room with about 20 bankers and you spend about 18 hours in there with them and you realize that they didn’t contribute anything to the gross national product except maybe going to the bathroom,” said Yates, who also has entertained merger and/or partnership offers from Dale Earnhardt, Inc., Robby Gordon Motorsports and Hall of Fame Racing, among others, before deciding to go it alone. Another team principal who spoke on condition of anonymity Sunday morning at New Hampshire, said the team he works with was approached by investors, but chose not to get involved with them, either. “They had a ton of money, but they didn’t know anything at all about racing,” he said, adding the team was not in need of a cash infusion and would only consider an outside investor if that investor could add significant value to the team.(SPEEDtv.com)(7-2-2007)
DEI Still Talking to Budweiser; Working on Fourth Team: Max Siegel, president of worldwide operations for Dale Earnhardt, Inc., said Saturday that the team is still talking with Budweiser, still hoping to add a fourth Nextel Cup car in 2008 and is still looking for a replacement for #8-Dale Earnhardt, Jr. in the No. 8 next year. “We still have our existing commercial relationship with Bud, talking about what’s best with everybody, still engaged in conversations with potential drivers,” Siegel said Saturday at New Hampshire. “Hopefully in the next four weeks we’ll get something wrapped up here.” Of the team’s car count next year, that’s still up in the air, too. “We have a couple of unique situations that could give us a fourth (car in 2008),” Siegel said. “Realistically, by ’09, definitely we’ll be a four-car team.”(SPEEDtv.com)(7-1-2007)
Tony Eury Sr. spoke Thursday [June 28] with Claire B Lang on Dialed In on XM Satellite Radio: About Leaving DEI and moving to JR Motorsports - Eury Sr. said Dale Junior has tried to get him to come work for him for two years and this time he went to Junior and said "was he ready" and Junior said "yes come on."
"It wasn't an easy decision for sure. I had a lot of feelings for that place. It was kind of hard to drive out of there cause Teresa and Dale have been really good to me.....whenever I went to work in the mornings I felt like I was going into my own shop. But you know it was a decision I had to make. You know that place is getting bigger and bigger and it's not the same place that I built many, many years ago and it's a lot bigger and Dale Junior gave me an opportunity here I was real pleased with and looking forward you know I like building stuff and I like going forward and that's what we are going to get to do here." On DEI Moving Him from Crew Chief to R&D -did he leave because he didn't like the switch from Crew Chief:
"It didn't matter to me about the crew chief job but they just wanted me to strictly go run an R&D team and that just really was something I wasn't ready to do. If I work on something and I make it go fast I like to be rewarded for it. And the reward that I get is spraying champagne in victory lane and patting everyone on the back and telling them they did a good job and an R&D team wouldn't give that to me and that's the main reason for turning the R&D team down. I can't say nothing bad about DEI. I worked their 20 and a half years they told me my options were open I could do whatever I wanted to do but there just wasn't a lot of options there and Dale Junior gave me the opportunity to come and do this and I felt like that's what I want to do. Was it true he sat at home rather than work after they moved him from Crew Chief job at DEI?
Well - After I quit doing the Menards car they actually told me to take two weeks and think about what I wanted to do and nobody was going to bother me and just do what I wanted to do so I just hung out in Myrtle Beach for a little while and me and my wife took off went to Myrtle Beach spent a weekend and came back and stayed home one weekend and let her skin heal up from the sunburns and then we went back again. We haven't done a whole lot of work in the last three or four weeks but we had a good time. Tony Senior said he and Tony Junior have discussed what Tony Junior will do.
Q) Will Tony Junior announce his decision soon?
A)..There's a lot of stuff going on. He's got a lot of stuff going on and you know I just don't really know. They are trying to decide who's going in the 8 car who the crew chief is going to be whether it's going to be him whether it's going to be somebody else who the sponsor is going to be and there is just so much stuff going on over there. Their main goal now is to try to win that championship in that Budweiser 8 car and that's what they are focusing on doing right now and you know he might not even make a decision until Homestead is over .....
On the 24/48 Penalties: "Myself I do not agree with the penalties that they gave Chad and Steve because I don't think we were really addressed that the body parts of the car was that critical........as far as I'm concerned if there's not a template there it's ours and that's the way the crew chief's look at cars."(XMRadio)(6-30-2007)
Sylvania on the #15 hood at NHIS: #15-Paul Menard's Menard's Chevy will feature Sylvania as the hood sponsor. Sylvania, is based in Danvers, Massachusetts and has been a partner sponsor to the Menards Racing program since Menard joined Dale Earnhardt Inc. in 2004.(Co-Pilott Motorsports Marketing PR)(6-28-2007)
Eury Sr. leaving DEI...to JR Motorsports? UPDATE: Claire B. Lang reported on XM Radio Tuesday that Tony Eury Sr. [former #8 and #15 crew chief] has resigned from Dale Earnhardt Inc.'s research and development team and will be named Director of Competition at JR Motorsports today.(XM Radio) AND David Poole reported on Sirius' Morning Drive that Tony Eury Sr is expected to announce this afternoon that he is leaving DEI to become the team director at #88-JR Motorsports. Early in June, Eury reportedly accepted a Research and Development position with DEI after stepping down as Paul Menard's Nextel Cup crew chief.(6-27-2007) UPDATE: Dale Earnhardt Jr. has turned to a familiar face and proven winner to help lead the competition efforts of his race team, announcing today that his uncle and longtime NASCAR crew chief, Tony Eury Sr., has been named Director of Competition at JR Motorsports. Commonly referred to as “Pops” around the NASCAR garage, Eury Sr. will oversee competition and technical support for all of JR Motorsports, which includes a full-time Busch Series program, a USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series entry, and three late model teams. His new role at JRM will begin immediately, as he will work closely with crew chief Wes Ward, motorsports director Steve Crisp, and
driver Shane Huffman in preparation for Saturday’s Camping World 200 Busch Series race at New Hampshire International Speedway. “Tony Sr. brings wins, championships, and an immeasurable amount of knowledge to JR Motorsports,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “He also brings a sense of trust that you only have in family. This company needs his expertise, and I’m glad he sees the potential at JR Motorsports to want to work here. I hope I can provide him the same amount of success here that he has achieved over the years, and I hope he enjoys working here as much as I know he enjoyed working at DEI (Dale Earnhardt Inc.).”(JR Motorsports PR)(6-27-2007)
Menards sponsorship to Penske in 2008? John Menard is reported to be considering moving his sponsorship from Dale Earnhardt Inc. [#15 Paul Menard] to Roger Penske’s Dodge team, with Penske expanding to a three-car operation. Menard, according to sources, has chopped his list to two owners, and it appears that #7-Robby Gordon is no longer in the running. Menard, who is supporting son Paul on the Cup tour at DEI, has been reported interested in purchasing DEI from Teresa Earnhardt [which has been rumored many times but always denied](Winston Salem Journal)(6-23-2007)
Chevy unveils paint schemes to commemorate 50 Years of the '57 Chevy: One of the most recognizable cars in American motoring history reaches a notable milestone this year, a milestone which NASCAR, Chevy and Motorsports Authentics proudly celebrate. The 1957 Chevrolet, a car which turns 50 years old this year, will be commemorated at August 19’s 3M Performance 400 Nextel Cup race at Michigan International Speedway by at least 11 Team Chevy drivers. Unveiled by Jimmie Johnson at MIS today, a Monte Carlo SS race car featuring decals with cues from the iconic 1957 design is similar to the ones Johnson and other Team Chevy drivers will race during the August event. On August 18, ’57 Chevys along with many other historic vehicles will hit the streets during Metro Detroit’s Woodward Dream Cruise. That same weekend, Team Chevy Nextel Cup Series drivers #4-Ward Burton, #8-Dale Earnhardt, Jr., #24-Jeff Gordon, #48-Jimmie Johnson, #14-Sterling Marlin, #01-Mark Martin, #15-Paul Menard, #96-Tony Raines, #1-Martin Truex, Jr., #78-Kenny Wallace and #18-J.J. Yeley will take to the track at MIS with their cars wearing special ’57 Chevy paint schemes. To commemorate this special event, Motorsports Authentics will replicate their cars with die-cast models and offer apparel and novelty items related to the event.(GM Racing PR), see an image of the #48 Scheme on my #48 Team Schemes page.(6-16-2007)
Some teams looking to add 4th team: The season is not even half over and several teams say they want to expand for next season. Officials from Dale Earnhardt Inc., Evernham Motorsports, Richard Childress Racing have said they'd like to expand to four cars next year. There have been hints other teams might look add a team. How many actually do will depend on what kind of sponsorship they can find.(Greensboro News and Record)(6-16-2007)
Menard, Sauter, McCumbee to do double duty Pocono: While #15-Paul Menard has yet to turn a lap around the Pocono Raceway, hw is looking forward to his double duty weekend at the 2.5-mile Long Pond, Pa., track. Not only will Menard focus his attention on making a solid Nextel Cup Series debut at the track, but the Dale Earnhardt Inc. backed team will race in Saturday’s ARCA event. Menard was heavily involved in the planning of the set up of the ARCA car. Crew Chief Mike Grechi and Menard came up with two solid setups to try in Friday’s practice. Grechi brings the experience from his past achievements at Pocono. No stranger to ARCA Series success himself, Menard went to Victory Lane in the 2003 ARCA race at Talladega Superspeedway.(DEI site), other drivers planning on running both races [ARCA/Cup] include Johnny Sauter and Chad McCumbee.(6-7-2007)
Eury, Sr. Out as Menard's Crew Chief; New Position for Gilmore?: UPDATE 2: Sirius Speedway's Dave Moody reports that Tony Eury, Sr. is out as #15-Paul Menard's crew chief, effective immediately. DEI Vice President and General Manager John Story confirmed that Eury is no longer crew chief for the #15 team. Dave Charpentier will reportedly become the team's new crew chief. In addition, Moody says that reports state Richie Gilmore is out as Director of Motorosports with DEI and will become Director of Research and Development with the team.(Sirius Speedway)(6-6-2007) UPDATE: Interviewed on Sirius Speedway, John Story confirmed that Dave Charpentier will serve as interim crew chief for Menard and Tony Eury, Sr. will move to a Research and Development position within DEI. Story added, "Richie Gilmore's role remains unchanged. He has gotten himself very involved in working with RCR to establish Earnhardt Childress Technologies company, and we needed someone from our side to head it up. Richie will eventually be spending the vast majority of his time on that."(6-6-2007) UPDATE 2: Tony Eury Sr., who worked on the first team ever fielded by Dale Earnhardt Inc. in 1985, has been named to lead the company's newest team. DEI has been building this full-time operation, devoted primarily to testing, since late April. Through the first 13 races of 2007, Eury has been crew chief of the #15 Menard's Chevy driven by Paul Menard. Dave Charpentier, team engineer, will serve as the team's interim crew chief.(DEI PR)(6-7-2007)
Menard to leave DEI? UPDATE 2 denied: John Menard, the wealthy businessman who is helping bankroll Teresa Earnhardt’s DEI operation for racer-son Paul [Menard, #15], may be ready to pull out, too. Menard could wind up back working with struggling #7-Robby Gordon — the two have long been business partners, and Gordon is trying to get his team righted again.(Winston Salem Journal)(6-1-2007) UPDATE: Robby Gordon has issued the following statement regarding Paul Menard: "It is the ultimate goal for RGM is to one day field two cars in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series. Despite speculation, there have been no discussions pertaining to Paul Menard joining RGM. John Menard has been a long time supporter of my racing program and is on board for ten events in the 2007 season - nine co-sponsored by Mapei and one co-sponsored by Johns Mansville."(RGM)(6-2-2007) UPDATE 2: #15-Paul Menard denied a published report indicating he’s considering leaving Dale Earnhardt Inc., possibly to join Robby Gordon’s team. “That’s not going to happen,” said Menard, whose best finish this season is 15th at Texas. But Menard did say these are anxious times at DEI since Earnhardt announced last month he will leave the team at the end of the season. “We’ll be OK as long as we get good people in key positions,” Menard said. “That’s what every race team wants and needs, and it’s probably what we don’t have at DEI right now. In the long term we’ll have to build that up and if we have to move some people around to make the appropriate changes, then that’s what needs to be done.”(Thatsracin)(6-3-2007)
Tryson close to a deal with DEI: Pat Tryson, who was fired by Roush Fenway Racing last week, is close to a deal with Dale Earnhardt Inc. Richie Gilmore, the director of motorsports at DEI, hopes to have Tryson signed within the next two weeks. "He's looking at a couple of other options, but right now we're at the top of his list,'' Gilmore said before Sunday's Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. DEI officials also are narrowing their search for a driver to replace Dale Earnhardt Jr., who is leaving the company his father built after this season. They have a list of five candidates and could have that narrowed even further by the end of this week. They are looking not only at drivers currently inside the Nextel Cup garage but drivers who have been champions of other series. "The testament to this organization and what the company stands for is reflected by the high level of interest from people across this entire sport,'' said Max Siegel, the president of global operations at DEI.(ESPN.com)(5-27-2007)
DEI and RCR team up to build engines: One of NASCAR's greatest partnerships - Childress and Earnhardt - has been expanded with the creation of Earnhardt-Childress Racing Technologies. Richard Childress and Teresa Earnhardt announced today that the joint venture partnership will combine the Chevrolet engine departments of Richard Childress Racing (RCR) and Dale Earnhardt, Inc. (DEI), with engine development work to begin immediately. Construction of a permanent stand-alone facility located between RCR and
DEI will begin later this summer with completion expected by mid 2008. A specific site has not been announced, although a location has been identified pending zoning approval. Until that facility is complete, all work will be divided between the RCR's engine shop in Welcome, N.C. and DEI's shop in Mooresville, N.C. It is anticipated that all six RCR and DEI cars will run the first common engine at Daytona in July. Earnhardt-Childress Racing Technologies will develop and build engines for the Chevrolet Nextel Cup Series and Busch Series teams campaigned by the two companies. A long-term goal of the joint venture will include an engine leasing program for teams in NASCAR's top three divisions. The partnership also has long-term plans to diversify and expand beyond NASCAR by providing race engines to teams competing in series such as the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series, various off-road and stock car series, sports car series, etc. This is not the first time RCR and DEI have worked together in a technology partnership. RAD, an acronym for the three teams owned by Richard Childress, Andy Petree and Dale Earnhardt, was formed in the late 90's as an aerodynamic consortium between the programs. The partnership was considered wildly successful with the three teams dominating the aerodynamically sensitive restrictor plate tracks Daytona and Talladega for the next few years.(DEI PR)(5-18-2007)
Andrews tests for DEI been told and confirmed that Tim Andrews, son of #43 crew chief Paul Andrews, tested a DEI Chevy at Kentucky Speedway on Tuesday, May 15th. Andrews is running a part-time ARCA and Busch East schedule in 2007.(5-17-2007)
Earnhardt Jr.: 'We'll be driving Chevys' UPDATE: #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. nearly started laughing Friday and said, 'Nah,' when asked if it was really possible he could drive a Ford next season. Dale Earnarhdt Inc., which is in negotiations with Earnhardt Jr. for a contract extension and also must sign a new dale with Chevrolet, has had preliminary talks with other manufacturers and also has talked about a possible merger with Robert Yates Racing. But Earnhardt Jr. couldn't see himself driving anything but a Chevy. As part of his negotiations with DEI, he wants majority ownership of the team. "We'll be driving Chevys, I'll promise you that," Earnhardt Jr. said following qualifying Friday for the Crown Royal/Jim Stewart 400.(SceneDaily.com)(5-5-2007) UPDATE: The latest on the Dale Earnhardt Jr. saga: The “Robert Yates” NASCAR brand will remain a Ford brand, even in any merger with Dale Earnhardt Inc., according to sources familiar with the Yates-DEI negotiations. However Earnhardt, who has been the heart of DEI, insisted he will be in Chevrolets again next season, no matter what. Those two facts make the DEI-Yates negotiations peculiar, particularly since Earnhardt has been negotiating a new contract with DEI owner Teresa Earnhardt, with Dale Earnhardt Jr. demanding controlling interest in DEI. If DEI officials are negotiating a possible switch to Ford, then Earnhardt would clearly appear to be not involved with those talks. Which would mean if Yates and DEI do come to terms, it would almost certainly be a Yates-DEI merger without Earnhardt in the mix. There has been rampant speculation the past few days that Earnhardt may be moving to either Richard Childress’ Chevy team or Rick Hendrick’s Chevy team.(Winston Salem Journal)(5-7-2007)
Ford Racing Aware of DEI-RYR Merger Talk: In response to media reports from this past weekend, Ford Racing confirmed it is fully aware of merger talks that have taken place between Dale Earnhardt Inc. (DEI) and Robert Yates Racing (RYR) officials. “Ford is fully committed to Robert Yates Racing for the long-term, and they have assured us that are similarly committed to Ford,” said Kevin Kennedy, Ford Racing Technology Communications Manager. “Robert and Doug have been in contact with Ford about the nature of the discussions. We have a valued partnership with them, and they are keeping us informed of those discussions like a true partner would.
We fully expect they will remain with Ford for many, many years.” Robert Yates Racing and Ford have a relationship that goes back to the formation of the race team in the late 1980s, and Dan Davis, director of Ford Racing Technology, has repeatedly stated that the manufacturer is fully committed to bringing RYR back to the top of the field. Media reports this past weekend also stated that Ford had been in discussions with DEI about a switch from Chevrolet to Ford for the 2008 season. Davis has repeatedly said that Ford is interested in adding championship-level teams to its Cup roster. “We definitely have been talking with DEI. Truthfully, we’ve been having informal talks with them for several years,” said Kennedy. “We have not yet made a formal offer to them, but we know that their GM contract is up at the end of the year. We had some discussions with them, and we’ve made it clear that we’d love to have them in our program.”(Ford Racing)(5-1-2007)
DEI to buy RYR? UPDATE 4: It was reported on SPEED's NASCAR Raceday that Dale Earnhardt Inc (DEI) is interested in buying Robert Yates Racing (RYR) and RYR is interested in joining forces with DEI. It was also reported that the teams would end up being in the Chevy camp.(4-29-2007) UPDATE: In attempts to strengthen its teams and expand to four cars, Dale Earnhardt Inc. [#'s 1,8,15] has had preliminary discussions with Robert Yates Racing [#38, #88] about a partnership, as well as Ford Motor Company and another manufacturer, DEI executive team member John Story confirmed Sunday morning. While the company also is in the midst of contract negotiations with NASCAR's most popular driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr., DEI is working toward trying to solidify its future. That means getting the finances and the technological support it needs from a manufacturer and working toward fielding a fourth team by 2008 or 2009, said Story, who oversees sales, marketing and communications activities at DEI. What would be more startling would be the potential move to Ford or another manufacturer considering Chevrolet's long relationship with team founder Dale Earnhardt. The Chevrolet deal is not contingent on Earnhardt Jr. remaining at DEI, Story said. Yates said his team would remain Ford. Story said that talks with Yates could continue even if DEI remains with Chevrolet.(in part from SceneDaily.com)(4-29-2007) UPDATE 2: With Robert Yates Racing and Dale Earnhardt, Inc. discussing a potential merger, how would that affect Yates-Roush Engines, which makes the motors that power all of the Ford NASCAR Nextel Cup teams? RYR co-owner Doug Yates was adamant that his team will not switch to Chevrolet power no matter what, and Roush Fenway Racing President Geoff Smith said he hopes any deal will build up the Ford NASCAR Nextel Cup effort. “We’re aware that he’s marketing his teams,” Smith said of Robert Yates prior to Sunday’s Talladega race. “We have a joint engine business that’s affected by the number of customers that we have. We want to see the Ford number of teams remain at least at its current level for the benefit of the engine business and for the competitive benefit for Ford Motor Co.”(SPEEDtv.com)(4-30-2007) UPDATE 3: Dale Earnhardt, Inc., [DEI] will move to four Nextel Cup Series teams by 2009, be it through the acquisition of another team or the addition of a fourth team in-house, team executive John Story said Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway. Story said DEI has been in discussions with Robert Yates Racing for four-to-six weeks about a partnership, but cautioned that those talks are preliminary and that no documentation has been exchanged between the teams. If DEI were to acquire Yates, one of the two teams would have to forsake its manufacturer. Yates, a Ford flagship team for nearly two decades, would move to Chevrolet; or DEI, whose founder, Dale Earnhardt, won seven championships in Chevrolets, would move to Ford. "The only proposal we have right now for a manufacturer next year is from Chevrolet," Story said. "Teresa [Earnhardt] has been tremendously loyal to Chevrolet for a lot of years. We've had some conversation with a couple other manufacturers. They've called to inquire what our contract situation was. We told them, in fairness, we are going to sit down and exhaust our options with Chevrolet first, and if the opportunity came up we'd talk to somebody else. We haven't seen anything in writing from anybody else." RYR president Doug Yates said they'd rather stay in Fords, and that Ford Racing officials see a DEI merger as a way to get Ford back to prominence in Nextel Cup. But he didn't rule out a manufacturer switch. How this impacts Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s contract negotiations isn't known, but Story said a deal with Ford and RYR isn't contingent on Earnhardt Jr. staying at DEI. Earnhardt Jr. wants controlling interest in DEI, but Chevrolet officials want to keep him.(ESPN.com)(4-30-2007) UPDATE 4 Toyota denies talks: Toyota’s Lee White says his company was not involved in any talks with DEI: “We have not had any conversations with Dale Earnhardt Jr. “There is a tremendous amount of both equity and liability involved with Dale Earnhardt Incorporated and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet has such equity built into Dale Earnhardt Jr. and that particular race team - that equity is great for the bigger picture and the health of our sport. Right now Toyota is not ready to take on the liability that would come with that scenario.”(Winston Salem Journal)(4-30-2007)
DEI Announces the Earnhardt Entertainment Division: Max Siegel, President of Global Operations for Dale Earnhardt, Inc., announced the formation of the Earnhardt Entertainment Division, a new entertainment division within DEI that will merge the various aspects of the entertainment industry with NASCAR. The Earnhardt Entertainment Division will develop, produce and distribute
music, film and television, visual imaging and digital content, as well as special event projects. The company will announce its plans to collaborate with major entertainment partners on several exciting projects in the upcoming months.(DEI PR)(4-20-2007)
Earnhardt Still Wants Majority Ownership of DEI: #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. has not backed down from his demand for majority ownership in his late father's company, his sister said Tuesday. "Fifty-one (percent) is the right number because that gives us control," said Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, Junior's sister and business manager. "We'll take 75 or 95 or whatever we work out. At the end of the day, 51 gives you control. "And we want control." Earnhardt is in the final year of his contract with Dale Earnhardt Inc. and has made owning a share of the company a major issue of his negotiations. He raised the stakes even higher in February when he said he actually wanted 51 percent of DEI - not just a piece of the team. Earnhardt Elledge said the ownership stake was not the breaking point of negotiations, but that time could run out for a new agreement to be reached. [DEI President Max] Siegel has said he believes a decision can be made by May, and Earnhardt Elledge said the next two months are crucial.(Associated Press)(4-11-2007)
DEI's Max Siegal to be honored: The Foundation for Ethnic Understanding will honor Max Siegel, President of Global Operations for Dale Earnhardt Inc., on Thursday, March 8th, 2007 during their annual New York Spring Benefit at the home of Denise Rich. During the ceremony, President Rabbi Marc Shcneier and Chairman Russell Simmons will award Max Siegel the Joseph Papp Racial Harmony Award in recognition of his efforts to promote better relations between African-American and Jewish communities. "These awards mark outstanding achievement by corporate leaders who have advanced the cause of diversity and race relations," says Rabbi Marc Schneier. Max Siegel was recently appointed to President of Global Operations of Dale Earnhardt Inc., the top motor sports franchise in NASCAR. Siegel oversees the entire organization including competition, marketing, sales, sponsorship and distribution for all DEI¹s properties including motor sports teams, licensing, promotion, business development, and the Dale Earnhardt Foundation. The Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, under the leadership of Rabbi Marc Schneier, President, and Russell Simmons, Chairman, is a national non-profit organization dedicated to promoting racial harmony and strengthening inter-group relations. The organization is committed to the belief that direct, face-to-face dialogue between ethnic communities is the most effective path towards the reduction of bigotry and the promotion of reconciliation and understanding.(Susan Blond PR)(3-7-2007)
New sponsor for Menard? UPDATE: hearing that #15-Paul Menard will make a sponsorship announcement on Saturday morning at Daytona. No word if it is for the Busch or Nextel Cup Series.(2-10-2006) UPDATE: Long-time racing supporter and sponsor to some of the most celebrated drivers in motorsports history, Old
World Industries of Northbrook, Illinois, has today announced that its PEAK Antifreeze brand will re-enter Nextel Cup in 2007 by entering into an agreement with Dale Earnhardt Incorporated [DEI] to sponsor top Rookie-of-the-Year candidate Paul Menard and the #15 PEAK/Menards DEI Chevy. Menard, entering his first full season of Nextel Cup action, will have PEAK adorn his #15 Chevy throughout the entire 2007 season. PEAK will serve as Primary sponsor during Speedweeks at Daytona, and in the Fall Bristol Nextel Cup race. Menard will also appear within PEAK advertising, promotions and in-store merchandising programs at Menards stores throughout the United States. For Speedweeks in 2007, it will defintely be "PEAK Week" in Daytona. In addition to seeing the iconic PEAK mountain logo on the hood of the #15 DEI Nextel Cup Chevy, PEAK will also adorn the hood of DEI's #15 PEAK/Menards
Busch Series car (also driven by Menard) for Saturday's race, as well as the hood of Thorsports' #88 PEAK/Menards Chevy (driven by Matt Crafton) for Friday's Craftsman Truck Series race. PEAK Antifreeze can be found at major retailers like Menards, AutoZone,
Advance, CSK, NAPA, O'Reilly, Pep Boys, Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Target and Walgreens. In total, Old World products are sold on the shelves of more than 200,000 outlets nationwide, across every retail channel - whether automotive, mass merchandise, home/hardware, food/drug, or convenience. For more information about PEAK see www.peakantifreeze.com.(PR), see an image of the car on my #15 Team Schemes page.(2-10-2007)
DEI hires two more executives: Teresa Earnhardt, President and CEO of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. has announced the appointment of John Story to the DEI executive team. Story, a sports marketing veteran who has served as CEO and General Manager of Robby Gordon Motorsports since the company's inception in 2003, will manage sales, marketing and communication's activities at Dale Earnhardt, Inc., and will assist and report to recently appointed company president, Max Siegel, in strategic development of the company. In addition to his role with Robby Gordon Motorsports, Story has held marketing and/or communications positions with Greg Norman's Great White Shark Enterprises, International Speedway Corporation, Walt Disney World and the PGA of America. Mrs. Earnhardt also announced the appointment of Andrew Campagnone to Director of Sales. Campagnone has a long and varied sports sales career, and comes to DEI from Ganassi Racing where he served a similar role.(DEI Site)(1-24-2007)
DEI Using Hoosier at Lakeland: A top DEI official stated Monday afternoon that the company would be using Hoosier tires on at least one car they will test at Lakeland Speedway later this week. One of the burning questions since Goodyear started leasing, instead of selling, tires to race teams was where would the teams to get tires to test with away from the seven official NASCAR test sessions. While it was widely speculated teams would turn to Hoosier for the tires needed to test, most teams had a sufficient stockpile to get them through the 2006 season. A DEI executive confirmed Monday that organization's stockpile was almost gone. In fact, it was low enough that at least one of the their teams testing at Lakeland Speedway later this week would do so on Hoosier tires. "It's working," said the executive of NASCAR's desire to reduce the amount of testing teams could do away from the official tests. "The lack of tires has forced us to rethink how we test and what we test. At Lakeland we won't be able to compare one car against another. We'll look more to establish a baseline and then gauge our improvement based on the incremental speeds after each change. How that will relate to a race set-up we just don't know yet."(Circletrackplus.com)(1-15-2007)
Kerry Earnhardt to work at DEI, as test driver and more: Kerry Earnhardt will join Dale Earnhardt Inc. as a full-time employee next week, serving as a liaison between the Nextel Cup and Busch programs and driving in a handful of races. "Teresa and Richie have been talking to me about coming there for several years," Kerry said of team owner/stepmother Teresa Earnhardt and director of motorsports Richie Gilmore. "I've been thinking about the company a lot in my head. It's hard to give up driving. Now I've come to a point where I realize that doing the things I'm doing is not doing me any good, just riding around and not having any decent finishes." Kerry, 37, has asked to drive in at least five Busch races and a couple of Cup races for DEI, but said his future with the company doesn't hinge on that. "I always wish I had the opportunity to be in equipment like this," said Kerry, who was 20th-fastest in the morning practice while Earnhardt Jr. honored previous commitments. "Now if I run three to five Busch races and can be successful with that maybe more things can come to me." Kerry hopes to fill part of the role of Tony Eury Sr., who has moved from team liaison to crew chief for DEI's third Cup team with Paul Menard.(ESPN.com)(1-11-2007)
2006 News
DEI hires a new president: Dale Earnhardt, Inc., announced the appointment of Max Siegel as President of Global Operations. In what will be an unprecedented move for the motor sports industry, the Zomba Label Group/Sony/BMG executive will oversee marketing, promotion, sales, sponsorship and distribution for all Dale Earnhardt, Inc. properties including the company's top-rated motorsports teams, airlines, licensing and auto dealership, as well as the Dale Earnhardt Foundation. Siegel brings over 15 years of deal brokering and project management experience to the company established by Dale and Teresa Earnhardt in 1980.(DEI PR)(12-14-2006)
No 4th DEI team in 2007..but: In July, officials from Dale Earnhardt, Inc. said that not only would they had a third Nextel Cup team next year, they were seriously contemplating a fourth Cup team as well. But Saturday at Bristol Motor Speedway, DEI Vice President of Motorsports Richie Gilmore said the fourth Cup car won’t happen until 2008. Next year, the team will expand from two cars to three, with #15-Paul Menard joining forces with #8-Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and #1-Martin Truex, Jr. “Right now, we’re focusing on the three (teams) and trying to get the fourth for ’08,” Gilmore said. “We didn’t get the driver and everything put together. We’ve got some sponsor stuff that we’re close on, but right now we want to focus on getting three where they need to be.” Gilmore said a new building for Menard’s team on the DEI campus in Mooresville, NC, will be complete in four weeks.(Speed Channel)(8-27-2006)
Menard and Red Bull? UPDATE: Paul Menard is listed on the Red Bull Racing site as one of their drivers, been asked about that....no idea. As far as I know, Menard will drive the #15 Menard's Chevy for Dale Earnhardt Inc for 2007 in the Nextel [Sprint] Cup Series, have not heard of that plan changing.(7-31-2006) UPDATE: the Red Bull site has moved Menard's profile from Driver to Athlete, been told by DEI folks he will drive the #15 Chevy for DEI in 2007 in Nextel Cup and Menard is considered a Red Bull Atlete which endorses the products and wears a helmet similar to Robby Gordon in the Nextel Cup Series.(7-31-2006)
DEI to 4 Cars in 2007? UPDATE: Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Vice President of Competition Richie Gilmore said Friday morning that the team is mulling an expansion to four Nextel Cup cars in 2007, up from two cars now. DEI already has committed to a third Cup car in 2007 for its full-time Busch Series regular driver, Paul Menard [#15 Chevy], but Gilmore said a fourth car is an option, possibly in concert with MB2 Motorsports. “We do want to make some determinations by the end of July about how many teams we will have next year,” Gilmore said. “Right now, we know we’re locked in on three Cup teams … next year. Moving that to four is a possibility for us right now. We hope to have that locked in by the end of July. We’re looking at all our options right now. Space is an issue with us right now, and that’s why we’re looking at MB2. That was one of the biggest reasons we were looking at MB2. We could help with resources and they could help with space.”(Speed Channel)(7-1-2006) UPDATE: DEI has asked Tony Eury, Sr., to become crew chief of DEI's fourth Cup team next season, if it happens.(Ford Racing)(7-2-2006)
DEI and MB2? UPDATE 3 merge denied: There's speculation that Teresa Earnhardt [who own's DEI, #1,#8,#15] is planning to buy MB2 Motorsports, with drivers #01-Joe Nemechek and #14-Sterling Marlin, in addition to the ongoing speculation that she may be planning to sell DEI to John Menard, a home-improvements czar who has long been involved in racing. Marlin, who drives for the Jay Frye-run MB2 Chevy operation, said he has heard the sale talk, but that he doesn't know what's going on. Ryan Pemberton, the crew chief for Nemechek, said he has talked with Frye about it, but he's not sure, either, what might be going on behind the scenes. Earnhardt doesn't grant interviews, and Frye isn't due here until today. So yesterday it was up to Richie Gilmore, the general manager at DEI, to try to explain the situation. "We're not selling out," Gilmore said. "Our plans right now are to go to a three-car operation next year with Paul Menard (John's son). John is a great sponsor for us, and we do a lot with Menard's, engines, and he's at our company a lot, and I guess people speculate when they see him around."(Winston Salem Journal)(6-3-2006) UPDATE: According to sources in the NASCAR garage MB2 Motorsports could merge with, or be sold to Dale Earnhardt Inc. MB2 still has unsold sponsorship inventory available for Sterling Marlin's #14 car, and the team's other driver, #01-Joe Nemechek, is said to be on Toyota's short list for 2007.(Ford Racing)(6-4-2006) UPDATE 2: Jay Frye, the general manager and part-owner of the MB2 team, said that much of the speculation about a DEI-MB2 merger is just that, speculation. "Everyone's got this four-team program idea, but we're like two and they're like two.... so how do we both do things more efficiently together," Frye said. "That's how this all got started. Our buildings are four minutes apart. So we're trying to work together on this car of tomorrow. It's not about engines; it's about car-building. Everything beyond that is purely speculation."(Winston Salem Journal)(6-5-2006) UPDATE 3: MB2 Motorsports officials say the team isn't for sale, but minority owner Jay Frye has had discussions with Dale Earnhardt Inc. about working together on the competition side. "Becoming more efficient is what we've talked about going into next year," Frye said Sunday. "... There's lots of different programs that are starting next year with the 'car of tomorrow' and things like that.
We've talked to them about how maybe, as a group, we can do things [like build transmissions, gears or even cars] more efficiently together. It's all just ideas at this point. Nothing [concrete]. It's, 'How can we work together to make things more efficient.' Everything else has just blown out from that." Frye said the team, controlled by majority owner Nelson Bowers, is not for sale. But the fact that Frye has been to DEI's shop and Richie Gilmore, DEI's vice president of competition, has been to MB2 has sparked talk that DEI would buy MB2, with John Menard then buying DEI. Gilmore agreed that nothing is for sale. DEI has previously said that it would field a third full-time team for Paul Menard (John Menard's son) starting in 2007. DEI would like to expand, but Gilmore said there are no plans to purchase MB2. Frye said talks are still exploratory, sparked by the car of tomorrow. Teams will not only have to build versions of their current cars for 2007, but the newer car as well. Frye said the two organizations would need to form an alliance within the next two months to get a start on next season.(SceneDaily.com)(6-5-2006)
DEI executive urges GM to unify its engine program: Richie Gilmore, the general manager at Dale Earnhardt Inc., said that General Motors' racing executives may have to change the way they do business in order to compete against Toyota next season on the Nextel Cup tour. Toyota, a newcomer to the Nextel Cup, will be centralizing many of its key operations. Gilmore said that Chevrolet may have to do likewise, or at least make some major changes in the way that it approaches the sport. Gilmore said that Chevrolet's four independent engine-building operations may have to unify. "I really think that's something GM will have to do," Gilmore said. "We (Chevy teams) all work closely on engines, but it needs to go up another step (in centralization). We each spend a lot of money on engines, dynos and people. We have 78 people (building engines), and Hendrick has 120. I think GM is looking at that and trying to figure out the best thing to do ... because when Toyota comes in the sport, it will be strong."(Winston Salem Journal)(6-3-2006)
Menard to move up in 2007: Dale Earnhardt Jr. was addressing fans at a sponsorship gala and revealed a pair of intriguing tidbits to the gallery: Earnhardt said it is his understanding that Paul Menard will run a full Nextel Cup schedule in the #15 Chevrolet in 2007.(NASCAR.com/Marty Smith)(5-16-2006)
DE Foundation logo to appear on all DEI cars: The logo of The Dale Earnhardt Foundation is making the rounds, literally, at NASCAR races this season one lap at a time. The familiar "victory" silhouette of racing legend Dale Earnhardt is now part of the official paint scheme on all Dale Earnhardt, Inc. race cars in both the Busch and Nextel Cup series races. The logo made its debut this past week during races at Texas Motor Speedway. The Dale Earnhardt Foundation logo will be visible on the right rear "taillight" of all DEI cars, just above the car number decal. "We're very pleased that the DEI race teams are showing their support for the Foundation and its charitable efforts in such a visible manner," said Dick Baker, Executive Director of The Dale Earnhardt Foundation. "This is a creative idea that will help us to expand awareness and recognition for the Foundation with race fans and the general public alike." Dale Earnhardt, Inc. races the #11 Menard's Chevrolet driven by Paul Menard in the Busch Series. In the Nextel Cup Series, the team races the #1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet driven by Martin Truex, Jr. and the #8 Budweiser Chevrolet driven by Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Founded in 2002 by Teresa Earnhardt, The Dale Earnhardt Foundation was established to carry on Dale's name and good works through charitable causes that support Children, Education and Wildlife Preservation. For more information please visit www.thedaleearnhardtfoundation.org.(DEI PR)(4-14-2006)
Menard to run at Atlanta: Dale Earnhardt Inc. will enter a car for Busch Series driver Paul Menard in this weekend's Golden Corral 500 Nextel Cup race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Menard was scheduled to drive in seven Cup races in 2006 but failed to qualify for the Daytona 500 after blowing a tire in his Gatorade Duel event. If Menard makes the field, it will be his first oval race in Nextel Cup. Menard's previous two Cup races were at Watkins Glen. Menard is 17th in the Busch Series points standings [8th if you take out the Buschwackers].(SceneDaily.com)(3-14-2005)
Snap-On Tools extends with DEI: Snap-on announced they have extended their sponsorship commitment with Dale Earnhardt, Inc. With this multi-year contract renewal, Snap-on will serve as an associate sponsor to DEI. "Snap-on has played an important role in our team's success through the years," said Teresa Earnhardt, president and CEO of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. "This long-term renewal reaffirms the strong relationship that Snap-on and DEI enjoy. We look forward to our continued partnership with Snap-on and its
quality tools."
"Snap-on Tools has been a part of the DEI family since my father began racing," said Dale Earnhardt, Jr. "Their products have
been in our shops for decades and we rely on them to help us win races. They've been a solid partner through the years, and it's great we can continue working with them well into the future." DEI is currently comprised of four teams - the #1 Bass Pro Shops, #8 Budweiser and the #15 Menard's Chevy teams which compete in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series. They also field the #11 Menard's Chevy in the NASCAR Busch Series. Snap-on franchisees build relationships and distribute products directly to technicians via the Snap-on van, which has remained an icon for the company since the mid 1940s. In addition, products are sold directly to consumers via snapon.com.(Ogilvy PR)(3-9-2006)
2005 News
DEI gearing up for 2006: It's full steam ahead for Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the improved #8 brew crew. The team's fabrication shop is refurbishing the stable and has two intermediate cars, a new Bristol car and two speedway rides ready to roll. The engine department tested earlier this month at Nashville and tested restrictor-plate engines with ARCA journeyman Mark Gibson last week at Daytona. #15-Paul Menard will test at Daytona the next week to prepare for his first of seven Cup races. Dan Stillman will be his crew chief.(Sporting News)(12-19-2005)
More Changes at DEI: Dale Earnhardt Inc. [#1,#8,#15] is expanding and reorganizing its current campus to 160,000 square feet. DEI will house the #8 team with Dale Earnhardt Jr. and crew chief Tony Eury Jr. in the same building with rookie Martin Truex and crew chief Kevin Manion. The #15 Cup team will be combined with the Busch program and used for research and development with Paul Menard driving. Earnhardt and Truex will split Busch Daytona driving duties, Earnhardt driving the season opener, Truex the July race.(Sporting News)(11-28-2005)
Menard to run seven 2006 races in #15: Dale Earnhardt, Inc.’s #15 Cup team will campaign a seven-race schedule in 2006, with Paul Menard driving and sponsorship from Menard’s, the hardware chain owned by the driver’s father. If all goes well, Menard and the team will do the full Cup schedule with DEI in ’07. Menard’s first race will be the 2006 Daytona 500, DEI Vice President of Motorsports Richie Gilmore said Saturday night. “We’ll kind of see how it goes from Daytona, but it looks like it’ll be the big races: Daytona, Indy. We’ll run Watkins Glen again, which Paul ran this year and then move him up the next year.” Next year, Menard will also run the full Busch Series schedule in a DEI Chevrolet, Gilmore said. “It’ll be a lot better for Paul to keep him down there and running him for a championship like we did with Martin (Truex, Jr.). That’s where we really feel comfortable.” Gilmore said DEI mulled a third full-time Cup team next year, but instead will run full-time cars for only Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Truex in ‘06. “We had a couple options that we looked at, but for us we’re better off trying to regroup the two teams we have now,” Gilmore said.(Speed Channel)(10-15-2005)
DEI pays tribute to the loss of an employee: On Thursday, October 13, Dale Earnhardt, Inc. lost a friend and co-worker.
Angie M. Safrit, 33, passed away after a courageous battle with cancer. She started with the company in 1994. This weekend, her teammates will pay tribute to her life by placing a memorial decal on their race cars. The decal will be displayed on the "C" posts of the #8 Budweiser and #15 NAPA Chevrolets in the Nextel Cup Series. They will also be on the #8 Bass Pro Shops, #11 Menards and #81 Menards Chevrolet in the Busch Series race. The flags in front of DEI's corporate headquarters are flying at half mast in Angie's honor, as well. "Angie was an integral part of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. for the last decade," said Judy Queen, Vice President of Operations. "She started out in the brick building with Dale and Teresa and was a major part of DEI's growth." Angie is survived by her husband, Scott Safrit, and a three-year old daughter, Rachel. She is also survived by her parents, Jimmy and Phyllis Miller of Kannapolis and grandmother, Clara Kidd.(DEI)(10-14-2005)
#15 stays with DEI: DEI VP of Motorsports, Richie Gilmore told Claire B. Lang XM Satellite NASCAR Radio - that the #15 is not going anywhere:
"We're going to run the 1, 8, and 15 again next year and we're working on some sponsorship right now. We have some sponsor stuff in place to run the 15 next year on a partial schedule. There is some possiblities...there's a real small window you know probably by Charlotte everybody has to have their deal signed up. But we have enough stuff right now sponsorship in place to run at least ten
races with the 15. But we're just looking at our options of maybe running three (cars) full time. So we haven't ruled that out but it's a short time frame where we close that window."
Gilmore said the benefits of having at least a partial schedule with the #15 are that doing so would give Paul Menard more time at the cup level. They would run him at Daytona and have three partners down there to draft and it would also help them use the full test schedule with all three teams. And as to NAPA taking the 15 number with Michael Waltrip - "That is something Dale (Earnhardt) personally went to Bud Moore and put together and had, has a lot of pride in that number and so does Theresa," Gilmore told Claire B. Lang. "We've had fans both ways saying Michael deserves that number and if they know the history of DEI they know that's not true. That's our number. We have a lot of pride in it as a company and that number will stay with DEI."
CBL: "You're sure you won't give (the #15) number up:?
Gilmore: "I'm positive. That number will stay with DEI. Yes we appreciate the time we've had with NAPA and with Michael but just because Michael was there for five years in that car I don't see where he deserves that number. He was in the number 30. Go get that," Gilmore said. He added that Waltrip talked to DEI about it and wanted to reassure Theresa.. that it was something that NAPA wanted because they had equity in it but that he was fine looking at other numbers.(XM Satellite NASCAR Radio) NOTE: look for DEI to transfer #15 Owners points to the #1 team that Truex Jr. will drive in 2006.(10-7-2005)
Waltrip's Penalty and Fine Rescinded: On October 4, 2005, the National Stock Car Racing Commission heard and considered the appeal of DEI and Michael Waltrip. The appeal pertained to two penalties issued by NASCAR under Section 12-4-A of the Rule Book "Actions detrimental to stock car racing. Inappropriate gesture by the driver during a televised broadcast". The penalties stemmed from the broadcast of a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series event at New Hampshire International Speedway on September 18, 2005. The penalties assessed were:
* $10,000 fine; loss of 25 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Driver Championship points; and Probation until December 31, 2005 for driver, Michael
Waltrip
* Loss of 25 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Car Owner Championship points for owner, Teresa Earnhardt
The Commission reviewed the broadcast footage numerous times and different Commission members saw different things. Two of the three members found the footage inconclusive. Therefore, by majority vote, the National Stock Car Racing Commission has decided to rescind the penalties. Notwithstanding the outcome of this specific Appeal, the Commission concurs with NASCAR's strong stance regarding inappropriate gestures and/or language during NASCAR broadcasts, and the need for vigorous penalties for any infractions.(NASCAR PR)(10-5-2005)
Norris to help Waltrip: Ty Norris, formerly of DEI and Speedway Motorsports has been hired by Michael Waltrip to run Waltrip Racing World in Cornelius, NC off Exit 28 in I-77.(9-30-2005)
Waltrip, NAPA to Bill Davis Racing - It's OFFICIAL: Michael Waltrip and NAPA AUTO PARTS announced today they have entered into a partnership with Bill Davis Racing (BDR) for the 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series season. Nine victories and eight poles are shared between the parties including three Daytona 500 rings and a Southern 500 victory. Bill Davis Racing's achievements lured Waltrip to their High Point, N.C. race shop. "I like the way Bill does business and he has created a strong organization," Waltrip explained. "NAPA and I look forward to continuing our winning ways at Bill Davis Racing on the track, as well as extending our successful marketing efforts off the track." Waltrip and NAPA were teamed up by the late Dale Earnhardt in 2001 when their initial race together put them in victory lane at the Daytona 500. Since then, the pair has taken advantage of their union to create one of the strongest partnerships in the sport.
"Teaming with Dale Earnhardt, Inc. and Dale [Earnhardt] Jr. for the past five years has been the highlight of my NASCAR NEXTEL Cup career to date," continued Waltrip. "I look toward my future with NAPA and BDR with gratitude to DEI for the memories and friendships I have formed."
"It is no secret that our association with Michael has been a key ingredient of our marketing efforts," said Bob Susor, president of NAPA AUTO PARTS. "Race fans associate NAPA AUTO PARTS with Michael Waltrip and vice versa. Michael has promoted our brand in his own unique style. Moving forward, we are pleased to announce our continued support of Michael Waltrip and a new partnership with Bill Davis Racing. This begins a new chapter in NASCAR team sponsorship for NAPA. We would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere appreciation for the many successes NAPA has enjoyed during our tenure with DEI such as two NASCAR Truck Series Championships and two Daytona 500 victories. We will value our DEI association and wish them nothing but the best in their future efforts."
Next year will be Bill Davis Racing's 14th year of competition on the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series level, the team's 19th year in NASCAR
competition. As a NASCAR team owner, Davis has worked with some of the sport's top drivers achieving wins in all three premier divisions
of NASCAR, totaling 18 victories, 100 top-five finishes and 250 top-10 finishes.
Davis currently fields one full-time NEXTEL Cup Series team with Scott Wimmer driving the #22 Caterpillar Dodge Charger. In 2004, Davis
expanded his operations to house three full-time truck teams in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. The teams include Mike Skinner in the #5 Toyota Tundra, Bill Lester in the #22 Toyota Tundra, and Johnny Benson in the #23 Toyota Tundra.
"NAPA and Michael Waltrip are the perfect combination to re-establish our two-car Cup team in 2006," said Davis. "NAPA and Michael are held in high regard in our sport and have been successful in each Series they have competed. We plan to build on their success and create a very competitive team next year and beyond." There will be a Q&A session at the #22 CAT Racinghauler in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup garage at 10:10am/et Friday, Sept. 23.(Bill Davis Racing)), no mention of car number or if #22 driver, Scott Wimmer will be back.(9-23-2005)
Bill Davis Racing/Waltrip Announcement UPDATE 2 Mikey on Trackside: Bill Davis hopes to improve that situation [one car team] by having his second [Cup] entry return to the tour full-time next year. He intends to announce details of the program this week. Garage speculation in recent weeks has targeted Michael Waltrip as the driver [with NAPA as the sponsor]. "Like every one over here, we were looking at ways to get better," Davis said. "Going to a two-car team will help, with all the advantages that entails from testing and sharing information." Also of note, when Mike Skinner won a truck race a few weeks ago Davis became just the sixth owner in history to win in all of NASCAR's top three series, joining Jack Roush, Rick Hendrick, Darrell Waltrip, Dale Earnhardt Inc. and Richard Childress.(High Point Enterprise)(9-15-2005) UPDATE: Michael Waltrip said on this weeks Inside Nextel Cup show thathe would announce his 2006 plans on Speed Channel's Trackside show from Dover, which airs this Friday at 7:00pm/et [re-air at 11:00pm/et].(9-21-2005) UPDATE 2: Michael Waltrip will announce Friday [on Trackside] that he has signed a one-year deal to drive a second car for Davis next season. Davis entered two cars in most races from 2000 to 2003 but cut back last season and now fields only Scott Wimmer's #22 Dodge. Wimmer hasn't had a top-10 finish this season and enters Sunday's race at Dover International Speedway 33rd in points. Waltrip will bring NAPA Auto Parts, his current sponsor at Dale Earnhardt Inc., with him to Davis; Waltrip, 42, announced in July that he would not return to DEI in 2006. Davis' team fields Dodges in Nextel Cup but doesn't receive technical or financial support from the automaker. Dodge sued the team in 2003 after it discovered team members were doing development work for Toyota's Craftsman Truck Series program. Though Waltrip says the lack of factory support has "probably been a disadvantage" for Davis, the possibility of aligning himself with Toyota — which hasn't announced plans to join Nextel Cup but is expected to do so in 2007 — was part of the attraction. "I guess it was a consideration on my part to see what might be next," Waltrip said.(USA Today), have seen the NAPA PR and it doesn't address the car number Waltrip will drive [#22? #23? #00?] nor if Scott Wimmer will be back in the #22 Caterpillar Dodge in 2006, although Caterpillar is signed with Davis until 2007.(9-23-2005)
DEI to appeal Waltrip penalty: Dale Earnhardt, Inc.(DEI) is going to appeal the points and monetary fine placed against the #15 NAPA Parts Chevrolet from last week's race at New Hampshire International Speedway. Waltrip, driver of the #15 NAPA Chevrolet, was fined 25 driver points and $10,000 for allegedly using an "inappropriate gesture during a televised broadcast." Teresa Earnhardt, CEO and President of Dale Earnhardt, Inc, was also fined 25 owner points. "In looking at the tape, we don't see anywhere during the entire
incident where Michael did what he is accused of doing," said Richie Gilmore, Vice President of Motorsports for DEI.(DEI PR)(9-22-2005)
Waltrip and Gordon speak: on Speed Channel's new show, Back Seat Drivers, Robby Gordon said Michael Waltrip called him on Tuesday and apologized and even offered up a car from Michael Waltrip Motorsports if Gordon needs it, as Gordon said he is down on Intermediate Track cars [1 to 1.5 mile tracks]. But Gordon expects his team to have one ready for Kansas in a few weeks.(9-22-2005)
Fines, Penalties and Probations Result from New Hampshire Infractions
NASCAR issued fines and penalties Monday to four NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series teams, resulting from rule violations this past weekend at New Hampshire International Speedway. • Robby Gordon, driver of the #7 Chevrolet, was fined $25,000 for attempting to hit another competitor’s car during a caution period, and then throwing his helmet at another competitor’s car. Gordon also was fined $10,000 for use of improper language during a television interview during the race. Each fine was accompanied by penalties against Gordon of 25 driver points and 25 owner points against James Smith. In addition, Gordon has been placed on probation for the remainder of the year. In each instance, Gordon was in violation of Section 12-4-A. So Gordon loses 50 drivers points and 50 owners points.
• #15 Chevrolet driver Michael Waltrip, involved in the on-track altercations with Gordon, was fined $10,000 and penalized 25 driver points because of an inappropriate gesture during a televised broadcast, while car owner Teresa Earnhardt was penalized 25 owner points. Waltrip was also in violation of Secton 12-4-A.(NASCAR PR)
updated points on Jayski's Drivers/Owners Points after New Hampshire page.(9-19-2005)
More on Dale Jr./Eury Jr. reuniting UPDATE 2 Official: Dale Earnhardt Jr. and former crew chief Tony Eury Jr. will be reunited in time for Sunday's race at New Hampshire. Eury has been Michael Waltrip's crew chief this season. Tony Gibson, Waltrip's car chief, is likely to succeed Eury as crew chief and stay with the #15 team for the remainder of the season. Waltrip is leaving with NAPA at the end of the year to drive the #23 car for Bill Davis Racing[not announced yet, still speculated and expected]. With Tony Eury Jr. moving back to the #8 team, Steve Hmiel will return to his previous post as head of DEI's research-and-development operation and concentrate on building the intermediate-track version of "the car of tomorrow (COT)" for 2007. Hmiel says that several organizations are participating in the process, but it was important for DEI to get a head start, "since this will be the biggest change to come along in Cup since NASCAR moved to smaller cars in '81."(Sporting News)(9-12-2005) UPDATE: Tony Eury Jr. will take over crew chief duties for #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. beginning this week in New Hampshire, ESPN's Mike Massaro confirmed with sources at Dale Earnhardt Incorporated [DEI]. Eury had been the crew chief for Michael Waltrip throughout the 2005 season but was a key member of Earnhardt's team up until the infamous personnel swap this past offseason with DEI teammate Waltrip. Earnhardt has had a sub-par 2005 season, already missing out on the Nextel Cup's 10-race playoffs. It already seemed in recent weeks as if Earnhardt is looking to next season, anyway. Eury Jr. stopped by his car at Michigan and helped his crew make some adjustments that Earnhardt said improved his #8 Budweiser Chevy. The two were separated at the end of last season because of their constant bickering -- the two are cousins -- and both have said the year apart helped strengthen the relationship.(ESPN.com)(9-13-2005) OFFICAL: Dale Earnhardt Incorporated announced Wednesday that, starting this weekend at New Hampshire International Speedway, Tony Eury Jr., will take over as crew chief for the #8 Budweiser Chevy. Eury Jr., who has been crew chief for DEI’s #15 Chevy this season, will be reunited with Dale Earnhardt, Jr. who Eury Jr. worked with for eight seasons prior. The two will be paired for the remaining races of the 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup season in preparation for 2006 where they will compete together for the NASCAR championship. “This is the best plan for us as a company,” Eury Jr. said. “We haven’t been in the same pit box this year, but we’ve been working closely as a team. Looking at where we want to be for 2006, it made sense to switch now and get that much further ahead.”
With the 2005 chase contenders decided, Richie Gilmore, DEI’s Vice-President of Motorsports, knew now was the best time for the restructuring. “After evaluating our programs for next season, we went back and looked at all the resources at our disposal,” Gilmore said. “By putting Tony Jr. back with Dale Jr. now, it enables us to start working towards our goals for next season. Those two can start finding their rhythm for next year, while Steve Hmiel can return his full focus on the technical aspect of our programs.” Hmiel, who has been the interim crew chief for the #8 team since May, will return to his position as Technical Director for Dale Earnhardt Inc. Tony Gibson, car chief for the #15 team, will serve as the #15 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet crew chief for the remainder of this season. DEI’s line-up of teams will be stronger than ever for 2006 with three Nextel Cup teams and two Busch Series teams. Chance 2, which is co-owned by Teresa Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr., is the defending Busch Series champions and currently leads in the series point standings.(DEI PR/Site)(9-14-2005)
Dale Jr. and Eury Jr. back together this year? Next week? Transcript: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Media Conference on Thurs. Sept 8th: Q) Are you going to make changes to the team for next year? Dale Earnhardt Jr. driver of the #8 Bud Chevy: "Yeah, we'll make changes. I really can't talk about the changes we're gonna make. I'm not gonna announce the changes this time, so y'all will just have to wait or ask somebody else." Q) Do you want to be back with Tony Eury Jr. this season if you're going to work together next season? Dale Jr: "If me and Tony Jr. are going to work together next year, that'd be a good idea to begin work on that relationship. With the few races left, use it to kind of work on... (the 8 and 15 teams) they've been working a lot together the last couple of weeks as far as set-ups and stuff, and moving some of their stuff over to my car. But it's not the whole thing. It'd be good to get on track with (Tony) Jr. if that's what we're gonna do next year. See full Q&A at fingerprintonline.com. AND MORE Richie Gilmore, vice president of motorsports at Dale Earnhardt Inc., hinted Friday that Dale Earnhardt Jr. and crew chief Tony Eury Jr. could be reunited as soon as next week at New Hampshire International Speedway. "If me and Tony Jr. are going to work together next year, that'd be a good idea to begin working on that relationship,'' Earnhardt said. Gilmore said the team announced all its changes for next year to its employees but is waiting to make those decisions public. "We don't really feel like we need to take away from anybody in the chase,'' Gilmore said. "Maybe at Loudon, we'll go there and we'll announce our plans there.'' Gilmore said the team plans to use the last 10 races preparing for next season. "I feel we can go to Daytona and run great again with our plate program, but I want to focus on ... California and Las Vegas,'' Gilmore said of the second and third race next season. "Coming out of the box those have never been great race tracks for us and we can work on that the rest of the year. Looking at the season as one big test.''(Roanoke Times)(9-10-2005)
DEI and RCR...merge? a merger between RCR and Dale Earnhardt Inc. is rumored to be in the works. Although DEI vice president Richie Gilmore says the partnership will involve nothing more than promotional plans, the two organizations enjoyed a beneficial aerodynamic alliance several years ago. Considering the strength of powerhouses Roush and Hendrick Motorsports, a marriage between RCR and DEI would move their programs up a level. Another benefit? Dale Earnhardt Jr. could follow in his late father's footsteps in an RCR car.(Sporting News)(9-5-2005)
Eury Dr. signs with DEI too: Tony Eury Sr., affectionately known as Pops, has signed his first contract with DEI. Eury led Earnhardt Jr. to two Busch titles and stepped down at the end of last season as Junior's Cup crew chief. Eury, who's under contract through 2008, is working in research and development.(Sporting News), his son, Tony Jr. recently signed thru 2008 to stay at DEI and supposedly will be Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s crew chief in 2006.(9-5-2005)
Mikey gives LA Mayor a ride: Los Angles, CA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa will ride to work in a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race car with #15-Michael Waltrip on Thursday, September 1, 2005 at 9:00am from the Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90015. Mayor Villaraigosa will be joined by Michael Waltrip, the two-time Daytona 500 winner who is in town in preparation for this weekend's Sony HD 500 race at the California Speedway. Waltrip will pick up the Mayor at Staples Center and give him a ride to City Hall in a NEXTEL Cup race car.(PR)(9-1-2005)
Third DEI part-time in 2006? UPDATE: #15 Crew chief Tony Eury Jr. finally has something to talk about - a new contract with Dale Earnhardt Inc. He revealed that Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s contract is up at the end of 2007. And he said that DEI would field a third team next season "part-time."(Winston Salem Journal)(8-20-2005) UPDATE: DEI is adamant Michael Waltrip will not be in the #15 car next season. In fact, if NAPA does not return, another sponsor is waiting to support a research and development car that will offer seat time to Busch racers Paul Menard and Ryan Moore.(Sporting News)(8-22-2005)
Waltrip and Toyota? UPDATE 2 to BDR?: Waltrip is headed eventually to the Toyota camp - along with Eury Jr., according to one Detroit source very close to the situation - in what is reported to be a top-dollar project. "Toyota has offered Michael and Tony Jr. so much money they can't turn it down," the source said. Waltrip has been eyed for a Toyota ride for more than a year, in part because older brother Darrell runs a Toyota team on the Craftsman Truck Series. NASCAR has been pushing Toyota to step up its presence in the sport, for the added marketing punch that would provide. And Waltrip could give Toyota quick credibility. Toyota isn't expected to field a Cup team until 2007, although a Busch team is a possibility in 2006. Toyota does have a formidable presence in the truck series. The Toyota option? "I don't even know when that's a possibility, and I need a job for next year," Waltrip replied.(Winston Salem Journal)(7-16-2005) UPDATE: There have been whispers that [Michael] Waltrip is working with Toyota to become their flagship driver in 2007. Even though nothing firm has been announced in relation to Toyota, speculation is that they will have a car ready for the 2007 season. Don't be surprised if the team that Waltrip drives for in 2006 is in the final year of their manufacturers' contract.(Suffolk News Herald)(8-9-2005) UPDATE 2: ....could find Michael Waltrip racing under the banner of Bill Davis Racing in 2006, and he might be taking his current sponsor, NAPA, with him. Waltrip has informed his current team, Dale Earnhardt Inc., that he won't be returning to the #15 Chevy he has driven for the past five seasons. A move to Davis' team would mesh nicely with Waltrip's expected plans to join Toyota's team when that manufacturer moves to the Cup circuit in 2007 or 2008], because Davis already is running Toyotas in the Craftsman Truck Series.(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)(8-19-2005)
Eury Jr. to sign with DEI back with #8 UPDATE signed...but which car?: Dale Earnhardt Inc. is negotiating a contract for #15 Crew Chief [was Dale Jr's car chief in 2004] Tony Eury Jr. to become Earnhardt's crew chief [for 2006]. The deal could get signed this week.(Sporting News)(8-15-2005) MORE: Tony Eury Jr. was scheduled to meet with Teresa Earnhardt Monday to talk about signing a contract with DEI. Eury said has had talks with several other teams although he would not name names. “Yeah, I probably got about four or five teams and there have been some pretty impressive offers but like I told Dale Jr. I don’t really have a desire to leave this company. It’s just a matter of I want what the going rate is for Tony Jr. I’ve been there for 14 years and I’ve never really asked for a raise so I’m just listening and seeing what people
have to say.” Eury Jr. has never had a formal contract with DEI saying “Dale Sr. wanted me to sign a contract about seven years ago and me and him left on a handshake. We had that kind of trust in each other…and like I told him…you don’t ever screw me around and take care of me and I’m always here. I have the same attitude toward Dale Jr.”(PRN's Garage Pass Radio Show)(8-15-2005) UPDATE: Teresa Earnhardt, President and CEO of Dale Earnhardt, Inc., and crew chief, Tony Eury, Jr., a 14-year employee of DEI, have announced that Eury Jr. will remain part of the organization for many years to come via a long-term contract that was inked today. "Having such a loyal employee and talented crew chief like Tony as part of DEI on a long-term basis was an important objective for the continuity of our program," said Ms. Earnhardt. "I couldn't be happier," Eury, Jr. said. "I've spent many years with DEI and always planned to be for a long time to come. With all the outside distractions now behind us, we can focus on winning races." For 2006 NASCAR competition, DEI plans to field the #1, #8, and #15 cars on the Nextel Cup Series circuit; and the #8 and #11 cars on the Busch Series circuit.(DEI PR), doesn't say which team/car/driver Eury Jr. will work with.(8-18-2005)
100 Wins for DEI/Chance2: For the 100th time since Dale Earnhardt, Inc. [counting Chance2] was formed 25 years ago, there is a checkered flag flying outside their corporate headquarters. When the #8 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet of Martin Truex, Jr. pulled into Victory Lane at Indianapolis Raceway Park on Saturday night, it was his sixth of the season. But, for DEI it marked a milestone in their history. The team Dale and Teresa Earnhardt co-founded made its first visit to a Victory Lane in March 1985 with Dale winning a Busch Series race at Rockingham Speedway. There are only six drivers who can claim they contributed to the team’s 100 wins earned at 33 different NASCAR venues. Dale Earnhardt [17 wins], Dale Earnhardt, Jr. [35], Ron Hornaday [27], Martin Truex, Jr. [12], Steve Park [5] and Michael Waltrip [4]. Truex, Jr. delivered a championship to the team winning the 2004 NASCAR Busch Series crown [and currently leads the points there in 2005], Earnhardt Jr. won the Busch crown in 1998 amd 1999 and Hornaday delivered two Craftsman Truck Series championships during his tenure with the team.(DEI PR)(8-11-2005)
Waltrip to the #11? before end of the season? UPDATE 2:Motorsport.com is reporting: Speculation has arisen that Michael Waltrip may vacate his seat in the #15 DEI Chevy prior to the end of the 2005 season. Rumors are swirling around the garage that Waltrip has been offered to drive the No. 11 Chevy at Joe Gibbs Racing for the last ten races of the season and next year. Both teams have denied the report.(Motorsport.com)(7-22-2005) UPDATE: Micheal Waltip denied one of this weekend's hottest rumors that he will replace Jason Leffler in the Joe Gibbs Racing #11 Chevrolet starting at Watkins Glen. When asked directly by Yahoo! Sports, Waltrip emphatically said that he intends to honor the remainder of his contract – unless he's fired.(Yahoo Sports)(8-7-2005) UPDATE 2: Sources close to Michael Waltrip say he is in the running to take a full-time ride with Joe Gibbs, after the departure of Jason Leffler [#11 Fed-Ex Chevy]. Gibbs may move the FedEx sponsorship from his new third team to Bobby Labonte's #18 team next season, and that would open up a quarterpanel for NAPA, Waltrip's long-time sponsor at DEI.(Winston Salem Journal)(8-11-2005)
Mikey to stay at DEI? not much info here, but the Winston Salem Journal reports: Michael Waltrip may not be leaving Dale Earnhardt Inc. [#15 NAPA Chevy] at the end of the season after all.(Winston Salem Journal)(8-8-2005)
Waltrip close to making his 2006 plans known: per a GM Racing PR, Michael Waltrip, current driver of the #15 NAPA DEI Chevy said: "I'm getting closer, I think. I have a couple of meetings this week that might shed some light on where I'll be. Maybe by Watkins Glen or shortly thereafter I'll be able to tell what I'm going to do. Just don't have it all worked out yet. I feel pretty good about where I wind up."
as for leaving DEI before the 2005 season ends: "No, I would not ever do that no matter what. I mean, I would leave if they ran me off. I wouldn't hang around there. I wouldn't go I wouldn't do anything that would jeopardize what NAPA has put behind me and that team and what the contracts say that I will do. I can't imagine a scenario that you could paint that would that I would leave that place.(GM Racing)(8-7-2005)
DEI close to signing Eury Jr.: DEI director of motorsports Richie Gilmore said he is close to signing Tony Eury Jr., an employee of 15 years who is currently crew chief for the #15 for Michael Waltrip. "The Eurys have never had contracts; they've always just been there," Gilmore said. "It's always been an agreement and a year-to-year deal and Tony Jr. has told me he's not going anywhere. We're working on a deal and it would be his first contract ever."(St Petersburg Times)(8-7-2005)
DEI has a driver for the #15...if NAPA stays UPDATE 2 Denials: If Dale Earnhardt Inc. [DEI] can keep NAPA as a sponsor for a third car next season, an already topsy-turvy "Silly Season" could get even wilder. DEI Director of Motorsports Richie Gilmore said yesterday the team is negotiating with the auto-parts supplier about staying with the #15 being vacated by Michael Waltrip after 2005. Gilmore said DEI already has lined up a driver to team with Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Martin Truex Jr. for the 2006 Nextel Cup season. Gilmore wouldn't disclose a name but said it was someone prominent on another race team "that's been on our wish list for some time."
"[NAPA] has some options with us, Michael and some other race teams," Gilmore said. "We've put about a two-week window on it where they've got to make the decision and we've got to make a decision and go forward. But we have a driver kind of laid out, and everything laid out."(Richmond Times Dispatch) MORE: The rumor mill says Matt Kenseth [#17 DeWalt Ford, contract thru 2006] will be leaving the Roush stable soon and that a spot at DEI [#15?] may be in his future.(RacingOne)(8-5-2005) UPDATE: DEI's bid to hold sponsor NAPA to field a third team next season hinges on DEI's signing one particular, unnamed driver, which DEI executives yesterday said they didn't expect to happen. Earnhardt said he hopes to have a third team running next season, "But we don't know quite what we're going to do with that team." NAPA could stay with Michael Waltrip, who is finishing his DEI contract, and that could mean Waltrip would be able to field his own Cup team next season.(Winston Salem Journal)(8-6-2005) UPDATE 2 - Denials: #17-Matt Kenseth and #41-Casey Mears on Saturday denied recent speculation that they would leave their respective teams in favor of driving the #15 Chevrolet at Dale Earnhardt Inc. "Am I going to DEI? No," Kenseth said following Nextel Cup Series practice at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. "I'm happy at Roush Racing."
"I'll say right now I'm 99.9 percent sure I'm going to be with Ganassi next year," Mears said. "We had a meeting a few days ago and everything looks real positive to do something for next year, and right now we're 100 percent effort to try to make something happen for here, next year, for Ganassi. Without making any announcements, we're trying to put things together for here at Ganassi."(NASCAR.com) DRIVER HINT: Richie Gilmore, vice president of DEI, refused to name the driver, but dropped several hints saying he was currently in the Nextel Cup series, was younger than 30, marketable, and fast in Saturday's practice sessions. NAPA, the sponsor of that car, could choose to leave DEI and go with Waltrip to his next team. But Gilmore indicated the team would stay if DEI could sign the driver they are eyeing. Should they fail to get him, then DEI will essentially fold the team. Gilmore said Busch Series driver Paul Menard would drive seven Cup events next season, then move up full-time in 2007.(ESPN.com RPM) using the criteria Gilmore mentioned, in thee top 25 in Saturday's practice, who are under 30 and could be looking at rides: Brian Vickers, Bobby Hamilton Jr. and Kyle Busch. Why no Mears? read above the HINT part where he says he is staying at Ganassi. UPDATE on HINT: folks at Hendrick Motorsports tell me Brian Vickers and Kyle Busch are both in the middle of multi-year deals with Hendrick Motorsports, so remove their names from the rumor mill.(8-7-2005)
Michael Waltrip entertainment center gets zoning OK UPDATE: The Cornelius (N.C.) Board of Commissioners approved zoning Monday night for a race shop/ entertainment center headed by NASCAR Nextel Cup driver Michael Waltrip. Waltrip appeared at Monday's meeting to push his vision for "Waltrip Racing World" at the former Movies at the Lake off Interstate 77 Exit 28. After about three hours of public hearing and debate, the board granted the conditional-use zoning necessary for him to begin work. Nearby neighbors complained that a motorcoach park planned as part of the complex would hurt their property values. Waltrip Racing World representatives agreed to a long list of conditions in order to get approval.(Charlotte Observer)(8-3-2005) UPDATE: Michael and Buffy Waltrip announced Friday their plans to build an innovative racing facility in Cornelius, NC, adjacent to Interstate 77 entitled Waltrip Racing World. The Waltrip Racing World campus will encompass over eight acres and more than 110,000 square foot of buildings, housing the world’s first truly interactive race shop that will be accessible to the public. Waltrip Racing plans to relocate its existing NASCAR Busch Series team and driver development programs to this facility, which will serve as the centerpiece of the entertainment for the interactive fan experience. The facility is a former 12-screen movie theater, located in a very visible and highly trafficked location, lending itself perfectly to converting it to the fan friendly experience Waltrip wants. Waltrip Racing World will consist of a skywalk through the facility, live pit road practice sessions and team training, movies, retail store, restaurant and more including a 40-space private motor coach area. The Waltrip’s have partnered with Noah Lazes, a longtime personal friend and president of the ARK Group. Lazes is a resident of Cornelius and has a tremendous amount of experience developing entertainment oriented projects around the country and creating experiences that entertain people, including North Carolina’s largest annual music festival. Lazes is helping the Waltrips to put all the necessary pieces together to turn their exciting dream into a reality. Michael Waltrip continues to weigh his options as they relate to his future driving plans.(Michael Waltrip site)(8-6-2005)
So..who is in the #15 in 2006? UPDATE Menard to run #1 at Watkins Glen: with Michael Waltrip and DEI splitting, and NAPA's status with DEI or Waltrip up in the air, who, if anyone will be in the #15 Chevy? Does it go the way of the #1 team, as a part time team or a full-time gig? Been told that the plans are for DEI's #11 Chevy Busch Series driver, Paul Menard, to run one more full season in the Busch Series and run up to 7 Cup races, it could be in the #15 or a 4th DEI team if the #15 runs full time as DEI plan to do.(7-20-2005) UPDATE - Menard to run at Watkins Glen in #1: DEI #11 Busch Series driver, Paul Menard will attempt to make his first DEI Cup start at Watkins Glen in the SIRIUS Satellite Radio at The Glen on August 14th. Menard will drive the #1 Kraft Chevy. Menard will run in the Busch Series in 2006 with select Nextel Cup starts and plans got a full-time Nextel Cup ride in 2007.(NASCAR Scene Magazine). but been told Menard will not be in the #15 car in 2006 or 2007.(7-28-2005)
Marlin to the #0? MORE and Mikey? now hearing Sterling Marlin's new gig in 2006 could be the the #0 Haas CNC Racing team. No Mikey? AND hearing Haas CNC Racing, who is moving soon to a much larger building in Kannapolis, NC, may expand to a two-car team, with Waltrip driving the #00 Chevy and NAPA as the sponsor.(7-20-2005)
NAPA to the #6? hearing NAPA is talking with Roush Racing about being a sponsor on the #6 Ford in 2006, no idea if Michael Waltrip would do a one-year stint in the #6.(7-15-2005)
DEI and Waltrip part ways after 2005: Dale Earnhardt Incorporated (DEI) and Michael Waltrip announced today they will no longer be together beginning in 2006. The DEI #15 NAPA Chevrolet has been driven by Michael Waltrip, a fan-favorite, in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series for the past five seasons where he earned four victories, including two Daytona 500 wins in 2001 and 2003. "All of us at DEI want to thank Michael for all his contributions to our organization and wish him well as he moves on in his career," said Richie Gilmore, DEI's Vice President of Motorsports. "Dale and Teresa gave me an opportunity with a winning organization that I have been proud to be an integral part of for the last five years," Waltrip said. "My professional relationship with DEI is ending, but my personal relationships have ties that are deep-rooted. Therefore, my decision to leave DEI is a difficult one. Our individual visions for the future are taking different courses, but our goals are the same- to be successful in the premier division of NASCAR."
"DEI's NASCAR Nextel Cup focus for 2006," continued Gilmore, "will be to sharpen every entity of our race teams by preparing the #1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet, driven by Martin Truex Jr., and the No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet driven by Dale Earnhardt Jr., for the championship. Additionally, we are working diligently with our current partner, NAPA, on returning to the #15 car."(DEI PR) NOTE: Watch Michael Waltrip on SPEED Channel's Trackside at 7:00pm/et for more on this announcement and possible news about his ride for next year. Some rumors floating around have him going to the #0 Chevy. AND Sources in the NASCAR garage indicate that Waltrip is working on a deal to drive for Hass CNC Racing next year. That team fields the #0 Chevrolets that Mike Bliss now drives. Sources say NAPA, which has been Waltrip's sponsor, could go with him, leaving DEI with the #8 Chevrolets driven by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the #1 Chevrolets driven by Martin Truex Jr., who will move up from Busch to Nextel Cup in 2006.(ThatsRacin.com/David Poole)(7-15-2005)
DEI up for awards: The nominees have been released and Dale Earnhardt, Inc. is once again up for two awards by Charlotte Trip magazine. And, just like last year, they’ll need some help from our dedicated fans to assist in the voting process. DEI is once again up for Best of Charlotte and Best Day Trip in the annual Visitor’s Choice Gold Awards put together by the magazine. With your help, they won both categories last year. You can vote for DEI [or other nominee] by logging onto www.CharlotteTrip.com, voting ends on August 15 and then the final three nominees in each category are announced. The actual awards ceremony is on September 7 in Charlotte.(DEI)(7-6-2005)
Mikey and NAPA look to be back with DEI in 2006 UPDATE: Now that Dale Earnhardt, Inc. has signed Martin Truex, Jr. to a three-year contract extension, the next order of business is to renew the deals for driver Michael Waltrip and his sponsor, NAPA, DEI Director of Motorsports Richie Gilmore said Saturday night. “Michael’s been a great driver for us and a great cheerleader for us this year and a great teammate,” Gilmore said. “I think in the next couple of weeks, we’ll have it all worked out. The Martin (Truex, Jr.) deal just took up a lot more time than we thought, but everybody’s happy with how it worked out.” As for Waltrip’s contract extension — something of a surprise to some, as his job was rumored to be in jeopardy — Gilmore said, “We’re still working out the details on it. We think we can get it done in the next couple of weeks. We got a lot done today with NAPA and Michael and we feel like we can definitely get it done.”(Speed Channel), also being told that Waltrip wil NOT be replaced at Speed Channel's Inside Nextel Cup show.(7-3-2005) UPDATE: DEI is close to signing sponsor NAPA and driver Michael Waltrip to a one year contract with a perhaps three year extension. That according to DEI Director of Competition Richie Gilmore after a series of contract talks at Daytona with sponsor representatives. Gilmore says the deal to sign Martin Truex Jr. took longer than expected and that now it’s important to make sure DEI has three teams to compete with the Roush and Hendrick operations. Meanwhile, Waltrip says has no deadline and "Whenever they’re ready, I’m pretty much flexible to figure out what’s next whenever they are, so I’m happy. I don’t have any issues. I know how it goes and we’ll work it all out." As far as a back-up plan, Michael said “I’ve been doing this for 20-years and I’ve realized that
over the years that you better have a plan "B" …if you don’t you’re libel to be out in left field somewhere so I’m just going right along,
happy, just riding a good wave right now. I don’t have any demands. It’d be silly for me to make demands when I haven’t heard what the plan is and when I hear the plan we’ll go from there. Everything’s good as far as I know…I don’t know of any reason to be worried."(PRN's Garage Pass/Sporting News)(7-4-2005)
Eury Jr. misses Drivers Meeting for the Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway. Eury Jr. is the crew chief for #15-Michael Waltrip. Waltrip will not be sent to the rear of the field, but Eury Jr. will probably get a light fine by NASCAR as crew chiefs are required to attend the meeting.(XM Satellite Radio Rain Delay Coverage)(7-2-2005)
Eury Sr. thinks swap could had been a mistake at DEI: Cup Scene at the track and at an interview DEI's Tony Eury Sr. gave: "We got a lot of bad press at the beginning at the first of the year on why it was running bad. I guess we made a bad move over the winter and our cars down there in the 8 shop weren't as good as we thought they were. When you get behind like that, it takes
time to catch up. We're getting him a fleet of cars now and getting them better. When you got something good, I guess you should leave it alone. You know we won six races with him last year maybe it should have been left alone. But that's past and we got to get him in that Chase now, so everything's behind us and we're going forward from here and building (Dale Jr.) good cars and trying to get in that chase." As for the third team: "We're still debating on a driver. We don't real know what's going to happen yet. We had a deadline and we extended it with a couple of sponsors and drivers, right now we're just kind of in the middle of everything." BUT "Martin [Truex Jr.] will be in the #1 (Cup)car (next year).(Cup Scene Report from DIS)(6-30-2005)
Menard and DEI? UPDATE 2 engines? been hearing that John Menard, who's son Paul, runs for DEI in the Busch Series [#11 Menard Chevy] may be buying into ownership of DEI...not sure if in part or whole....or at all.(5-20-2005) UPDATE: Richie Gilmore, Director of Motorsports at Dale Earnhardt Inc., strongly disputed rumors that millionaire businessman John Menard is attempting to buy the team. Talk of a potential sale was prevalent in the garage area at Pocono Raceway, where several drivers and owners from other teams confirmed that they had heard the rumor. “There is no truth to it at all,” Gilmore said. “John (Menard) is a great sponsor of ours, but that’s all it is. Over the years, many ‘players’ have tried to buy DEI. We’ve been contacted by owners of NFL and NBA teams about it. Teresa (Earnhardt) has no interest.” Menard’s son Paul drives the #11 DEI Chevy in the Busch Series.(Gaston Gazette)(6-11-2005) UPDATE 2: Dale Earnhardt Jr. has been complaining about horsepower much of the season, and now it appears that DEI will be building a new engine shop, perhaps with Menard Engineering help. Owner John Menard's son Paul drives Busch cars for DEI. Menard Engineering also provides motors for Robby Gordon.(Winston Salem Journal)(6-27-2005)
DEI Teams Now Sharing: Dale Earnhardt Jr. is not pleased with the state of his team, which fell to 16th in the standings after last week’s 33rd-place finish at Pocono. However, he is happy with the communication between his #8 Budweiser team and the #15 NAPA team of Michael Waltrip since Steve Hmiel was named his crew chief last month. “It’s better than I ever remember it being,” he said. “We want both DEI teams to make the (championship) chase.” Waltrip’s team moved up two spots to #15 with a fifth-place finish at Pocono. “We’re struggling, but I know how hard we’re working,” Earnhardt said. “And seeing the 15 team have success gives me confidence that we’ll be able to pull out of this.”(The State)(6-17-2005)
Menard and DEI? UPDATE denied: been hearing that John Menard, who's son Paul, runs for DEI in the Busch Series [#11 Menard Chevy] may be buying into ownership of DEI...not sure if in part or whole....or at all.(5-20-2005) UPDATE: Richie Gilmore, Director of Motorsports at Dale Earnhardt Inc., strongly disputed rumors that millionaire businessman John Menard is attempting to buy the team. Talk of a potential sale was prevalent in the garage area at Pocono Raceway, where several drivers and owners from other teams confirmed that they had heard the rumor. “There is no truth to it at all,” Gilmore said. “John (Menard) is a great sponsor of ours, but that’s all it is. Over the years, many ‘players’ have tried to buy DEI. We’ve been contacted by owners of NFL and NBA teams about it. Teresa (Earnhardt) has no interest.” Menard’s son Paul drives the #11 DEI Chevy in the Busch Series.(Gaston Gazette)(6-11-2005)
Waltrip and others to run Southwest race at Infineon: #15-Michael Waltrip announced that he will compete in the Blue Lizard Australian Suncream 200, which will take the green flag on Saturday, June 25th at 4:00pm/et at Infineon Raceway. The NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest Series race will span 64 laps around the 10-turn, 1.99-mile road course. The two-time winner of the Daytona 500 (2001, 2003) will be joined by other NASCAR NEXTEL Cup regulars Kyle Busch (MRG Motorsports), Boris Said, Travis Kvapil (Snap-on Tools) and Hermie Sadler. Kvapil will pilot his Snap-on Tools Dodge as the company celebrates its 85th anniversary.(Infineon Raceway)(6-8-2005)
What's Up with Waltrip and the #15? #15-Michael Waltrip's future with DEI is still up in the air. DEI's Richie Gilmore said he would like to keep Waltrip and sponsor NAPA, but the ultimate decision is up to team owner Teresa Earnhardt, who could make a move in the next few weeks.(Winston Salem Journal)(6-6-2005)
Dale Jr. and Mikey Talk: from a GM Racing PR - Saturday morning practice quotes at Dover International Speedway, Richie Gilmore, Director of Motorsports if DEI explained the accident between #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. and #15-Michale Waltrip in the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway: "(Junior) got into him. That's how the wreck started. Junior apologized the Michael on Monday. They talked a couple of times during the week and we don't think we have any problems and it was definitely not intentional." Did Junior say anything more about why he made the mistake? "Just a mistake. He caught him faster than he thought he was. I think he was excited that.that car hasn't run in contention to win for while. That was probably the best that car's been all year.(GM Racing PR)(6-4-2005)
Some Good Mikey News: The National Motorsports Press Association announced that Michael and Buffy Waltrip had been named first-quarter nominees for the NMPA/Pocono Spirit Award. The Waltrips were honored for Operation Marathon, a fund-raiser that raised more than $1 million for the Victory Junction Gang Camp in Randleman. Michael Waltrip ran in the Las Vegas Marathon in conjunction with the project. Wife Buffy competed in a half marathon on the same weekend.(Gaston Gazette) AND Victory Junction Gang Camp founders Kyle and Pattie Petty, along with NASCAR driver Michael Waltrip and his wife Buffy, dedicated the new Michael Waltrip Operation Marathon Sports Center at the 1 year birthday celebration on May 24th. The $1 million gift was made possible by the Waltrips’ Operation Marathon fundraising initiative, through the Michael and Buffy Waltrip Charitable Fund. The dedication ceremony featured the unveiling of an 18-foot tall caricature statue of Michael Waltrip.(Michael Waltrip site)(6-4-2005)
New Chassis on the way for DEI: While some teams use chassis built in-house to incorporate details that make them more suitable to their driver's styles, DEI is taking a chassis it bought from a manufacturer and modifying it in an attempt to develop a feel that works best for Earnhardt Jr., Waltrip and Martin Truex Jr. The chassis has been tested at Kentucky Speedway, but DEI has yet to try it in a race just yet. Truex almost drove the chassis at Charlotte, but went with a more proven car. Earnhardt thinks it will make a big difference once the refined car becomes part of his arsenal.(ESPN.com)(6-2-2005)
Eury Sr. not happy with Dale Jr. UPDATE There were a record 22 cautions (one turned into red) during the Coca-Cola 600 last Sunday. One flew after Dale Earnhardt Jr. tagged teammate Michael Waltrip from behind. Tony Eury Sr., Dale Earnhardt Inc.'s director of competition, was not happy. Clearly. "I don't know what his (Junior's) problem is with Michael," Eury said, "but it will be fixed tomorrow--I guarantee it. He acts like he's friends with him, but every time he gets near him on the racetrack, he ends up wrecking him. DEI has enough problems. We don't need that."(Sporting News)(5-30-2005) UPDATE - comments from Dale Jr.: "There's no problem between me and Michael," he said. "There's no problem between me and Michael and I think Michael understands that. He’s definitely not the person I wanted to run into tonight. It’s unfortunate. Hopefully everybody can come to terms with it one way or another. I know some guys on Michael’s team are probably upset and don’t really know. I mean, if you’re not in the race car, you don’t know what the hell’s going on out there, so I can’t expect anyone to understand what exactly was going on at that moment and time, and how we all came together and wrecked. The people that understand, they’ll move on and we’ll try to get better next week. … (Me and Michael) don’t get into the habit of running into each other. And we don’t really race each other that hard. We actually try to work together most of the time. It’s just unfortunate. We’re out there racing, and he happened to be the guy. It could’ve been anybody else. He’s the last person I wanted to run into, but we were all going for the same piece of real estate.”(Dale Jr Pitstop/Budweiser PR)(5-31-2005)
Rondeau comments....contract issue? no sharing? Pete Rondeau said he signed a three-year contract when he agreed to be #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s crew chief before the Nextel Cup season that never was signed by owner Teresa Earnhardt. In the contract, according to Rondeau, there was a clause that stated he was to be given six weeks notice if performance was in question. “I just show up on Monday, and I’m out of a job,” he said on Saturday. Richie Gilmore, the director of motorsports for Dale Earnhardt Incorporated, declined to comment on the contract or the clause. Rondeau, who was replaced on an interim basis by Steve Hmiel, said that wasn’t the only promise the company failed to keep. He said Earnhardt’s former team, which is now with #15-Michael Waltrip, never shared information. “There was probably a little bit of a sore spot between the old eight team and us,” said Rondeau, who was Waltrip’s crew chief last season. “Tony Eury Sr. (Earnhardt’s former crew chief), was supposed to be working amongst the two teams. I probably saw him once at Daytona and never saw him again after that. When you’re a single-car team in a multi-car organization, that’s not going to work.” Rondeau said he wasn’t aware of the communication problem Gilmore and Earnhardt cited as the reason for his dismissal. He reminded that the team was 11th in points and had five top-10s after a slow start. “What he got during the race was what he asked for,” said Rondeau, who does not plan to bring legal action against DEI. “During the first two races I was giving too much, but he didn’t want to know the changes (to the car). He just wanted to be the driver and let me be the crew chief, so I backed off. The latest thing I heard was he wasn’t getting enough. I’m not sure he knew what he wanted. Maybe he just wanted somebody to argue with on the radio, and I wasn’t interested.” Rondeau said Gilmore offered him a part-time job as the car chief for the #1 car the remainder of the season. Rondeau is supposed to make a decision by Monday, but because the car is scheduled for only four more races, he is leaning toward not accepting.
Rondeau said he has talked to several other teams about a crew-chief job.(The State)(5-29-2005)
Rusty in, Mikey out at Trackside? UPDATE Mikey's choice: hearing that Rusty Wallace will replace Michale Waltrip on Speed Channel's Trackside show, starting sometime this summer. No reason mentioned. The show airs on Friday's at various times, sometime live and sometimes same day coverage and is hosted by Steve Byrnes with Darrell Waltrip, Larry McReynolds and Jeff Hammond adding commentaty and funny stuff to the mix. Guest each week include drivers from the different NASCAR Series and other NASCAR personalities.(5-19-2005) UPDATE: Waltrip said on this weeks Inside Nextel Cup show, Speed Channel [Monday's 8:00pm/et] that it was his choice to leave and that he was too busy with driving the #15 Cup car and #99 Busch Series car.(5-27-2005)
Some IDOL stuff: Coca-Cola Racing Family driver Michael Waltrip will race eight finalists from the hit show "American Idol" and 12 children of active-duty North Carolina servicemen and women currently serving overseas. The event will be held Saturday at NASCAR SpeedPark in Concord BUT is not open to the public. AND The eight "American Idol" finalists will perform on the Coca-Cola Stage at Food Lion Speed Street on Saturday, May 28th at 7 p.m. The finalists will also be part of the pre-race show on Sunday, May 29th at the Coca-Cola 600 when they sing the national anthem for nearly 200,000 race fans. AND DW: Fox's Darrell Waltrip and family are guests of FOX Sports CEO David Hill @ American Idol Finals both Tuesday and Wednesday nights.(5-25-2005)
DEI working on contracts with Waltrip and Truex: DEI vice president Richie Gilmore says contract discussions continue with NAPA and #15-Michael Waltrip and with Martin Truex, who is expected to revive the #1 Chevrolet in Cup with Bass Pro Shops as the sponsor. Gilmore says that NAPA is looking at a one-year extension, and DEI would like a three-year deal.(Sporting News) AND Richie Gilmore, director of motorsports at DEI, says he's confident that Dale Earnhardt Inc. will sign Martin Truex Jr. to a new contract soon. Michael Waltrip's situation, though, is not as certain. Truex' contract expires after this season. While there is interest in the Cup garage for the defending Busch series champion, DEI has it set up for him to drive Cup cars full time next year with Bass Pro Shops as the sponsor. "Martin's dad and I talk pretty much every day. I think we'll get back together with (car owner) Teresa (Earnhardt) next week and, hopefully, we'll get something together," Gilmore said. Gilmore says that Waltrip's sponsor NAPA has an option for next season. That leaves Waltrip's status uncertain. "We talked to Michael last week," Gilmore said. "We told Michael that we're trying to get the NAPA deal and then we can sit down and talk with him about talk about the future."(Roanoke Times)(5-16-2005)
Mikey and Green spar most of the race: #15-Michael Waltrip and #43-Jeff Green were called to the office after Waltrip clearly spun Green out, bringing caution on Lap 207. Waltrip and Green apparently have a running disagreement, with Waltrip accusing Green of jabbing at him earlier in the race [a lap 8 wreck took Waltrip out of contention], and with the two also having a clash at Martinsville. Waltrip insisted he was not sure what caused brought on the unpleasantness. "They said we should not be around each other," he said after his meeting with the officials. "That'll be good with me, because the only two times I've had him behind me he's spun me out. It's unfortunate to have to deal with stuff like this."
"I'm baffled. I was running down the back straightaway on the first lap of green and he hit me. The sad part is he doesn't have to pay any price and I get my car tore all to pieces. It's cool with me. If NASCAR says stay away from each other or you'll regret it, then that's good." Waltrip was penalized one lap for rough driving after spinning Green out. Green left the meeting quickly and did not comment.(Speed Channel)(5-8-2005)
Waltrip hopes to stay, up to NAPA: Hanging over #15-MIchael Waltrip, again, is his future at Dale Earnhardt Inc., once more a topic of conversation, and sponsor NAPA may be the power that ultimately makes the call. NAPA executives like Waltrip, but NAPA is also a demanding sponsor. There is speculation if Waltrip leaves DEI that NAPA might take its money and follow him. Waltrip said he'd prefer to stay, and he figures he's making his case. "We showed signs of being a winning driver last Saturday night," Waltrip said. "I got with a team that just won Phoenix (last fall), and I raced Kurt (Busch) to the very end, the defending champion.(Winston Salem Journal)(4-30-2005)
Eury Wins Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Race: PHOENIX, AZ (April 23, 2005) - Michael Waltrip came up just short of winning his first race of the 2005 season. After starting twenty-eighth in the Subway 500 at Phoenix International raceway, Waltrip charged through the field, eventually battling Kurt Busch in thrilling late-race duel to the checkered flag. The #15 team's impressive comeback earned Tony Eury Jr. the Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Race Award. Waltrip's car showed promise early, running some of the fastest times in this weekend's practice sessions. Unfortunately, Waltrip didn't back up his practice speeds in qualifying and drove the #15 NAPA Chevrolet to a twenty-eighth place starting spot. The panel of voters selecting the Crew Chief of the Race; including Jim Gintonio of the Arizona Republic, a Wypall Wipers representative and Robbie Reiser; elected Eury via a split decision . Gintonio cast his vote for Lance McGrew, crew chief of the #25 GMAC Chevrolet. Reiser and the Wypall Wipers representative voted for Eury. Tony Eury Jr. collected $1,000 for winning the Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Race award. He is now tied with Robbie Loomis, Scott Miller, Bob Osborne, Alan Gustafson and Pete Rondeau for second place in the Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Year standings. Doug Richert leads the competition with two wins. At the end of the season, the crew chief with the most weekly wins will receive $20,000.(SMC 500)(4-25-2005)
Dale Jr. isn't concerned about Truex bolting; Expects Mikey back in the #15: #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. isn’t concerned teammate Martin Truex Jr. will be driving for any team other than DEI. Truex, who is in contract negotiations with car owner Teresa Earnhardt said at Texas rumors of him looking to go elsewhere are false. Dale Jr. said “I feel real confident he (Truex) means what he says and he wants to be with us. I don’t want Martin to feel slighted in any way or feel unhappy with it (his contract) so I told him to just take your time and it’ll get done.” Junior pointed out it took six months to get his current contract worked out. Could Truex be headed for the #15 car replacing Michael Waltrip? Dale Jr. doesn’t think so. “I like working with Michael. If Teresa and Ritchie Gilmore are happy with the way he runs this year I don’t see why we can’t have him back. It isn’t his last year I don’t think…he hasn’t announced his retirement to me. They’ve had good cars…they’ve had some accidents and stuff but I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he’d win races aside from plate races. They should win every plate race they run and they should have a couple of more here and there because they’re that good a team and I think Michael can get the job done."(PRN's Garage Pass Radio Show/Sporting News)(4-22-2005)
More on possible #6 Drivers: Geoff Smith, the manager of Jack Roush's racing operation, must fill Mark Martin's seat when Martin retires at the end of this season, and he must also sign a new sponsor for that team. Martin was a proven product when Smith did his five-year, $60 million deal with Pfizer. But how many companies would be willing to risk making a deal like that for a little-known racer? And the price tag is now closer to $20 million a year to run a NASCAR team. "One of the reasons we hired Ricky Craven for the Truck series is there's the sense Ricky has never gotten the right break with first-rate equipment, so he is very hungry to prove he's got it in him to be successful. And he is a great guy, very compatible with our guys." Sterling Marlin is one name driver whose 2006 contract is up in the air. And Ryan Newman, NASCAR's premier qualifier, has been mentioned as a possible candidate for another ride, as has Michael Waltrip.(in part from the Winston Salem Journal)(4-14-2005)
Dickerson may have a new gig UPDATE RCR? DEI?: Chassis and body guru Eddie Dickerson, who was released by Hendrick Motorsports after being arrested in the early-morning hours at Daytona in February (disorderly intoxication), could land at Richard Childress Racing, sources in the garage said.(Speed Channel)(4-11-2005) UPDATE: Former Hendrick Motorsports chassis director Eddie Dickerson will interview with Dale Earnhardt Inc. this week. DEI is starting an in-house chassis program, and Dickerson could use his magic to develop better-handling cars for Dale Earnhardt Jr., who complains about the drivability of his cars.(FoxSports/Sporting News)(4-13-2005)
No Crew Flip-Flop at DEI: For those who wondered if conditions at Dale Earnhardt Inc. were dire enough to swap the Nos. 15 and 8 crews and cars back to the original drivers--think again. "There will never be a flip back," says a DEI source, who adds that the 15 crew, formerly the No. 8, was disappointed with Earnhardt. "I don't think they would take him back. We said we would work with Michael (Waltrip) this year for us to get a young gun for next year. What's happened is fate, and we're going to make the most of it." Earnhardt echoed similar sentiments and reiterated his confidence in crew chief Pete Rondeau. "The way Pete has hung in there further constitutes my belief in him," he says. Earnhardt and Waltrip are 17th and 27th, respectively, in points.(Sporting News)(4-4-2005)
Eury Jr. to bolt DEI? Crew chief Tony Eury Jr., the key car chief in Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s title runs the past two years, is reported to be one of hottest items in the garage, with several rival teams interested in hiring him away from Dale Earnhardt Inc., where he now runs Michael Waltrip's #15 team. It is unclear if rival Chevy teams are interested in Eury or Ford or Dodge team owners.(Winston Salem Journal)(4-4-2005)
Mikey to make donation presentation Saturday UPDATE: Michael & Buffy Waltrip are scheduled to make their OPERATION MARATHON Donation To Victory Junction Gang Camp on Saturday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.(3-11-2005) UPDATE: Michael and Buffy Waltrip presented a check for just under $1 million on Sunday to Kyle and Pattie Petty for their Victory Junction Gang Camp. Waltrip said in July that he would gather $1 million for the camp, a summer home for chronically ill children. Waltrip promoted "Operation Marathon: Going the Distance for Kids'' operation through marathons, dinners, concerts and autograph signings across the country, including a marathon here that he and Petty took part in. "Michael was my inspiration to run,'' Petty said. "People flew out here to run ... with Michael.'' Waltrip said the exact amount of the check, $923,626.73, was significant to him. "It reflects the dollar-at-a-time way we raised the money,'' he said.(ESPN.com/AP)(3-14-2005)
NASCAR Poker on TV: SPEED Channel will begin airing a series of one-hour specials on the Michael Waltrip Celebrity Poker Tournament shot earlier this year at the Palms Casino in Las Vegas. The eight-part series rolls out Thursday, April 7 at 9:00pm/et, with the two-hour tournament finale scheduled to air June 2 at 8:00pm/et. Players in the popular Texas Hold'em tournament includ NASCAR's Waltrip, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart, Benny Parsons, Casey Mears, Brian Vickers, Ryan Newman, Kyle Petty, Elliott and Hermie Sadler. SPEED Channel put up the $100,000 prize money, with half going to Petty's Victory Junction Gang Camp through Waltrip's "Operation Marathon" and the other half going to the charity of the winner's choice. SPEED broadcast schedule:
* April 7 (9pm/et, 1 hour)
* April 14 (9pm/et, 1 hour)
* April 28 (9pm/et, 1 hour)
* May 5 (9pm/et, 1 hour)
* May 12 (9pm/et, 1 hour)
* May 19 (9pm/et, 1 hour)
* June 2 (8pm/et, 2 hours)(SPEED Channel PR)(3-1-2005)
Mikey on TV Show: Michael Waltrip took a moment to hang out with boys from Blue Collar TV. Waltrip was invited to make a guest appearance on the show. The showtime of the the episode featuring Michael is TBA.(MIchael Waltrip site)(2-24-2005)
Mikey vs. Biffle.....in chairs: In a unique tune-up for Sunday's 47th running of the Daytona 500, Michael Waltrip and Greg Biffle, two former winners at Daytona International Speedway, will put their driving skills to the test on a track of a different kind. There'll be no restrictor plates and drafting partners to worry about, or even left turns for that matter, but there will be a catch. Waltrip and Biffle will be racing in the world's fastest armchairs - souped-up, motorized recliners that reach a top speed of more than 40 miles per hour - down a makeshift drag strip. The event, dubbed the "Full Throttle Armchair Challenge," celebrates the official launch of Full Throttle, a new energy drink from The Coca-Cola Company. The 'event' takes place Friday, February 18, 2005 at 11:00am/et at the Daytona Beach Kennel Club Parking Lot, 2201 W. International Speedway Boulevard - next to Daytona Speedway. The event is free and open to the public. Full Throttle, a new lightly carbonated energy drink from The Coca-Cola Company, hits store shelves around the country this week. Best described as "16 ounces of citrus-flavored fury in a can," Full Throttle is packed with the fuel energy drink lovers crave, including ginseng extract, caffeine, taurine, guarana extract and B-vitamins.(Coca-Cola/Fast Horse PR), wonder if it comes in diet?(2-15-2005)
Mikey finishes LV Marathon under 4 hours, Petty just over: #15-Michael Waltrip and #45-Kyle Petty competed in the Las Vegas International Marathon in Las Vegas on Sunday with Waltrip finishing 747th [of 2189] with a time of 3:59.23 [4 hoursd was Mikey's goal] and Petty finished 1112 with a time of 4:18.34. Full results at tri-a-run.com.(1-31-2005)
Best Western: RaceFan Rate: Best Western International, the Official Hotel of NASCAR, celebrates the start of the 2005 season next month by dropping the green flag on its new RaceFan Rate. Beginning February 1, customers will be able to take
advantage of this select year-round rate at Best Western hotels throughout North America by visiting www.bestwesternracing.com and entering "RaceFan" in the promotion code box, or by calling 1-800-WESTERN and asking for the RaceFan Rate. To celebrate its premiere, Best Western is providing race devotees with another special offer. Guests who stay twice at the RaceFan Rate between February 1 and April 30, 2005, will earn 1,200 bonus points in the chain's Speed Rewards loyalty program - enough to redeem a free night stay or a $50 gift certificate to the NASCAR.com Superstore. Best Western is currently in the second year of a three-year agreement as the Official Hotel of NASCAR. The company also serves as an associate sponsor of driver Michael Waltrip and the Dale Earnhardt, Inc.-owned #15 NAPA Chevrolet in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series.(Best Western PR)(1-21-2005)
Lunch at DEI with Teresa: Teresa Earnhardt is donating her time to the Communities in Schools Networks to help raise funds through their Lunch with a Leader auction. People can bid to have lunch with celebrities and leaders in the entertainment, sports and business worlds. Teresa is listed in the Business Leaders section and you place your bid via www.lunchwithaleader.com starting on January 18 – February 11. The winning bidder will not only get to have lunch with Teresa in the renowned Trophy Room here at DEI, but it will also include a tour of the DEI race shops.(DEI Site), for more info to bid on lunch with Teresa or with Bill Elliott, Rusty Wallace, Richard Petty....... see www.lunchwithaleader.com.(1-20-2005)
Waltrip and McMurray.....not back in current rides in 2006? UPDATE: yeah, I know....a little early...but: .............is the question surrounding [#15-Michael Waltrip's future with DEI. The 2005 NASCAR season opener is still a few weeks away, but already the future of two of NASCAR's top stars is being debated: Will Waltrip get a contract renewal, and will #42-Jamie McMurray sign a contract with Chip Ganassi. And the answers to both questions appears to be no. Waltrip said he has to make something happen by April or May "or I probably won't be back." However insiders say Waltrip is already penciled in for a new ride elsewhere in 2006. And McMurray, who was heavily wooed by Joe Gibbs and others last summer, isn't expected to sign a renewal with Ganassi. McMurray yesterday declined to say much about his future. He is widely figured to be #2-Rusty Wallace's choice to replace him in the Roger Penske camp next season. This is Wallace's final season on the tour. "We hear the same rumors you here... and with Darrell tied in with Toyota, there's the question, 'Will Michael going to end up with Toyota?' "Eury Sr. said.(in part from the Winston Salem Journal)(1-14-2005) UPDATE: been told that Ganassi has an option with McMurray thru the 2006 season.(1-15-2005)
2004 News
Slugger leaves DEI UPDATE 2 #19 Crew Chief: Richard "Slugger" Labbe -- who served as #15-Michael Waltrip's crew chief earlier this season and also worked with Earnhardt Jr. Truex's teams, has left DEI and joined Evernham Motorsports. Evernham officials confirmed Labbe has been named director of speedway development, over Evernham's #9 and #19 Dodges, driven by Kasey Kahne and Jeremy Mayfield, respectively.(ThatsRacin.com)(12-1-2004) UPDATE: Richard "Slugger" Labbe, former crew chief for Michael Waltrip at DEI, has been hired to oversee Evernham Motorsports' speedway development program for drivers Kasey Kahne's and Jeremy Mayfield's restrictor-plate efforts. Labbe has already started work in Evernham's Statesville, N.C., shop in preparation for the 2005 season, which opens with the Daytona 500 -- a restrictor-plate race.(NASCAR.com)(12-4-2004) UPDATE 2: Effective immediately, Richard "Slugger" Labbe, who joined Evernham Motorsports to lead Speedway Development, adds responsibilities as Crew Chief for the #19 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge race team with driver Jeremy Mayfield. Kenny Francis remains Team Director for the #19 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge, focusing on engineering and technological innovation for the team. In a related move, Josh Browne, Race Engineer for the #19 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge, was promoted to Director of Vehicle Dynamics for Evernham Motorsports.(Evernham Motorsports/ClearBlue PR)(12-14-2004)
Special Mother's Day Scheme for Jarrett UPDATE: #88-Dale Jarrett is scheduled to drive a car with a childhood image of Dale driving Ned Jarrett's race car at Darlington Raceway on Saturday, May 7th in honor of his mother for Mother's Day which is May 8th.(12-20-2004) UPDATE: #15-Michael Waltrip and #45-Kyle Petty have been added to the Mother's Day special paint scheme program at Darlington.(RacingOne)(1-7-2005)
Slugger leaves DEI UPDATE: Richard "Slugger" Labbe -- who served as #15-Michael Waltrip's crew chief earlier this season and also worked with Earnhardt Jr. Truex's teams, has left DEI and joined Evernham Motorsports. Evernham officials confirmed Labbe has been named director of speedway development, over Evernham's #9 and #19 Dodges, driven by Kasey Kahne and Jeremy Mayfield, respectively.(ThatsRacin.com)(12-1-2004) UPDATE: Richard "Slugger" Labbe, former crew chief for Michael Waltrip at DEI, has been hired to oversee Evernham Motorsports' speedway development program for drivers Kasey Kahne's and Jeremy Mayfield's restrictor-plate efforts. Labbe has already started work in Evernham's Statesville, N.C., shop in preparation for the 2005 season, which opens with the Daytona 500 -- a restrictor-plate race.(NASCAR.com)(12-4-2004)
Shakeup at DEI? UPDATE 2 Rondeau to #8, Eury Jr. to #15: hearing there could be some crew/crew chief changes/swapping within the DEI teams, nothing concrete yet, but they could come between the #8 Budweiser team of driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. and #15 NAPA team of driver Michael Waltrip.(11-30-2004) UPDATE: A restructuring of Dale Earnhardt Inc. is underway, the immediate result of which will include a new crew chief next season for Nextel Cup Series driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. Tony Eury Sr., who has served as Earnhardt Jr.'s crew chief since his debut in the series in the 2000 season, will step down and take a less prominent role at DEI, likely overseeing next year's part-time Cup program [#1 Bass Pro Shops Chevy] of 2004 Busch Series championship Martin Truex Jr., multiple sources confirmed Tuesday. Although final details have not been worked out, two scenarios remain regarding a replacement for Eury Sr. on Earnhardt Jr.'s #8 Budweiser Chevy. The most likely is Pete Rondeau, most recently crew chief for DEI teammate Michael Waltrip, taking the same role with Earnhardt Jr.'s team, sources said. A less likely possibility is Tony Eury Jr., currently Earnhardt Jr's car chief, moving to crew chief, with Tony Gibson - currently crew chief of DEI Busch driver Paul Menard - moving into the car chief position., sources said. Should Rondeau move to Earnhardt Jr.'s team, Eury Jr. would likely take over as crew chief of Waltrip's #15 NAPA Chevys, sources said.(ThatsRacin.com)(12-1-2004) UPDATE 2: Dale Earnhardt, Inc. has announced various internal motorsports promotions effective for the 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series season. Tony Eury, Sr. has been promoted from Crew Chief of the #8 Chevrolet to Director of Competition. Steve Hmiel, previous Director of Competition, will now be the Technical Director for Dale Earnhardt, Inc.
Pete Rondeau has been moved to the Crew Chief position of the #8 Budweiser Chevrolet. He took over as Crew Chief on the #15 NAPA Chevrolet during the latter portion of the 2004 Nextel Cup Series season. Rondeau led Earnhardt, Jr. to a Busch Series win at Bristol Motor Speedway this year and Ron Fellows to a second-place finish at Watkins Glen International.
Tony Eury, Jr. will Crew Chief the #15 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet of Michael Waltrip. Eury, Jr. was the Car Chief on the #8 Chevrolet for the past five seasons and was also instrumental in Earnhardt, Jr’s two Busch Series championships. The #8 and #15 core members of the teams will collectively transfer intact with the promotions of Eury Jr. and Rondeau, as well. Richie Gilmore, Vice-President of Motorsports for DEI, said the moves come on the heels of a successful season and the teams wanted to improve and achieve even greater success. “We all sat down and talked because we want all of our teams to produce even better results,” Gilmore said. “Everyone is excited about this and we’re already getting ready for Daytona testing. We think the results will show up immediately.”(DEI Site), the 2005 Team Chart has been updated accordingly.(12-1-2004)
More Slugger Rumors: over at Joe Gibbs' camp, general manager Jimmy Makar said he's still not happy with the shape of the #18 Bobby Labonte team, despite a mid-summer shakeup [Fatback out, Thomas in]. Richard "Slugger" Labbe, crew chief for #15-Michael Waltrip's two Daytona 500 wins, has been under consideration for a job at Gibbs. However, Labbe is also under consideration for a job with Childress.(Winston Salem Journal)(11-20-2004)
Top 10 for Mikey in 2005 to keep ride: Dale Earnhardt Inc. Director of Motorsports Richie Gilmore said yesterday Michael Waltrip will need to finish in the top 10 next season to keep his spot in the #15 Chevrolet. DEI has one-year contracts with the 40-year-old and his sponsor, NAPA. "Michael would love to retire at DEI, and [owner] Teresa [Earnhardt] would love to have him retire here," Gilmore said. "But we have to get to another level. We need to be in the Chase for NAPA and DEI."(Richmond Times Dispatch)(11-15-2004)
Join up to watch Mikey run: Join the fun in Las Vegas, Nevada in January 2005 and participate in the “Operation Marathon Getaway”. “Operation Marathon Getaway” is an opportunity for the fans to help support and participate in Michael and Buffy Waltrip's “Operation Marathon”. For more info on the packages available, how you can help and on the marathon, see my Racing Charities page and scroll down to the heading "Michael Waltrip's Operation Marathon".(11-5-2004)
Waltrip to run for Victory Junction: Michael Waltrip announced he will run the Las Vegas Marathon on January 30, 2005, and has made a commitment to raise $1 million benefiting Victory Junction Gang Camp in an effort called "Operation Marathon, Going the Distance for Kids." Additionally, Waltrip has teamed up with Devine Racing in a five-year agreement to support Operation Marathon. For every person who signs up to run in this year's Las Vegas Marathon, Devine Racing will donate $10 to the cause. Over the next three years, the company is committed to spending $2.3 million in advertising and public relations to promote the Las Vegas Marathon and Operation Marathon. According to Waltrip, Operation Marathon stemmed from a desire to help with the operating costs of Kyle and Pattie Petty's newly opened Victory Junction Gang Camp in honor of their late son, Adam Petty. Operation Marathon is an avenue for people to donate money to the camp. Fans can contribute to Operation Marathon by logging onto www.michaelwaltrip.com or calling 1-866-WALTRIP.
All the information needed to get involved with the marathon, or to simply donate, can be found on the website. Waltrip offers several ways for fans to get involved including entering the marathon or the 5k Run/Walk on Saturday, January 29, 2005. The 3.1-mile race has designated Operation Marathon as the PresentingSponsor and will be followed by an autograph session with Waltrip. The 39th Annual Las Vegas Marathon is expected to draw more than 10,000 racers, many of them International Elite runners. This year's prize money will be in excess of $100,000..(PR)(7-4-2004)
Slugger being courted: Richard "Slugger" Labbe, the crew chief who took #15-Michael Waltrip to two Daytona 500 wins during the past four years, is being wooed by car owner Joe Gibbs to join the Tony Stewart-Bobby Labonte-Jason Leffler operation next season, according to team sources. Labbe is also being courted by other car owners too, possibly including Roger Penske. Labbe, who quit Waltrip's Cup team last month "because the team wasn't making progress," has been floating among the various Dale Earnhardt Inc. teams since, waiting to see what options that team owner Teresa Earnhardt and manager Richie Gilmore might have for him for 2005. "I want to stay at DEI, and I'm just waiting to see what happens," Labbe said. "It's up to Richie. I told him I'm going on vacation the end of the month for a couple of weeks and I'd like to know something before then."(Winston Salem Journal)(11-15-2004)
Slugger to the #40? UPDATE: Richard "Slugger" Labbe, who crewed Michael Waltrip to two Daytona 500 victories before stepping down from that crew-chief spot at Dale Earnhardt Inc. this past Wednesday, is under consideration for a possible job next season working with Sterling Marlin at Chip Ganassi's, according to team sources.(Winston Salem Journal)(10-18-2004) UPDATE: Labbe was interviewed on XM Satellite NASCAR Radio 144 and was at Atlanta testing with Martin Truex Jr. and said he was happy in his new role and it was his choice to step down.(10-19-2004)
Changes at The #15? UPDATE 2: nothing confirmed or denied yet, but hearing that crew chief Slugger Labbe has replaced by Pete Rondeau, crew chief for the #1 part-time team? UPDATE: it was reported on XM Satellite NASCAR Radio 144 that Slugger Labbe is moving up into a new management position at DEI and Pete Rondeau is in as crew chief on the 15. Labbe will be in a different role, helping the Busch team win the championship [#8 Truex Jr.] and overseeing all the DEI teams. The chemestry not working on the 15 and they are trying this change.(XM Satellite NASCAR Radio) UPDATE 2: Effective immediately, Pete Rondeau has been promoted to crew chief of the Dale Earnhardt. Inc. #15 NAPA Chevrolet driven by Michael Waltrip in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series. Rondeau has served as car chief on the NAPA Chevrolet since joining DEI in 2002. Richie Gilmore, Director of Motorsports, said, "Pete has been a tremendous asset as a car chief here at Dale Earnhardt, Inc. We've seen in the races he's run for us this year with Dale Jr., Ron Fellows and Tony Stewart that Pete is an incredible team player. As a crew chief for those races, Pete demonstrated what he learned during the weekend was readily available to the other two teams. At the level of competition this sport is at now, that's what it takes to be in the top-10 for the Chase for the Championship. When we talked about when to make the transition, we initially thought this would be something that we would do at the end of the 2004 season. In looking at it a little closer, we decided we would go ahead and make the change now and try to win a race or two before the end of the 2004 season."
"I'm just grateful for the opportunity," Rondeau said. "I'm dedicated to doing whatever I need to do to win races. The company's vote of confidence convinces me that we can do just that." Richard "Slugger" Labbe will now assist the title efforts for both the Chance 2 Motorsports and No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet teams. In addition, Labbe will oversee development programs for the #11 Menards BGN effort and the #15 NAPA team. Labbe served as crew chief on the #15 NAPA Chevrolet for the past three years.(DEI PR)(10-14-2004)
Waltrip to Make 600th Career NASCAR Cup Start at Kansas Speedway: #15-Michael Waltrip will make his 600th career Nextel Cup start at Kansas Speedway in Sunday's Banquet 400. "When I left Kentucky, I knew I wanted to be a Cup Series driver. With a lot of help from a lot of people and a never quit attitude, I was able to start my Cup career. Since that point, it has been a fun ride. Winning is what it is all about. Being able to win several (NASCAR) Busch Series races and a couple of Daytona 500s has given me a sense of accomplishment and gives me the drive to continue being a winning racecar driver."(Falgren PR)(10-6-2004)
Problems with Little E and Mikey? #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. and #15-Michael Waltrip had a close call when their Chevrolets exited the pits side by side after the Dale Earnhardt Inc. teammates made their final stop under green with about 40 laps left. "He drove the car all the way up to the yellow line as if I wasn't even there," said Earnhardt, who took the points lead by finishing third yesterday. "I'd about wreck into the side of him for three or four laps. I was just trying to figure out where he was getting his team orders from because whoever was giving them to him needs a new [pay]check. Whoever they're working for, we need to see where they're getting their kickbacks from. I was [ticked] about it. I'm sure Michael didn't mean anything by it."(Richmond Times Dispatch)(9-20-2004)
Waltrip's Crew Wins in Richmond; Sadler's Crew Extends Points Lead: Michael Waltrip's crew captured the McDonald's Drive-Thru Pit Championship fueled by POWERade in Saturday night's Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway. It was the third time the No. 15 crew claimed the $20,000 weekly prize. The team's other wins were at Texas and the Daytona race in July. Waltrip's crew edged Elliott Sadler's crew for the Richmond victory. But coming in second for Sadler's No. 38 crew earned them enough points to enjoy their biggest lead in the McDonald's/POWERade standings. With 10 Nextel Cup races remaining, Sadler's crew has a 27-point lead over Dale Earnhardt's crew - 941 to 914. The season champion will receive a $200,000 bonus.
Waltrip's crew, which finished second overall in last year's McDonald's/POWERade competition, moved into seventh place with 855 points.
Waltrip's No. 15 NAPA Chevrolet spent 121.762 seconds on Richmond's pit road. The pit road time for Sadler's No. 38 M&M's Ford was 123.926. Jeff Burton's No. 30 AOL Chevy came in third at 124.054.
"It's always very cool to win the McDonald's/POWERade pit crew competition," said crew chief Richard "Slugger" Labbe. "The guys were awesome in Richmond, averaging 13.20 seconds a stop.
"We didn't make the Chase for the Nextel Cup, but there's one championship we can still win and that's the McDonald's/POWERade championship. There are 10 races remaining and we're still in the hunt for the title. We need to pick up eight to nine points a race - that's doable. We finished second in the championship last year and would love to come back and win it this year."
The over-the-wall pit crew for Waltrip's team consists of: Brian Chase (jackman), Jeff Opal (gasman), Chris Crumley (front tire changer), Greg Osborne (rear tire changer), Shawn Ward (front tire carrier), Chad Walter (rear tire carrier) and Tom Vigue (catch can). The team's pit crew coach is Walt Smith.(DMF Communications PR), for top 10 from Richmond, who won each week and the season standings...see my Pit Crew News page.(9-15-2004)
JGR Looking for #11 Crew Chief - Slugger? UPDATE: Joe Gibbs Racing still is looking for a crew chief to lead the #11 FedEx car in 2005. Sources say Slugger Labbe, crew chief for #15-Michael Waltrip, is a candidate. Labbe is one of the best crew chiefs in the garage and would be great for a start-up team. Finding a driver is another matter. Although JGR is expected to run J.J. Yeley in additional races this season, sources say FedEx is looking for a more experienced driver. Jamie McMurray, Robby Gordon and Dave Blaney have been mentioned as prospects.(FoxSports/Sporting News)(9-13-2004) AND MORE: speculation continues about owner Joe Gibbs' planned third Nextel Cup team. #20 Crew Chief Greg Zipadelli declined to talk about the possibility that Dave Blaney might be hired to drive Gibbs' new third team. Blaney - a sprint-car veteran like Stewart and a good buddy of Stewart's - has been hired to coach rookie J. J. Yeley, who Gibbs hopes to hone into a Cup driver, though that project could take a few years longer than expected. And the latest rumor is that Gibbs would like to hire Richard "Slugger" Labbe, a two-time Daytona 500 winning crew chief, to run that third team. "Dave is just to help J.J.," Zipadelli said. "He's got three more Cup races this year and some Busch races, and Dave is a good driver, with a good, level head on his shoulders, knows what's going on. He knows what you should do and shouldn't do. He should help accelerate J.J.'s learning curve. He won't have to go through everything, because Dave has already been there and can explain why you don't do this or that. It's different if it comes from a driver than if it comes from us." But what about the story that Gibbs has hired Blaney to drive the third car? "Good story, huh?" Zipadelli said with a grin. "You ain't going to find anything out here. Don't try to read anything more into this."(Winston Salem Journal)(9-14-2004)
Andy Petree joins Michael Waltrip Racing: Andy Petree, former car owner and championship crew chief, joins Michael Waltrip Racing, Inc. (MWR) effective in Bristol, Tenn., this weekend. "In an effort to continuously improve our race cars," car owner Michael Waltrip explained, "we've turned to a man whose knowledge of NASCAR has carried him to the pinnacle of stock car racing. Andy's experience will help us assess and grow our existing Busch and Cup programs. Aaron's Sales and Lease Ownership is a great sponsor and we have to win for them."
"In general, Andy has become a part of Michael Waltrip Racing to help move us forward. Performance has been respectable overall, but we are not up to par with the teams consistently winning races. While spending time at the race shop, evaluating our equipment and getting to know the team members, Andy will also serve as the acting crew chief on the weekends."
"Michael needs help and I am available," Petree said. "I am going to hang out with these guys for a while and see what we can accomplish. Michael has a great organization in place, so I am here to simply give my opinion and see where I can be beneficial to his teams."(Michael Waltrip Racing PR)(8-27-2004)
Mr. Maze (a.k.a. Bill Bakan) at the Maize Valley Farm Market in Hartville, Ohio has created an 11-acre corn maze, featuring Michael Waltrip's No. 15 NAPA Chevrolet.
See more at their site www.maizevalley.com
Waltrip commercial to debut: Two-time Daytona 500 Winner Michael Waltrip prepares for his close-up during recent filming for a Best Western television commercial on Los Angeles' Sunset Blvd. As the first Official Hotel of NASCAR, Best Western also serves as an associate sponsor of Waltrip and the Dale Earnhardt, Inc.-owned #5 NAPA Chevrolet on the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series. This fall, Best Western will be the primary sponsor of Waltrip's #99 NASCAR Busch Series Car for the Bashas' Supermarkets 200 in Phoenix, AZ. Waltrip's Best Western commercial is scheduled to debut nationwide Saturday, August 21.
AND: Best Western is offering its guests a new way to show their excitement for stock car racing with the introduction of the Racing Edition Travel Card. The first in a special series, the card captures the spirit of the sport while offering guests a convenient method of payment wherever their travels may take them. It also makes a perfect gift for any occasion. The Racing Edition Travel Card can be used by guests to pay for both accommodations and related incidentals, such as room service and phone charges*, at more than 4,100 Best Western hotels worldwide. Available for purchase in U.S. and Canadian dollars, along with a variety of other currencies, it is offered in any denomination between $25 and $1,000 USD (or equivalent in other currencies).(Alan Taylor PR)(8-21-2004)
NAPA supports Waltrip's Operation Marathon: NAPA Auto Part will support Michael Waltrip's "Operation Marathon" fundraising efforts benefiting the Victory Junction Gang Camp by donating $15,000 for every top-5 finish, $10,000 for every top- 10 finish and $5,000 for every top - 15 finish by the NAPA No.15 NEXTEL Cup team beginning August 15 at Watkins Glen International for the final 15 races. The NAPA family has a long history as a primary sponsor in the NASCAR industry and has been known for embracing the sport from all aspects. Today, the 79-year old company announced it will also support one of the sport's proudest charities through a monetary pledge based on Waltrip's finishes. NAPA could be making quite a pledge as Waltrip has 12 top-15 finishes already this season. Though seldom at a loss for words, Michael Waltrip was taken back by the generous support of his primary NEXTEL CUP sponsor. "NAPA uses our sport in so many positive ways with their marketing efforts," Waltrip stated. "In this case, they have stepped out to contribute to an amazing cause. NAPA is going to be a huge part in raising this money and bringing joy to children's lives. It makes me happy to know I have the best sponsor in the sport." Waltrip announced July 3, 2004 he would raise $1 million dollars through "Operation Marathon" that would directly benefit the Victory Junction Gang Camp. To learn more about how you can get involved with "Operation Marathon" go to www.michaelwaltrip.com or call 1-866-WALTRIP.(Champion Sports Group PR)(8-10-2004)
Mikey to run for Petree in CTS at IRP: Michael Waltrip will wheel Andy Petree's Monaco Coach Corporation Chevrolet at Indianapolis Raceway Park for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race there, Friday, Aug. 6.. Waltrip's name joins that of Tony Stewart and hot rookie Clint Bowyer as another in the talent driving Andy Petree Racing equipment. "We are really excited to have Michael joining us and helping give Monaco Coach Corporation a great ride at IRP," said Petree. "We've had some great runs with our Truck, and haven't done too badly at Indianapolis the past few years. We're working hard to give Michael a solid piece and we know he'll be working hard to get this Monaco Coach Corporation team back to Victory Lane." Waltrip has some NASCAR Truck Series experience, finishing fifth after qualifying 13th at Lowe's Motor Speedway in May of this year with another team. The past two years at IRP, Petree has driven the truck, finishing 20th last season and 12th the year before. A few weeks ago, Petree saw his sponsor surprisingly bolt to another team with strong Nextel Cup ties, leaving his in a lurch financially. Still, Petree said, the team is looking to not only run well at IRP but to maintain its position in the NASCAR world.(Williams Company PR)(7-22-2004)
Waltrip's ASA Team Tests at Hickory: Michael Waltrip Racing has been successful in the big leagues of NASCAR, but now it is branching out to a driver development phase and, at least for the time being, it will use the American Speed Association to do so. This Tuesday [July 20th], at Hickory Motor Speedway (NC), the new program hit the track for the first-time. Jimmie Johnson’s little brother, Jarit, and Ken Butler III, whose Dad heads up Aaron’s Rent, were the men behind the wheel of Michael’s machines. “It has been fun,” says Michael with a smile as we sit on the back of his Busch Series rig at Hickory. “We've really learned a lot with Jarit and Ken. Ken has never really driven much, so this is new to him. It is a lot of fun though seeing the sport through someone’s eyes who is new to the game. I'm real thankful I am getting to experience this.”(Speed51.com - lots of pics)(7-22-2004)
Mikey on TV: Two-time Daytona 500 Winner Michael Waltrip prepares for his close-up during recent filming for a Best Western television commercial on Los Angeles' Sunset Blvd. As the first Official Hotel of NASCAR, Best Western also serves as an associate sponsor of Waltrip and the Dale Earnhardt, Inc.-owned #15 NAPA Chevrolet on the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series. This fall, Best Western will be the primary sponsor of Waltrip's #99 NASCAR Busch Series Car for the Bashas' Supermarkets 200 in Phoenix, AZ. Waltrip's Best Western commercial is scheduled to debut nationwide Saturday, August 21.(Best Western/Alan Taylor Communications)(7-14-2004)
Making it official...today UPDATE: NBC reported during its prerace show that Michael Waltrip and sponsor NAPA had re-signed with Dale Earnhardt Inc.'s #15 Chevrolet for next year. Speculation on Waltrip's future was fueled in early June when Dale Earnhardt Jr. said Waltrip would like to finish his career at DEI but might not get the opportunity.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(7-12-2004) UPDATE: NAPA AUTO PARTS will continue its sponsorship of the #15 Dale Earnhardt, Inc. (DEI) Chevrolet Monte Carlo during the 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL CUP season. Piloting the NAPA Chevy in 2005 will be two-time Daytona 500 champion and current driver, Michael Waltrip. Waltrip will carry the NAPA shield for the fifth consecutive year in NASCAR's premier series. "We are pleased to announce our continued partnership with both Dale Earnhardt, Inc. and Michael Waltrip," stated Bob Susor, NAPA President. "This partnership began is 1996 and has resulted in two NASCAR Truck Series Championships, a top-five finish in the NASCAR Busch Series points standings in 2000, and four NASCAR Cup Series wins to date including two Daytona 500 victories. Michael Waltrip and Dale Earnhardt, Inc. are excellent representatives of the NAPA brand and we are proud to have them flying the NAPA colors."(Champion Sports Group PR)(7-12-2004)
Waltrip's Pit Crew Takes Daytona Win: The pit crew for Michael Waltrip captured the McDonald's Drive-Thru Pit Championship fueled by POWERade in Saturday night's NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race at Daytona International Speedway. It was the second time this season that Waltrip's #15 crew claimed the $20,000 first-place prize. The crew's other victory was at Texas Motor Speedway in April. The Daytona victory lifted Waltrip's crew into sixth place in the McDonald's/POWERade standings with 562 points. Waltrip's DEI teammate, the pit crew for Dale Earnhardt Jr., continues to lead the competition with 638 points. Elliott Sadler's pit crew is second with 614 points and Kurt Busch's crew remains in third with 588. A $200,000 bonus awaits the season champion. During Saturday night's 400-mile event in Daytona, Waltrip's NAPA Chevrolet logged the least amount of time on pit road - 175.899 seconds. Coming in second was Ricky Rudd's Motorcraft Ford with a time of 178.633. Third was Dave Blaney's AOL Chevy at 180.120. The over-the-wall pit crew for Waltrip's team consists of: Brian Chase (jackman), Jeff Opal (gasman), Chris Crumley (front tire changer), Greg Osborne (rear tire changer), Shawn Ward (front tire carrier), Chad Walter (rear tire carrier) and Tom Vigue (catch can). The team's crew chief is Richard "Slugger" Labbe and the pit crew coach is Walt Smith.(DMF Comminications PR), see the top 10 and standings as well as past races on my Pit Crew Page.(7-8-2004)
Waltrip to run for Victory Junction: Michael Waltrip announced he will run the Las Vegas Marathon on January 30, 2005, and has made a commitment to raise $1 million benefiting Victory Junction Gang Camp in an effort called "OPERATION MARATHON, Going the Distance for Kids." Additionally, Waltrip has teamed up with Devine Racing in a five-year agreement to support OPERATION MARATHON. For every person who signs up to run in this year's Las Vegas Marathon, Devine Racing will donate $10 to the cause. Over the next three years, the company is committed to spending $2.3 million in advertising and public relations to promote the Las Vegas Marathon and OPERATION MARATHON. According to Waltrip, OPERATION MARATHON stemmed from a desire to help
with the operating costs of Kyle and Pattie Petty's newly opened Victory Junction Gang Camp in honor of their late son, Adam Petty. OPERATION MARATHON is an avenue for people to donate money to the camp. Fans can contribute to OPERATION MARATHON by logging onto www.michaelwaltrip.com or calling 1-866-WALTRIP. All the information needed to get involved with the marathon, or to simply donate, can be found on the website. Waltrip offers several ways for fans to get involved including entering the marathon or the 5k Run/Walk on Saturday, January 29, 2005. The 3.1-mile race has designated OPERATION MARATHON as the PresentingSponsor and will be followed by an autograph session with Waltrip. The 39th Annual Las Vegas Marathon is expected to draw more than 10,000 racers, many of them International Elite runners. This year's prize money will be in excess of $100,000..(PR)(7-4-2004)
Waltrip to run for Charity - $1 million goal: #15-Michael Waltrip held a brief Q&A session with the media on Pit Road at Michigan International Speedway this morning while training for the Las Vegas Marathon. By participating in the Marathon on January 30, 2005, he hopes to raise $1 million for the Victory Junction Gang Camp. Kyle Petty was also on hand to lend his support for Waltrip's effort. "I felt like it was important for people to remember that Kyle (Petty) and those folks have done such a great job raising all the money to build the camp. It's going to take a real commitment from the whole community to maintain the camp. We wanted to draw attention to the fact that if the kids come there for a year, it's going to cost $2 or $3 million. The donations need to continue to roll in. When you do something new, it gets a lot of attention. We want to make sure that attention remains on the camp and what Kyle and the whole Petty family have built. I thought this was a neat way to draw attention to it. I have some wonderful sponsors that are going to get involved and help. It's become a real joy for Buffy and I to work on and to see where it all goes."
"We want to raise $1 million. I think we can do that with the sponsors we have and with the fans. We're going to come up with a program where people can log online and train with me. When they join the Marathon they'll get maybe a die cast car. We're going to do everything we can to get the fans involved. With such a hefty goal, we're going to need the masses to pitch in $10 at a time in order to accomplish our goal. But we feel pretty confident that with the folks we have around us and the sponsors we have and the way the race fans have responded to the camp that we can accomplish our goal."
"The plan is to have an announcement in July at Daytona showing the fans how they can get involved and talking about the wonderful
corporate partners we have line up to be a part of it. This is just an eye-opener to let folks know I am going to do this and hopefully get
some interest built in it. And then in July we're going to announce how exactly the fans can contribute and how they can be a part of me running the marathon. Hopefully by then we can get some more drivers to commit to running the marathon too. We're planning to offer that up in relay form so that we can maybe get 10 drivers to run a mile or so or a couple of miles apiece to knock out a marathon in that fashion as well. Maybe we should get the media involved. That would be interesting."(Chevy Notes and Quotes PR)(6-19-2004)
Waltrip starts a driver development program: Michael Waltrip Racing (MWR) introduces the formation of a driver development program. The Sherrills Ford, N.C. based team, which already fields winning NASCAR Busch Series cars and competitive NEXTEL Cup cars with experienced drivers, will now field cars in the American Speed Association (ASA). They will compete in a limited number of events in late 2004 with plans to field a two-car team for the entire 2005 schedule. "The fact that we have limited schedules in different series enables us to test all the waters," explained Director of Competition Joe Garone. "We feel like we have a real grasp on what it takes to be competitive on any level. Our focus is not a specific series, but a program built on nurturing a driver from all aspects including performance, relationship building and media savvy." "The emphasis has to be on performance," car owner Michael Waltrip said. "It is necessary to win to be successful in any type of racing. It is also it's important to develop all the elements necessary to be a winning driver." Michael Waltrip Racing will begin testing with several drivers this summer, and is talking with current ASA and NASCAR competitors about coaching the new talent during these tests. "We have our eyes on a lot of guys we think have potential to be the next NASCAR star," said Waltrip. "With the experienced people we have in place at MWR, we feel like we have the perfect opportunity to develop that talent. Between my years of driving race cars and representing sponsors and Joe Garone's and Jerry Baxter's (current Busch Series crew chief) expertise in building winning race cars, the rewards of developing young talent are obvious."(MWR PR)(6-18-2004)
Waltrip good thru 2005 UPDATE NAPA too: during an interview with XM Radio's Claire B. Lang on Friday, DEI's director of motorsports, Richie Gilmore said Michael Waltrip is signed with DEI thru 2005 and plans are to keep him in the #15 NAPA Chevy.(XM Satellite NASCAR Radio 144 - subscription required) AND from ThatsRacin.com: Richie Gilmore, director of motorsports at Dale Earnhardt Inc., downplayed remarks last weekend by Dale Earnhardt Jr. about a possible departure of driver Michael Waltrip from the organization's #15 Chevrolets. "Michael would probably want to finish his career at DEI, but the chances of that happening I wouldn't say are 100 percent right now," Earnhardt Jr. said at Dover, Del. On Friday, Gilmore – who was not at Dover last weekend – said he spoke to Earnhardt Jr. Thursday night about his comments. "The biggest thing he tried to do was protect Martin (Truex Jr.), because there had been a lot of rumors Martin was going into the No. 15," Gilmore said. Earnhardt Jr. "kind of fired back and really didn't give the right solution. He was trying to protect Martin, but how it came out it was more aimed at Michael." Gilmore said DEI did not have any problems with Waltrip, who is 20th in points but has three consecutive top-10 finishes entering Sunday's Pocono 500. "We've had some really bad luck that happened on the race track. It wasn't like Michael just decided two weeks ago to start driving again," he said. "Michael's our driver. He's signed through 2005. Our driver lineup is pretty much set for next year. I think we'll even keep (Dale) Jr. now," Gilmore joked.(ThatsRacin.com)(6-11-2004) UPDATE: NAPA has exercised its option as the sponsor for next year.(FoxSports/Sporting News)(6-14-2004)
More on the Mikey leaving DEI rumors [looks more and more like he will leave]: Rumors have begun to swirl -- again -- that 41-year-old Michael Waltrip's job with Dale Earnhardt Inc. is in jeopardy. On Wednesday, Dale Earnhardt Jr. said that although it would be a tough decision, there is a good possibility DEI will replace Waltrip when his contract expires at the end of this season. ''I know Michael personally would like to finish his career [with DEI],'' Earnhardt said during a Pepsi 400 promotion at Daytona International Speedway. ``But I don't see, ah, I don't see the chances of that being so good right now. But we haven't made a decision yet. Michael goes and runs good this past weekend at Charlotte [a second in the Coca-Cola 600]. He puts up a good argument for himself. But we need results out of that team.'' Earnhardt also emphasized that rookie Martin Truex Jr., the star driver of his Second Chance Busch Series team, should not be seen as the ``villan.''
''If we decide not to keep Michael, I believe we'd bring another driver in other than Martin,'' said Earnhardt, citing that he believes the best course for Truex's development in one more year in the Busch series. ''It's kind of tough for Martin because he feels like he's causing problems that he's not even causing,'' Earnhardt said. Waltrip has won a total of four races during his 3 ½ years with DEI, but all the victories have come on the superspeedways of Daytona or Talladega, where DEI cars have excelled in restrictor-plate racing. Waltrip finished 24th in the point standings in 2001, prompting the first round of talk that his job was in jeopardy. But in July of 2002, DEI extended his contract with NAPA Auto Parts as its primary sponsor for two more years. Waltrip finished 14th in the championship in 2002 and was 15th last year. This year Waltrip is 24th, 229 points out of the final spot for the 10-race shootout for the championship.
''I love Michael,'' said Earnhardt Jr., who leads the championship race. ``It's very difficult because Michael and Dad were great friends. And Michael is a good friend, and I think the world of him. And Michael would love to finish his career where he's at. At the same time, we have to look toward the future. . . . That team [the No. 15 Chevy] has been going for three or four years and we feel like we've got to position ourselves for another driver for a good long relationship.'' In the offseason last year, DEI tried to to lure two-time Indy Racing League champion Sam Hornish Jr. to drive a third car. Hornish decided to remain in the IRL and drive for Team Penske. Earnhardt said the team can't pass up on a good ''home run hitter in the offseason'' because they were waiting for Waltrip to retire. He also said it's not ''healthy'' for a team to switch drivers midseason, although he did not rule out the possibility that it could happen. ''If it cuts Michael's career a couple of years shorter than he anticipated [with DEI], I don't think he's going to have a problem continuing what he wants to do,'' Earnhardt said. Waltrip could not be reached for comment Wednesday, but after finish second to runaway victor Jimmie Johnson last week in the Coca-Cola 600 he said: ``I know I have the talent and ability to do the job. It just reaffirms that.''(in part from the Miami Herald - need to register to view)(6-4-2004)
Waltrip looking to move on? Another driver whose name is suddenly being mentioned by rival car owners is Michael Waltrip, who has been having a tough season but is a two-time Daytona 500 winner. The DEI sponsorship situation is up in the air, with Waltrip's NAPA sponsorship up for renewal. Waltrip is apparently on the wanted list by some rival car owners for his marketability. Elsewhere at DEI, Martin Truex Jr., who has been remarkably successful in DEI's Busch car and who has developed a tight relationship with Dale Earnhardt Jr., is being pushed to step up to a full Cup ride next season. Crew Chief Slugger Labbe admitted - "The rumor mill is kicking up. But NAPA is behind us 100 percent, and Michael is our driver. We're focused on winning races, and I want to give Michael his first downforce win, and we're cutting bodies off each week. We're not going to bring inferior stuff to the track. Whatever happens happens, but we're going to do the best we can to win races and make sure Michael and NAPA are happy."(Winston Salem Journal)(6-1-2004)
DEI Tests at Kentucky: #8-Dale Earnhardt, Jr., and #15-Michael Waltrip turned test laps at Kentucky Speedway to fine tune their intermediate track programs for upcoming races that will play a pivotal role in determining eligibility for the season-ending “Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup.” Earnhardt, Jr., owns superspeedway wins at Daytona and Atlanta and a total of six top-five and seven top-10 finishes, but his team has misfired at lower-banked tracks similar to Kentucky Speedway. His #8 Budweiser Chevrolet finished 35th at Las Vegas and 19th at California Speedway. “We missed something on the one-and-a-half-mile low-banked tracks for a year-and-a- half now,” Earnhardt’s Crew Chief Tony Eury said. “Our fab shop came up here a couple of weeks ago and said the track was real smooth. We decided to come and try some things we didn’t get to try last time we were here to see if we can improve this part of our program. We have Michigan, Chicago and Kansas City coming up and those are places we struggled last year. We’re struggling again. We went to Vegas and California and struggled. We thought we had the problem fixed after Vegas and we got to California and found out we didn’t. Something in this new tire is throwing us a curve on these flat racetracks and we just have to keep working at it until we can figure it out.”
Waltrip, who enters the week 30th in the series standings and 190 points away from eligibility for the “Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL
Cup,” predicted both DEI teams will benefit from today’s test. “We’ve had a good day,” he said. “We’ve been down some roads that didn’t go so well today with our set up and we’ve discovered some things that have been beneficial. I’ve enjoyed today and I think this test will pay off as we go forward.” Other drivers testing at Kentucky Speedway today included Kentucky Motorsports NASCAR Busch Series driver Stuart Kirby and Paul Menard, who drove with Evernham Motorsports. NEXTEL Cup driver #10-Scott Riggs will join Kirby and #50 Holigan Racing tomorrow and testing continues next Wednesday, April. 19, with NASCAR NEXTEL Cup drivers #77-Brendan Gaughan, #32-Ricky Craven, #25-Brian Vickers, #42-Jamie McMurray and #40-Sterling Marlin.
Kentucky Speedway Executive Vice President and General Manager Mark F. Cassis, on hand for today’s test, said consistently strong test
activity may help in his track’s pursuit of a future NASCAR NEXTEL Cup date. “There has been a lot of discussion lately concerning facilities, market place and commitment to gain a NEXTEL Cup Series event,” he said. “Simply put, Kentucky Speedway is the largest non-Cup facility in the United States, is located in one of the top-five television marketing areas in the country and hosts, without question, more NEXTEL Cup testing than any other facility. We have proven ourselves through performance with three straight 70,000 plus crowds for
stand-alone NASCAR Busch Series events. I feel stronger than ever we should go to the next level, and deservedly so. If it doesn’t happen
in 2005, our team will keep digging for 2006.”
Racing continues at Kentucky Speedway June 18-19 with the NASCAR Busch Series “Meijer 300 Presented by Oreo” featuring Waltrip, Robby Gordon, Kasey Kahne and other NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series stars. Tickets for all 2004 Kentucky Speedway events are on sale now and can be purchased in four easy ways: ·By phone at 888-652-RACE, ·On the World Wide Web at www.kentuckyspeedway.com, In person at either the speedway's Ft. Mitchell ticket office or at the Kentucky Speedway Fan Center off Ky. Hwy. 35 in Sparta, Ky.(Kentucky Speedway PR)(5-12-2004)
New engine builder at DEI...from Yates? hearing former Yates engine man, Dennis Schoenfeld has left Robert Yates Racing [#38 and #88] and took the head engine builder job at Dale Earnhardt Inc.[DEI](5-11-2004)
Kerry gets shunned by Mikey UPDATE: Kerry Earnhardt was so angry at Michael Waltrip for their run-in at Talladega that he grabbed a radio from the DEI rig during the race and tried to talk to Waltrip, but Waltrip wouldn't reply. Then Earnhardt, according to sources, showed up at DEI's Monday meeting, to talk with Waltrip, but Waltrip skipped the meeting.(Winston Salem Journal)(5-3-2004) UPDATE: Kerry Earnhardt is Montana with Richard Childress fishing (they are shooting a segment for an upcoming show called NASCAR Outdoors - not sure where or when it will air). Earnhardt is not blaming Waltrip for the incident and knows it was not intentional. He told Claire B. Lang on XM Satellite Radio [before Earnhardt left for Montana]: "I'm sure Michael didn't intend on taking me out, he just come down, I think [Jeff] Gordon was there [Gordon tapped Waltrip, who had no place to go]. He got turned sideways and, fortunate for him that I was on the bottom to keep him from going through the infield there. So, it was an unfortunate situation for myself to get taken out in that manner - but it was part of racing - it was speedway racing. I'm sure all those other (Talladega) wrecks didn't happen intentionally either."(XM Satellite - NASCAR Radio 144)(5-4-2004)
Truex Eventually to the #15: ....so [Michael] Waltrip might have had reason to feel insecure. In fact, a man less certain of what he wants from the next five years of his NASCAR career and beyond would be inclined to suspicion, or even resentment. After all, Waltrip, who turns 41 Friday, has made his most important contributions to Dale Earnhardt Inc. in restrictor-plate races, winning four (his only career victories) since 2001. His drafting help has often been crucial to teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. But there are just four such races in the 36-event Nextel Cup schedule, and even Waltrip admitted after qualifying second for today's Aaron's 499 at Talladega Superspeedway that "the cars are that good where we can be successful without each other." But according to DEI director of motorsports Richie Gilmore, there is no insecurity, no acrimony between the race team and Waltrip, because there are no "secret agendas." Though Gilmore said he wants to keep Waltrip "as long as we can," everyone knows DEI ultimately wants Truex in Waltrip's #15 Chevrolet. "I think Michael has been great with that," Gilmore said. "Besides Junior, he's been one of Martin's No.1 fans. We've had that conversation about one day putting Martin in that car down the road when Michael moves on. And Michael supports that." It helps that Waltrip is too busy looking ahead to look behind. Waltrip, who owns a Busch team he runs out of a shop in his back yard, will field a Nextel Cup team for five races this season with veteran Kenny Wallace driving. That's the first step of a master plan in which Waltrip sees himself phasing out of DEI and into a role as full-time owner. "I'd like to think that in five years I could have a Cup team or two that competes on a regular basis," Waltrip said. "I'd like to continue to run Busch for myself and continue to run for DEI until that deal runs itself out, maybe have a Cup team where somebody else would drive for me. I've enjoyed owning and developing a team more than people know." Gilmore said Truex could run some Cup races this season in the DEI #1 Chevrolet formerly driven part-time by John Andretti.(St Petersburg Times)(4-25-2004)
Third Annual Dale Earnhardt Day April 29th: For the third time in as many years, Dale Earnhardt Day will be celebrated on April 29. DE Day is hosted by Teresa Earnhardt at Dale Earnhardt, Inc. as a birthday celebration for the seven-time NASCAR champion, Dale Earnhardt. This year's theme will center around Dale's Legacy at Daytona; his track record of 34 victories, his almost wins and the 1998 Daytona 500 trip to Victory Lane. For the first time since Dale Earnhardt, Inc. has opened its doors, Dale's 1998 Daytona 500 winning trophy will be on display. Also, the helmet he wore that day, which is signed by his entire crew, will be shown. Throughout the day, various videos with fan interviews, Dale's winning moments – and his almost wins – at Daytona will be shown to the gathered crowd. Teresa Earnhardt will be on hand and address the fans on the lawn of the DEI headquarters. Fans will once again be allowed behind the walls of the DEI facility to view various race cars, photos and displays in the Interior Showroom of DEI. Doors will open at 8:00am/et and the event is set to wind down at 8:00pm/et. There will be a free shuttle between area hotels and our headquarters throughout the day. For more information, log onto www.DaleEarnhardtInc.com and click on the Legacy Section to get the latest updates and event additions.(ThatsRacin.com)(4-13-2004)
Mikey..Cup team owner? #15-Michael Waltrip, whose wit and charisma have made him one of NASCAR's most popular drivers, is heavily involved in television work. He is featured in TV commercials and serves as a commentator on various racing programs. He said he might consider a career in broadcasting after his racing days are done, but also wants to remain in the sport. ''At some point I'd like to own a (Nextel) Cup team,'' said Waltrip, who currently fields his own Busch Series team [#99 Aaron's Chevy that won at Nashville on Saturday]. ''That would give me an opportunity to remain involved in something I love after I'm done driving.''(Tennessean), also Waltrip doers have a part-time Cup team, the #00 Team, one in which Kenny Wallace will run five races.(4-11-2004)
Waltrip's Pit Crew Wins in Texas: Michael Waltrip's pit crew claimed the McDonald's Drive-Thru Pit Championship fueled by POWERade in Sunday's (April 4) Samsung/RadioShack 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. The #15 NAPA crew edged the No. 38 crew of Elliott Sadler's team for the win and the $20,000 first-place check. Waltrip's crew finished second in the overall McDonald's/POWERade championship standings in 2003 with five victories and $100,000 in prize money. In the current McDonald's/POWERade season standings, Kurt Busch's #97 crew leads with 269 points. Sadler's crew is second with 262 points and Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s crew is third with 260. The season champion receives a $200,000 bonus. Waltrip's #15 NAPA Chevrolet spent the least amount of time on pit road in Texas -- 218.010 seconds. Sadler's M&M's Ford was clocked at 229.014 seconds to finish second and Earnhardt's Budweiser Chevy was third with a time of 233.636. "The NAPA crew guys continue to do an excellent job and we're excited about winning the McDonald's/POWERade contest in Texas," said crew chief Richard "Slugger" Labbe. "We clicked off some excellent pit stops and it's always gratifying to see that our guys are rewarded and recognized for their outstanding effort." The over-the-wall pit crew for Waltrip's team consists of: Brian Chase (jackman), Jeff Opal (gasman), Chris Crumley (front tire changer), Greg Osborne (rear tire changer), Shawn Ward (front tire carrier), Chad Walter (rear tire carrier) and Pete Rondeau (catch can). The pit crew coach is Walt Smith.(DMF Communications PR) for top 10 at Texas and season standings, see my Pit Crew Page.(4-7-2004)
Seven Cup Drivers to run Special Chevy Trucks: The Chevrolet Silverado All-Stars, pairing NASCAR NEXTEL Cup drivers with superstar musical celebrities in the Truck Series. Michael Waltrip will be the first of seven different drivers to pilot the #47 Chevy All-Stars Silverado in individual races during the 2004 NCTS season. His musical partner, Sheryl Crow, will be featured in the special paint scheme for the first All-Stars race - the Charlotte Tailgate 200 at Lowe's Motor Speedway on May 21. Following the program debut at Lowe's Motor Speedway with Michael Waltrip, the following Chevy drivers with their specific musical partners will pilot the #47 Chevy All-Stars Silverado: Robby Gordon, Bristol (August 25); Tony Stewart, Richmond (September 9); Ricky Craven, New Hampshire (September 18); Bobby Labonte, Martinsville (October 23); Driver To Be Announced, Phoenix (November 5); and Ward Burton, Darlington (November 12). Serving as primary sponsor of the #47 Chevy All-Stars Silverado is Acxiom, a worldwide data services company. This Silverado entry will be campaigned by Morgan-Dollar Motorsports, with whom Acxiom has been partnered since 1998 in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.(GM PR)(3-13-2004)
Waltrip Keeping the Hatch: NASCAR's investigation after the Daytona 500 of Michael Waltrip's battered stock car revealed that the roof escape hatch, while bent, held firm. The team said Waltrip, who at 6-foot-5 is the tallest Nextel Cup driver, will continue to use the escape hatch design on his car. Waltrip's #15 NAPA Chevy went into a tight barrel roll, flipping at least three times, on the back straightaway in the first half of the 500 and came to rest on its roof on the infield grass. The roof hatch "bowed" according the Waltrip's crew chief Slugger Labbe, but the structure remained intact. "The flip he took, he landed on the right front corner of the roof and it pushed the halo over to the left and the roll cage shrunk on the top, so to speak, and the roof hatch was the weakest point and it bowed in a little bit," Labbe said. "The pins still released and everything. The pins did their job but the roof hatch was caved in but that was probably one of the worst flips you will ever see." The battered car was shipped directly from Daytona International Speedway to the NASCAR Research and Development Center in Concord, NC, for study. Gary Nelson, managing director of the R&D facility, said the car was inspected Tuesday and Wednesday by NASCAR engineers then released to Labbe Thursday morning. "The whole top was crumpled and bent but the integrity of the escape hatch were still there," Nelson said. "The hinges were still connected to all the parts which is what we look at. We haven't found that any of the systems were compromised," Nelson said. "None of the systems had gone bad. None of the systems, such as roll bars, driver restraints, any of the things designed to protect the driver, were compromised." Waltrip was pinned in his car for several minutes but Labbe said his movement was not limited by the bent roof hatch. Waltrip's car won't be heading to the junkyard. Teresa Earnhardt, who owns Dale Earnhardt Inc., said the stock car would be put on display in the Earnhardt Museum, located at the massive DEI race shop near Charlotte, NC.[Mooresville](Daytona Beach News Journal)(2-22-2003)
Waltrip's roll cage did its job: NASCAR's managing director of competition Gary Nelson says after the initial evaluation of the #15 NAPA Chevy, the integrity of the safety components, including the roll cage, was not compromised during Michael Waltrip's wild crash on Sunday in the Daytona 500.(FoxSports)(2-19-2004)
Kyle and Mikey to run for a cause: A Kyle Petty-Michael Waltrip match-race on foot through the streets of Las Vegas in January might not be prime-time stuff, but this sport's two top runners figure they can put together a charity sponsorship package to generate more funds for Petty's Victory Junction Camp for seriously ill children. The camp is to open this year, and it has become one of this sport's top charities.(Winston Salem Journal)(2-16-2004)
Waltrip not happy with response time: Michael Waltrip was relieved to emerge unscathed after his #15 NAPA Chevy flipped twice in the backstretch grass at Daytona International Speedway yesterday. The two-time Daytona 500 winner wasn't happy about the effort to extricate him from his upside-down car after his wild ride. "This isn't the safest or the sanest thing to do, and you don't look forward to being in those situations," Waltrip said. "But you look forward to people helping you of it, and I didn't appreciate what those safety workers were trying to do to get me out. I was trying to tell them just to turn the car over. All they had to do was flip it back over, and I could get out. They were cutting bars, and the whole car was on top of me. I don't know what bar they thought they had to cut to alleviate the hole I was in. . . . And what did they eventually do? They flipped it over and I got out. I hope that was a lesson learned." The crew needed about 10 minutes to remove the 6-5 Waltrip - the tallest driver in the Nextel Cup Series - from the cockpit of his battered car. His height makes getting in and out of the 18-inch window difficult, and he is one of only three drivers who have a roof hatch as an alternate exit. "I was pinned way bad in a box a 6-5 guy shouldn't be in," he said. NASCAR Senior Vice President of Communications Jim Hunter said the safety crew followed guidelines "to a T." "Our procedure is not to turn a car over until the driver is OK," Hunter said. "They were cutting the bars to help get him out of the car because they couldn't use the roof hatch. I'd rather have Michael upset than Michael being injured."(Richmond Times Dispatch)(2-16-2004)
Domino's Dots Are Coming..... If #15-Michael Waltrip, last year's Daytona 500 victor, delivers a repeat win at the DAYTONA 500, Domino's will give away new Cheesy Domino's Dots across the country the next day. The PR: Domino's Pizza is counting on Michael Waltrip, the driver of the #15 NAPA Chevrolet, to deliver a repeat victory at the DAYTONA 500. If Waltrip captures the checkered flag on February 15, Domino's will give away Cheesy Domino's Dots to customers across the country on Monday, February 16th [not sure what happens if it gets postponed]. Domino's is adding 360 degrees of cheesy, zesty, all-around fun to the traditional pizza meal with the introduction of its newest side dish, Cheesy Domino's Dots. Named after the dots in Domino's Pizza's logo, Cheesy Domino's Dots are small, round balls of zesty, delicious bread, covered with a blend of melted Colby and Monterey Jack cheeses and then sprinkled with Domino's delicious garlic and Romano cheese seasoning. Cheesy Domino's Dots are served 12 per order, with a side of marinara sauce to round off the delectable taste. In 2003, Domino's became the "Official Pizza of NASCAR." More information on the Company, in English and Spanish, can be found on the web at www.dominos.com.(2-15-2004)
War of Words at DEI: after the first Gatroade Twin 125, Tony Eury Sr., #8-Dale Earnhardt's crew chief: "It looks like our teammate doesn't want to be our teammate no more. So we ended up dumping him at the end and going on to win. If that's the way they want to play it, that's the way we'll play it." Waltrip brushed off the criticism: "Earnhardt and I do a nice job together, so you just have to take it with a grain of salt when you hear some of the stuff they come up with. I'm amazed those crew guys can carry on like that. But we know what the big picture is, and we'll be a part of it Sunday."
"Me and Michael will draft fine together in the future, we just didn't today," Earnhardt said. "You can have friends, but you can't be friends to the end. You've got to go for the win. I've got a benchmark that my daddy set for wins at this place, and we got another one today. I couldn't run directly behind anyone because the air was too dirty. So I started running the top. But then when I started gaining some ground on Michael he moved up to the top, and took all the air I was using. I told them, 'Pick one or the other, because I'm going to run where he ain't, because I can't run behind him."
"It was a dead-end road where Earnhardt was headed, and they were all lined up on the bottom, so I just got in line," Waltrip said. "It wasn't any big deal. I love Dale Jr. We work so well together."(Winston Salem Journal)(2-13-2004)
Gets Points at Best Western: Michael Waltrip will be competing for his third Daytona 500 title in the last four years -- and he'll also be racing for Best Western customers across the country. Throughout the month of February, any person who books and stays at a Best Western property will receive 500 points toward a future stay, and, if Waltrip does win at Daytona, each of those people will receive an additional 500 points. More information is available at www.bestwestern.com/racing. "It's a great way to help the fans more involved," said Waltrip. "If I win, they win."(Alan Taylor Communications PR)(2-8-2004)
Norris Out? UPDATE 3: hearing reports that DEI executive vice president Ty Norris has left Dale Earnhardt Inc???(1-27-2004 5pm/et) UPDATE: Sources close to Dale Earnhardt, Inc., told NASCAR.com Tuesday that executive vice president Ty Norris has resigned from the team, effective immediately. An announcement from the team is expected Wednesday. Sources said Norris' decision was made in reaction to Teresa Earnhardt's decision to restructure the team's upper management, thus sending Norris to a lesser role. Norris, an employee at DEI since 1996, bore the brunt of the company's executive responsibility following Dale Earnhardt's death in February 2001.(NASCAR.com), hearing Richie Gilmore will assume Norris' position or some of the duties.(1-28-2004 - 12mid) UPDATE 2: Sources close to Dale Earnhardt Inc., confirmed that a "blow-up" took place at the shop over the weekend, leaving Ty Norris, the organization's executive vice president, with the option of stepping down or stepping out. Team owner Teresa Earnhardt was expected to meet with teams Tuesday to discuss the developments that include a restructuring of upper management. Richie Gilmore, DEI's chief engine builder, is expected to move up to the front office. Gilmore told TSN he's looking forward to the challenge and had not yet been told what his official title would be. The general consensus in the garage during Las Vegas testing was that having "a racer" run the day-to-day business would benefit DEI significantly. Gilmore, a native of Rochester, N.H., began his racing career in Super Modifieds as a teenager. Gilmore met Ron Bouchard and moved to North Carolina in 1988 to work on his Winston Cup team. In 1991, after an apprenticeship with Keith Dorton, Gilmore joined Hendrick Motorsports and began working with Randy Dorton. At Hendrick's, Gilmore was assigned to the lease program at Joe Gibbs Racing when Dale Jarrett won his first Daytona 500. He continued with Hendrick's on Terry Labonte's team in 1995 and 1996 when the No. 5 car won the title. In 1998, he was approached by Dale Earnhardt to build engines for the No. 8 car and Dale Earnhardt Jr., who was making his Cup debut the following season. When Gilmore took over the engine shop, DEI had just 19 employees and 21 engines. Gilmore helped to grow the department to 61 employees and 115 engines during his tenure as DEI's head engine builder.(FoxSports)(1-28-2004) UPDATE 3: Effective immediately, Richie Gilmore will direct all motorsports functions at Dale Earnhardt Incorporated. The position was previously held by Ty Norris, who resigned on Jan. 26, 2004. Teresa Earnhardt, CEO and co-founder of Dale Earnhardt Incorporated stated, "Because of close teamwork at Dale Earnhardt Incorporated, Richie Gilmore has prepared to manage all motorsports responsibilities. Looking at programs he has implemented over the years, we're confident he will continue to develop our success, both on and off the track." Gilmore, a 38-year-old Rochester, NH native came to DEI in 1998 as Head Engine Builder, after an eight-year stint at Hendrick Motorsports. In addition, Dale Earnhardt Incorporated's Sponsor Services Division is being strengthened with additional personnel. Earnhardt added,"To develop new marketing strategies and fulfill the needs of our current partners we will be focusing on growth while continuing to direct primary energies toward winning the Nextel Cup and BGN championships; fulfilling the goals established for this company over a decade ago."(DEI PR)(1-30-2004)
Waltip and the Simpsons [a Jayski fave]: The Simpsons are celebration it’s 15th consecutive season on Fox. There will be a maximum of three Cup schemes, one Busch [#99 Michael Waltrip] and an event diecast. The schemes are scheduled to run at Lowe's Motor Speedway on May 29th & 30th.(1-20-2004)
2003 News
#1 and Andretti in 2004? UPDATE 3 DEI announcement: Dale Earnhardt Inc. also has been pursuing Kodak, but sources say it plans to run John Andretti in the #1 car regardless of Kodak's decision.(Yahoo Sports/Sporting News) UPDATE: am hearing that DEI is now considering a partial schedule with Andretti as driver in the #1 Chevy.(12-1-2003) UPDATE 2: hearing that DEI has decided to shut down the #1 team and has released many [6] of the team members. Supposedly plans are to now run a full Busch schedule with Martin Truex Jr. and to possibly run some cup races with him. Also heard the team will run a seven race schedule and Andretti would drive those races.(12-2-2003) AND supposedly Chance 2 Motorsports will run a full schedule in a quest of the NASCAR Busch Series championship in 2004. Martin Truex, Jr. will be the primary driver and Earnhardt, Jr. will drive a second car for superspeedway races at Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway. Also, the #1 Chevy will be run under a different marketing program next year only participating in special races. John Andretti will drive in the Daytona 500. Truex, Jr. will also participate in seven Cup Series races in 2004 to prepare for a full-time move to the series in 2005. UPDATE 3: For the 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup and Busch Series seasons, Dale Earnhardt, Inc. has announced changes to two of its four teams. Chance 2 Motorsports, co-owned by Teresa Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt, Jr., will run a full schedule in a quest of the NASCAR Busch Series championship in 2004. Martin Truex, Jr. will be the primary driver and Earnhardt, Jr. will drive a second car for superspeedway races at Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway. Also, the #1 Chevrolet will be run under a different marketing program next year only participating in special races. John Andretti will drive in the season-opening Daytona 500. The new plan also calls for Truex, Jr. to run five - seven Nextel Cup Series races in 2004 to prepare for a possible full-time move to the series in 2005. "This is the approach we decided to take looking toward the 2005 season," said Teresa Earnhardt, President and CEO of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. "We are going to strengthen our program for the No. 1 car and get that back to the status of Earnhardt standards. From a marketing standpoint, this is a great opportunity for a company to get involved with a Nextel Cup team. And, a young driver such as Truex Jr. in our No. 1 car will be the perfect place to utilize that strategy. Truex, Jr. competed in six Busch races with Chance 2 Motorsports this season garnering two top-five finishes and three top-10s. He closed the season with two, consecutive second-place finishes. By competing in just seven races this year, Truex Jr. will be eligible to compete for Rookie of the Year honors in Nextel Cup in 2005. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. has won two NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and two NASCAR Busch Series championships. "I'm really looking forward to run for the Busch championship," Truex, Jr., 23, said. "After six races with Chance 2 in 2003, I was really pleased with the way things went and how we performed. Some of our finishes didn't reflect what we are truly capable of achieving on the track. But, we'll have 34 races next year to capitalize on what we learned this year together. I have the best equipment, crew chief and team anyone could ask for in the Busch garage. We ended the season on a positive note with two, second-place finishes." Teresa Earnhardt was on top of the team's pit box during the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway when Truex, Jr. finished second. "The Chance 2 team and Martin have shown they are capable of competing up to the standards we strive to achieve here at Dale Earnhardt, Inc.," Earnhardt said. "Committing to a full season in the Busch Series will better prepare us to meet the high standards of the No. 1 team in 2005."(DEI PR)(12-3-2003)
Beam leaves RCR for Wells UPDATE plus a new crew chief for the #32: Crew Chief Mike Beam has left Richard Childress Racing and the #30 AOL Chevy team to become the team manager for car owner Cal Wells’ operation.(PRN's Garage Pass Radio Show)(11-19-2003) UPDATE: PPI Motorsports today announced it has hired former Tide Racing crew chief Mike Beam as competition director for its racing programs. Beam is joined by David Charpentier, who will serve as crew chief for the #32 Tide Chevrolet driven by Ricky Craven. Scott Miller, crew chief for the #32 Tide Pontiac in 2003, is exploring options both within and outside of the team's engineering group. Beam, a veteran NASCAR Winston Cup Series crew chief, returns to PPI Motorsports after serving as crew chief for Richard Childress Racing's #30 AOL Chevrolet in 2003. As competition director, Beam will help focus the organization's in-house operations toward increased performance. He will also work with Charpentier and the crew of the #32 Tide Chevrolet to ensure the team's at-track competition needs are met. Beam served as crew chief for PPI Motorsports' #32 Tide Racing program from 2001-2001 and helped lead the team to its first NASCAR Winston Cup Series win (Martinsville, October 2001), three pole positions, and seven top-five finishes.
Charpentier, former engineering manager for Dale Earnhardt Inc. (DEI), entered the professional motorsports ranks after seven years in the Navy's nuclear power program and consulted for several teams, including Sabco Racing, Rudd Performance Motorsports, Butch Mock Motorsports and Hendrick Motorsports. In 1999, Charpentier joined DEI and was instrumental in the team's growth from one to three successful Winston Cup teams.(PPI Motorsports PR)(11-24-2003)
Waltrip's Pit Crew Wins in Phoenix; Increases Points Lead For $200,000 Bonus: Michael Waltrip's No. 15 pit crew rebounded Sunday in Phoenix, claiming the top prize and an important 43 points in the inaugural McDonald's Drive-Thru Pit Championship fueled by POWERade. In the chase for the $200,000 bonus that goes to the season champion, Waltrip's pit crew has a 22-point lead over its DEI teammate - the No. 8 crew for Dale Earnhardt Jr. There are two races remaining - Rockingham (Nov. 9) and Homestead-Miami (Nov. 16). Waltrip's NAPA pit crew, which has five McDonald's/POWERade victories and $100,000 in prize money to date, has led the championship since the season-opening Daytona 500. "The NAPA boys stepped it up in Phoenix," said crew chief Richard "Slugger" Labbe. "The first stop was 12.82 seconds and we gained six positions - a great indication for what the day was going to be like. Their success is a direct result of the training by Walt Smith (DEI pit crew trainer). The No. 15 team and the No. 8 team are running first and second in the McDonald's/POWERade competition - what a testament to Walt and the preparation he makes." Waltrip's Chevrolet spent the least amount of time on pit road at Phoenix International Raceway - 159.435 seconds. Jamie McMurray's Dodge was second at 162.096. Ricky Rudd's Ford was third (165.198) and Earnhardt's Chevy was fourth (172.933). The over-the-wall pit crew for Waltrip's team consists of: Brian Chase (jackman), Jeff Opal (gasman), Chris Crumley (front tire changer), Greg Osborne (rear tire changer), Shawn Ward (front tire carrier), Chad Walter (rear tire carrier) and Pete Rondeau (catch can).
See standings, top 10 from Phoenix and winners each week, see my Pit Crew News page and Pit Crew Chart.(11-6-2003)
Best Western theOfficial Hotel of NASCAR and to the #15 as an assoc in 2004: Best Western International, Inc. has entered into a three-year partnership with NASCAR to become the sport's first-ever Official Hotel, beginning January 1, 2004. Best Western will also serve as an associate sponsor of reigning Daytona 500 champion Michael Waltrip and the #15 NAPA Chevrolet for the 2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup season. Waltrip is a driver for Dale Earnhardt Inc.(Yahoo Finance)(11-3-2003)
Domino's to be an assoc sponsor on the #15: Domino's Pizza, the world's recognized leader in pizza delivery, which became the "Official Pizza of NASCAR" earlier this year, has expanded its involvement in NASCAR and announced a partnership with Dale Earnhardt, Inc. (DEI). Under the agreement, Domino's will become an associate sponsor of the #15 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet driven by Michael Waltrip. The relationship with DEI and Waltrip will allow Domino's to ramp up its NASCAR-themed advertising and promotions, which began earlier this year. Waltrip will debut his #15 NAPA race car with the Domino's logo on the right panel, behind the number 15, and the left panel behind the rear tire during a press conference at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. Throughout 2004, the #15 show car will make a cross-country tour and be displayed at 90 Domino's stores. Other details of the agreement include Waltrip's participation in Domino's advertising, online marketing initiatives and promotions. "Partnering with Domino's will be a fun and exciting ride," said Michael Waltrip. "In February, days after Domino's unveiled the commercial featuring my family at a press conference in Daytona, we won the Daytona 500. I'm looking forward to more great wins together."(Domino's Pizza Site)(10-24-2003)
Waltrip's Pit Crew Wins in Martinsville; Closing In On Season Championship: The pit crew for Michael Waltrip's team moved one step closer to claiming the inaugural McDonald's Drive-Thru Pit Championship fueled by POWERade and the $200,000 bonus that goes to the season champion. The #15 crew, which has led in the point standings the entire season, captured its fourth McDonald's/POWERade win of the year with a resounding victory in Sunday's (Oct. 19) 500-lap event at Martinsville Speedway. The victory, worth $20,000, lifted the #15 crew's season prize money total to $80,000. With four NASCAR Winston Cup races remaining, Waltrip's pit crew holds a 38-point lead over DEI teammate - the #8 crew for Dale Earnhardt Jr.
"It's getting personal here - a downright grudge match between the #15 and the #8 teams," said DEI pit crew coach Walt Smith. "Both teams are really fired up about the McDonald's/POWERade championship. I tell the (No.) 15 team to stay focused and then go over to the (No.) 8 team and tell them don't give up - you're not out of the championship. This program is great for everyone. The drivers are even talking about it during the race."
By winning in Martinsville, Waltrip's team gained only one point on Earnhardt's team, which finished second. Waltrip's NAPA Chevrolet spent the least amount of time on pit road - 229.765 seconds. Earnhardt's Chevy was clocked at 283.984. Tony's Stewart's team finished third with a time of 291.004.
The over-the-wall pit crew for Waltrip's team consists of: Brian Chase (jackman), Jeff Opal (gasman), Chris Crumley (front tire changer), Greg Osborne (rear tire changer), Shawn Ward (front tire carrier), Chad Walter (rear tire carrier) and Pete Rondeau (catch can). The team's crew chief is Richard "Slugger" Labbe.(DMF PR) for top 10 at Martinsville, Season Standings and each race winner, see my Pit Crew page.(10-23-2003)
Both Hmiels to Petty Enterprises? or Green? or Benson? A combination deal might land Steve Hmiel, technical director for Dale Earnhardt Inc., and his son Shane Hmiel, a Busch Series driver, at Petty Enterprises in 2004. Steve worked for the Pettys early in his Winston Cup career. Shane was supposed to drive the #43 Dodge in the Pepsi 400 in July at Daytona but failed to qualify. Jeff Green has run well recently in the #43 and also is a candidate to drive it. Johnny Benson, who will be released from the #10, might be in the mix because of his previous relationship with General Mills, the primary sponsor for the 43 car. "We're still looking, we're still evaluating, and we're still working in that direction whether it's Benson, Jeff Gordon, the guy sitting in the third row of the grandstands or Jeff Green," says Kyle Petty, the team's general manager. Petty says Christian Fittipaldi will drive the team's #44 if a sponsor is secured for next season.(Yahoo Sports/Sporting News)(10-20-2003)
Waltrip wins at Talladega and pops up thru the hatch [was that cool or what?]: after a red flag for a rough looking accident involving #38-Elliott Sadler, #15-Michael Waltrip held off his teammate #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. to win the EA Sports 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. The rest of the top five were #20-Tony Stewart, #12-Ryan Newman and #24-Jeff Gordon. Two of the top five drivers were 'Lucky Dog Packers'm getting their laps back after being the first car a lap down and getting their lap back, #8-Earnhardt Jr. and #12-Newman. The win is Waltrip's 2nd of the year, the first time he has multiple wins in a season and his first win not at Daytona. It is Waltrip's 4th career win. It is the tenth straight win for Chevy at Talladega. Points leader, #17-Matt Kenseth had his first DNF [did not finish] of 2003 and first since Homestead in Nov 2002. Kenseth finished 33rd, his worst finish of the year [his previous was 22nd at Martinsville]. Kenseth's lead shrinks from 436 to 354 points over #29-Harvick. Scheduled Race Re-Air: NOTE: Speed Channel changed their lineup starting in August - so there will be a one-hour recap [called Fast Forward] of the race scheduled for:
Wednesday, October 1st at 7:00pm/et and again on October 2nd at 1:00am/et;
and a full three-hour race show will re-air at 3:00pm/et on Thursday, October 2nd
For results see JAYSKI's Talladega/EA Sports 500 Race Results page
See my Talladega Race Info/Rundown page, for the top 10, caution info and narritive, notes about the race, lap leaders, drivers off/out and other results links. Also links and info on my 2003 Race Results page and 2003 Practice Links page
See full standings at JAYSKI's Drivers/Owners Points after Talladega page.(9-28-203)
Waltrip alone with the hatch: It was Micheal Waltrip that helped test the new roof escape hatch system NASCAR has been working on for the last six month or so and it was Waltrip's car that gets to test it out first under race conditions. The #15 is the only car equipped with the new device this weekend at Talladega. Everyone in the garage area gathered around it at one point before inspection to get a look to see how it worked. The hatch, which measures approximately 24 inches by 24 inches on the driver’s side roof, is controlled by steel cable pull cords in the cockpit that are connected to a latch system. By pulling on one cable, it will allow the driver to open the exit to the front or rear of the car. By pulling on both cables, it will allow the driver to completely remove the piece. The system is controlled by the driver, but safety crews also will be able to release the system as well, if needed. Jack Roush said their teams had no immediate interest in installing the devices unless NASCAR made it mandatory or if one of his drivers requested one. "We want to see what the hatch will do in actual conditions before we even consider it," said Roush. The kits will be available through independent vendors, will cost approximately $150.00 and will take the teams about 15 hours to install. Gary Nelson displayed the device on TV a couple of weeks ago and the one he demonstrated showed the hatch opening from side to side but the one on the No. 15 car clearly opened from front to back, or back to front. The escape hatch will allow drivers an additional exit through the top of the vehicle should they be unable to utilize the traditional window exit.(Insider Racing)(9-27-2003)
Mikey OK? Been asked so here ya go: Q: Many fans are concerned that you [Michael Waltrip] are sick because you appear to be losing so much weight. Why have you lost so much weight recently?
A: "I had a birthday coming up and back last December was back when I decided I wanted to lose weight. My 40th birthday was this past April 30th. I just decided that when I turned 40 I wanted to be lighter and be able to run faster and lift more than I ever could so that I didn't feel 40. I tend to be rather goal-oriented, so my goal was to weigh less than 200 pounds and I accomplished it. And I've maintained it by a low-carb diet and lots of exercise."(Delaware News Journal)(9-20-2003)
Tire Test at DIS: Goodyear is having a tire test in preparation for the "Great American Race" 46th annual Daytona 500 on Feb. 15, 2004. The test will be held on Monday, Sept. 8 and Tuesday, Sept. 9 at Daytona International Speedway with expected drivers being 2003 Daytona 500 champion Michael Waltrip, driver of the #15 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet and 2003 Daytona 500 second-place finisher Kurt Busch, driver of the #97 Rubbermaid Ford for Roush Racing. The test is free and open to the public with access to the Oldfield Grandstand available through DAYTONA USA, the official attraction of NASCAR.(DIS PR)(9-6-2003)
DEI to test Atlanta later this month: #15-Michael Waltrip and another DEI team are scheduled to test at Atlanta Motor Speedway on September 29-30th. The test is closed to the public.(AMS PR)(9-4-2003)
Helton and DEI? Unlikely: There is validity to the long-running reports that NASCAR president Mike Helton's name is once again in the hat to take over Dale Earnhardt Inc., according to top NASCAR sources. Owner Teresa Earnhardt has asked Helton to take over running the company built by the late six-time Winston Cup champion, according to sources. It is unclear how interested Helton might be in such a position or how such a move might change the power structure inside the stock-car racing sanctioning body.(Winston Salem Journal)(8-5-2003)
DW, Mikey and the Stooges PLUS: Michael Waltrip, Inc. (MWI) announced today that Darrell Waltrip (D.W.) will compete for his third NASCAR Craftsmen Truck Series race this year at Martinsville Speedway on Saturday, October 18. Darrell will be behind the wheel of his younger brother's #17 Aaron's/Three Stooges Chevrolet race truck, the latest addition to The Three Stooges 75th Anniversary racing program that has the vaudevillian troupe climbing aboard several race cars in the National Hot Rod Association and NASCAR circuits. Action Performance Companies Inc., C3 Entertainment Inc. and Global Icons came up with the idea of bringing the Three Stooges to the races. In addition to The Three Stooges truck, Michael Waltrip's #99 Aaron's Dream Machine, NASCAR Busch Series entry will also promote the Three Stooges 75th anniversary. See the press releasse on my Truck Series siteAND see an image of the truck on my 2003 Truck Schemes page.(8-8-2003)
Mikey Not Happy: The #15 NAPA Chevy was black flagged with seven laps to go in Sunday's New England 300 when NASCAR thought the rightside tailpipe was dragging. Was NASCAR's decision legitimate? "That depends on what side of the fence your on, I guess," said Waltrip. "My tailpipe wasn't loose, just the strap had fallen off. NASCAR brought us in because they thought the tailpipe was going to fall off, but to black flag someone contending for a top-10 with seven laps to go, you'd like to think that NASCAR would use better judgement. Alternatively, I am the one who ran into the wall, so it is my fault. I just don't think NASCAR had to make a call that was
that harsh."(PR)(7-23-2003)
Waltrip's Carb Pulled, other parts taken UPDATE 2 Fines and Points, no Suspension: NASCAR officials confiscated the carburetor from Michael Waltrip's #15 Chevy during pre-qualifying inspection Thursday morning at Daytona International Speedway. Winston Cup series director John Darby said the carburetor had problems with openings through which air travels. Larger openings theoretically can mean increased horsepower, especially at Daytona and Talladega where NASCAR mandates speed-reducing carburetor restrictor plates. Darby said Waltrip's Dale Earnhardt Inc.-owned team will likely be penalized. No penalties are expected until early next week, however. Waltrip, who won the season-opening Daytona 500, said he was not aware of any problems on his car when asked about it Thursday afternoon. Waltrip's car was also found to have unapproved window braces. The carburetor, as well as other unapproved parts confiscated Thursday, will be placed on display at the NASCAR hauler on Friday, Darby said.(ThatsRacin.com)(7-3-2003) AND Kyle Petty 's #45 Dodge had unapproved rear jacking bolts confiscated during an inspection before practice.(Roanoke Times) ALSO: taken was an unapproved spring from the #09 Dodge of Buckshot Jones.(ThatsRacin.com)(7-4-2003) UPDATE: An illegal carburetor discovered during inspection at Daytona was expected to bring a penalty, possibly a two-week suspension, for Richard “Slugger” Labbe, crew chief for #15-Michael Waltrip. Expect Bobby Kennedy, Waltrip's Busch Series crew chief, to make the calls on race day, if needed.(Sporting News)(7-7-2003) UPDATE 2: The #15 DEI Chevrolet was found to have an unapproved carburetor modification during opening-day inspection. The result was a $25,000 fine for crew chief Richard Labbe, the loss of 25 NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship driver points for Michael Waltrip and the loss of 25 NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship owner points for Teresa Earnhardt. Labbe also received an additional $500 fine for an unapproved roof strip, which was found during the opening-day inspection period as well.The team was in violation of Section 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and Section 12-4-Q (Any determination by NASCAR Officials that parts and/or equipment in the Event do not conform to NASCAR rules) of the NASCAR Winston Cup Series Rule Book.(NASCAR PR)(7-9-2003)
Waltrip going for a rare triple: If #15-Michael Waltrip wins Saturday night's Pepsi 400, he'll become only the second driver to win three consecutive NASCAR Winston Cup points races at Daytona. Cale Yarborough is the only driver to have a Daytona "triple". Yarborough won the 1967 Firecracker 400, then swept the Daytona 500 and Firecracker 400 in 1968.(NASCAR PR)(7-2-2003)
#15 Pitcrew fastest at Dover UPDATE: The pit crew for Michael. Waltrip's No. 15 NAPA Chevrolet won the weekly McDonald's/POWERade Drive-Thru Pit Championship at Dover worth $20,000. The #15 spent 284 seconds in the pits, lowest among teams competing in the program.(NASCAR PR) have not gotten the PR on this for the standings or any other info.(6-4-2003) UPDATE: see full press release with standing from Dover and overall standing at my Pit Crew Page.(6-5-2003)
Rock n' Roll at Richmond in Sept UPDATE 2: #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. featuring the band Staind; #20-Tony Stewart featuring the band Diamond Rio; #15-Michael Waltrip featuring the band Hootie & The Blow Fish; will run at Richmond in Sept. Supposedly the "Chevy Rocks" program is said to be similar to the Looney Tunes program ran at Richmond the last couple of years in that it will include many Chevy teams from Cup and maybe some Busch and Truck Series.(4-25-2003) UPDATE: add Busch driver #2 Ron Hornaday with the band Trapt and #30 Steve Park (sure is weird not putting #1) with Third Eye Blind.(5-16-2003) UPDATE 2: Warner Music Group (WMG), Chevrolet and Action Performance Companies, Inc. announced today that some of the hottest names in music and NASCAR will team up for the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 NASCARâ Winston Cup Series race on Saturday, September 6 "under the lights" at Richmond International Raceway. The campaign kicked off today in the Chevrolet Rock & Roll Tour at Charlotte's Food Lion Speed Street festival and featured a performance by Elektra Recording artists Third Eye Blind and appearances from NASCAR drivers #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr., #15-Michael Waltrip and #25-Joe Nemechek (with Uncle Kracker). In addition, representatives from WMG, Chevrolet, Richmond International Raceway and Action Performance unveiled the official Chevy Rock & Roll 400 pace car and event logo. Steve Park and his #30 AOL Chevrolet show car featuring Third Eye Blind were also on hand for the announcement.(RIR PR), see full PR and images of the #8, #15, #25, #30 on my Paint Scheme Gallery page, also, #29-Kevin Harvick is part of the program and will be paired with the band ZZ Top.(5-22-2003)
NHRA hires from DEI: Last week, defending NHRA Pro Stock champ Jeg Coughlin Jr., brought a new research and development expert aboard. The new employee brings a wealth of racing knowledge with him -- especially in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. Jim Gamache will head up Team Jeg's R&D efforts and attempt to bring a much-needed boost to their lukewarm season to date. Gamache most recently served as Engineering Manager for Dale Earnhardt Inc., where he and Team Manager Steve Hmeil supervised the engine, vehicle dynamics and powertrain elements for the organization. Gamache also brings an impressive drag racing background to the table, having worked for long-time Pro Stock engine supplier Reher & Morrison some 20 years ago.(ESPN)(5-14-2003)
Spys at Daytona USA?After Michael Waltrip won his second Daytona 500 in February, his #15 NAPA Chevy was rolled into Daytona USA for public display -- or easy pickings? There are whispers out there that several Winston Cup teams, bound and determined find the strength of DEI's restrictor-plate fleet, sent people to photograph and measure Waltrip's sitting duck car. "It's a great story to say people are going to Daytona to look at our car," Waltrip said Wednesday while doing a media tour in California. Daytona officials said no one carrying a tape measure has entered Daytona USA after paying the $16 adult admission price. Nobody has taken measurements of the car and nobody better try it in the future. "There's no way they can get close to the car," Speedway spokesman David Talley said. "We don't allow anybody to get close to the car or touch it. They can come take pictures if they want, but they can't take out a tape measure and get up to the car, touch it or measure it." Daytona USA has at least one employee near the car at all times and security makes regular sweeps through the building. Talley said if somebody was caught messing with Waltrip's car, they'd get the bum's rush. "We'd call security and escort them out of the building," Talley said. NASCAR heard the same story about spies doing detailed measurements of Waltrip's car and immediately called the Speedway about it.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(4-24-2003)
Some DW news UPDATE 2: The Martinsville race on April 12 will be the first of two Craftsman Truck Series appearances by Fox TV analyst Darrell Waltrip as a driver. Broadcast partner Larry McReynolds will be Waltrip’s spotter, and Jeff Hammond, who turned the wrenches during part of Waltrip’s Cup career, will be the crew chief. … Fox’s frequent assertion that Hammond was Waltrip’s crew chief for three championships is incorrect, by the way. In 1981, Tim Brewer was Waltrip’s crew chief. In 1982, the duties were shared among Brewer, Hammond and Mike Hill. Hammond was the crew chief for Waltrip’s third title in 1985. You can look it up, as they say.(Gaston Gazette) UPDATE: Tim Brewer was no longer with the team in 1982 and Jeff Hammond was the crew chief. Also on the truck, Hammond is NOT the Crew Chief, Bobby Kennedy is the Crew Chief, Hammond is the "Interperator".(4-4-2003) UPDATE 2: Michael Waltrip will join Rick Allen, Dorsey Schroeder and Barry Dodson in the booth for this weekend's Craftsman Truck Series event in Martinsville. Waltrip has a vested interest in the race, as older brother Darrell - a three-time Winston Cup champion - will be racing a DEI-powered truck owned by Michael and crewed by Michael's NASCAR Busch Series crew. SPEED Channel will bring race fans a unique view to DW's return, as the truck will be equipped with in-car cameras and the racing legend
will be wired for sound for the entire race. In addition, fellow FOX broadcasters Larry McReynolds and Jeff Hammond also will be a part of
the SPEED broadcast, with McReynolds acting as Waltrip's spotter and Hammond observing from the pits.(Speed Channel PR)(4-8-2003) UPDATE 3: from a DW chat "No, we don't really have any intentions of doing anything else with the Tide truck. Michael might run it. It's going to be Tide at Martinsville, and at Indy, it's going to be Give Kids The World which is a program down in Orlando that Tide is involved in for sick kids. We're going to run that paint job at Indy. But there is another race back in Martinsville. There are a couple other races that Michael talked about racing, like New Hampshire or somewhere like that. I'd love to go to Phoenix.(FoxSports)(4-11-2003)
Mikey gets a TV gig and DW miked: Michael Waltrip will join Rick Allen, Dorsey Schroeder and Barry Dodson in the booth for this weekend's Craftsman Truck Series event in Martinsville. Waltrip has a vested interest in the race, as older brother Darrell - a three-time Winston Cup champion - will be racing a DEI-powered truck owned by Michael and crewed by Michael's NASCAR Busch Series crew. SPEED Channel will bring race fans a unique view to DW's return, as the truck will be equipped with in-car cameras and the racing legend
will be wired for sound for the entire race. In addition, fellow FOX broadcasters Larry McReynolds and Jeff Hammond also will be a part of
the SPEED broadcast, with McReynolds acting as Waltrip's spotter and Hammond observing from the pits.(Speed Channel PR) see more about DW's truck deal on my Truck Series site (have a image of the the truck there) or Retired Cup drivers page.(4-8-2003)
A Parcells hired by DEI: Jill Parcells, daughter of Cowboys coach Bill Parcells, recently was hired by Dale Earnhardt Inc., as director of operations for the Dale Earnhardt Tribute Concert. The concert, to benefit the Dale Earnhardt Foundation, is scheduled for June 28 at Daytona International Speedway, with Sheryl Crow, Alabama and Brooks & Dunn among the lead acts. Besides trying to move from New York to Mooresville, N.C., Jill Parcells, who worked for a sports marketing agency for 2 1/2 years out of college before spending almost eight years in the marketing department at Sports Illustrated, has spent the past month trying to learn the sport herself. She has read NASCAR for Dummies and watched every race on TV.(Fort Worth Star Telegram)(3-29-2003)
Waltrip suggests cutting air dam: Michael Waltrip believes racing would be better at all Winston Cup tracks, not just Texas, if the cars ran slower. And he's got a radical idea about how NASCAR should move to accomplish that. "We can go in an cut the spoiler off or raise the front air dam and slow these cars down on the straightaways," Waltrip said. "I believe that what should happen is that the front air dam should be raised 10 inches from where it is now, which is 3½ inches.(ThatsRacin.com)(3-29-2003)
Who is that? been asked, and saw this: Michael Waltrip taped a Domino's Pizza commercial with his family that airs regularly during NASCAR events. Most people know Waltrip and his wife, Buffy, have two daughters, but the commercial also includes a 3-year-old boy. "A lot of people have asked me about that, so I need to clear that up," Waltrip said. "He's not ours. We borrowed him. We didn't have a boy in the age range they wanted. But the two girls [Caitlan, 13, and Margaret, 5] are ours." In other word's the boy is an 'actor'.(Dallas Morning News - may need to register to view/read)(3-28-2003)
Barnes leaves Ultra Motorsports? UPDATE joins the Waltrip's: hearing that Buddy Barnes, the crew chief for the Ultra Motorpsorts #2 Truck Series team and spotter for the #7 Ultra Motorsports Cup team, has left the team.(3-7-2003) UPDATE: Buddy Barnes lost his crew chief's job on owner Jim Smith's #2 Craftsman Truck (Jason Leffler) last Friday. But Barnes says he's looking forward to working as “a contract labor mechanic” for Leroy's Boys Racing, a collaborative truck effort between Michael and Darrell Waltrip. D.W. will enlist the help of his Fox Sports posse: Jeff Hammond will work on the trucks, and Larry McReynolds will be the spotter. Plans are for Darrell to race the No. 17 Chevrolet April 12 at Martinsville and August 1 at Indianapolis Raceway Park. The team purchased lightly used trucks from Hendrick Motorsports and will get engines from Dale Earnhardt Inc.(Sporting News)(3-10-2003)
Mikey stands by 'Patriotic' Comments [good for him!]: From a Tennessean column: Michael Waltrip makes no apology for urging citizens to ''support our President'' during a TV interview following last Sunday's race at Las Vegas. Nor should he. If a women's basketball player at Manhattanville College can use her sport to make a political statement —shamefully turning her back on the U.S. flag during the national anthem — then there's nothing wrong with Waltrip doing the same. Waltrip said he had received ''a little criticism'' for his comments at a time when the nation is sharply divided over U.S. military intervention in Iraq. ''Nobody has said anything to me personally, but I've heard some things second-hand,'' said Waltrip, the Winston Cup points leader going into today's race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. ''I've also gotten a lot of support. A lot of people agree with what I said — that we need to support the leader of our country at a critical time like this. That's all I said, and I don't see anything wrong with it.'' Atlanta Journal-Constitution media critic Mike Tierney does. He wrote: ''[TV] interviewers should keep drivers focused on race matters. When Michael Waltrip turns the discourse toward the President and the pending war in Iraq, the questioner must take the wheel and guide him back.'' While Tierney got his nose bent out of shape, NASCAR doesn't have a problem with what Waltrip said or where he said it. ''NASCAR is supportive of the drivers, owners, crews and other constituents in our sport,'' said Herb Branham, communications manager for the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. ''They have the ability to express their personal views.'' In other words, NASCAR has no intention to muzzle Michael. Denny Darnell, spokesman for the Winston Cup Series title sponsor, likewise said there is no problem with the points leader speaking out as Waltrip did — even though many of Winston's customers may be on the opposite side of the emotional debate. ''We are proud of all of our drivers,'' Darnell said. ''They are entitled to express their opinions.'' NASCAR has historically been a conservative sport and the Waltrip family has longstanding close ties to the Bush family. Michael's older brother Darrell campaigned actively for Bush in the last election and earlier for Bush's father. Darrell also has been a guest of Bush on Air Force One. That association aside, Michael said his comments were about patriotism, not politics. ''This is not about Democrats or Republicans,'' he said. ''It's about being an American and respecting and supporting our President, no matter which party he represents. I'd feel the same way if the President were a Democrat; he'd be the leader of our country and I would support him. 'These are difficult times. Think about all the pressure the President is under. I don't see how he sleeps at night, how he breathes. I think the least we can do is let him know he has our support. That's all I said, and I stand by it. I don't apologize for it.'' Waltrip doesn't equate voicing his support for the President with the disrespect the women's basketball player shows when she turns her back on the flag during the national anthem. ''It hurts me to see that,'' Waltrip said. ''That flag represents us all.'' But, he added, ''I guess that's her right if she wants to do it. I don't agree with it, but maybe she thinks she's making a point. 'If she can do that, it's my right to express my viewpoint too. I'll continue to support my president and my country and our soldiers who are in harm's way.'' Waltrip admitted that last Sunday's comments, broadcast to millions of fans nationally on the Fox Sports broadcast, were no entirely ad-libbed. ''The situation had been on my mind,'' he said. ''I had given it some thought, and I felt like it was something that needed saying. I said it, and I don't regret it.''(Tennessean)(3-9-2003)
#15 Team wins McDonald’s Drive-Thru Pit Crew Challenge at Daytona: NASCAR announced last week that the #15 NAPA race team had won the McDonald’s Drive-Thru Pit Crew Challenge Fueled by POWERade contingency award. The #15 Chevrolet pit crew topped off an amazing performance with three pit stops measuring less than seven seconds in speed. The NAPA squad posted times of 6.45 sec for a right-side two-tire change, 5.67 sec for a left-side two-tire change and a 3.91-sec for a gas-and-go stop. The McDonald’s Drive-Thru Pit Crew Challenge Fueled by POWERade contingency award focuses on the pit crews’ performances during each race. NASCAR takes the aggregate time each team spends on pit road. That time, which is recorded by NASCAR using the same transponders that record the cars as they cross the start/finish line, begins the moment the car enters pit road and stops once it has left. The team who spends the least amount of time on pit road during the day wins. After each Winston Cup points race, the crews will be ranked in order of aggregate time on pit road. Forty-three points will be awarded to the top finisher and one point will be awarded to the last-place team. These points will be used to determine a championship crew at the end of the year.(DEI Site), no word on who won Rockingham.(2-26-2003)
More on the 'Cheating' stuff; #15 decklid problems at Daytona? Team fined?: Pandora’s Box was recently opened in the NASCAR Winston Cup garage when Rusty Wallace publicly used the C word [Cheating] on the record — instances of competitors blatantly calling each other cheaters being as rare as a scone with tea in the garage. In less than demure fashion, Wallace said, "I don't know why they [Chevrolets] were so good at Daytona. They had more power and a little less coefficient of drag. Four or five of them were cheating really, really hard and didn't get caught. The NASCAR guys know it, and they're out for them when they get to Talladega.” There’s no doubt that rumors fueled the subsequent chatter at Rockingham, NC regarding what NASCAR might have found in post-race inspections on the #15 NAPA Chevrolet. Additionally, Dale Earnhardt Inc. staff vehemently deny any wrong doing in connection to any of their Daytona 500 entries. Nonetheless, two aerodynamic issues quickly became the focus. Firstly, the rear decklid of Michael Waltrip’s race winning car. DEI’s chief technical personnel admitted to one garage crew chief that there was a problem with the decklid of their car and NASCAR levied a heavy fine on his team [have heard no report on the fine]. Winston Cup director, John Darby confirmed to www.teamfordracing.com that there was indeed a problem with the #15 car. However, he specified it was a non-performance-enhancing item. The problem, as described by Darby, dealt with one of the lock pins that holds the decklid closed, which had vibrated loose during the race. The second issue dealt with alterations to the underside of the car before it went on display in Daytona USA. Darby said there was no issue beyond the loose decklid pin. “From our inspection process during Speedweeks we didn't see anything in pre- or post-race [inspections] that was a factor.” Darby added the camera shell removed early in the Speedweeks inspection cycle by NASCAR, like the decklid pin, had no performance enhancing properties, and therefore was not subject to penalty. “We're always looking and learning to try to stay up with everything that's going on,” Darby said regarding the inspection process. “The great thing about that is that [the] garage is a real valuable tool in helping us with that.” Any grumbling in the garage calling for Wallace to receive a point deduction for the illegal carburetor found after his Gatorade 125 qualifying race was quashed considering the race was a non-point event. He was penalized a qualifying position for a qualifying infraction. This spotlight on the inspection process doesn’t have Darby looking to Talladega Superspeedway’s event with special considerations. “I won't say that we're ready for anything, or laying the weeds looking for something in particular. But every event we run we learn more and we'll continue to apply whatever procedures we need to.”(Ford Racing)(2-26-2003)
Waltrip's Top Ten on David Letterman: Top Ten Highlights Of Yesterday's [Sunday's] Daytona 500 as presented by 2003 Daytona 500 champ, Michael Waltrip [As done by Waltrip via Satellite on Monday night's show]:
Top Ten Highlights Of Yesterday's Daytona 500 as presented by 2003 Daytona 500 champ, Michael Waltrip
10. I drove all 272-and-a-half miles while eating a roast beef sandwich
9. Tiger Woods finishing a respectable third place
8. When I pulled in for a tire change and my pit crew threw an early surprise birthday party
7. Thanks to the Chevrolet President's Day sale I got a nice new car for the race
6. Well, the part where I won was sorta cool
5. Beating the other drivers at our rain delay game of Scrabble
4. Win the Daytona 500, you get 500 bucks!
3. The hour delay during lap 23 because of rubbernecking
2. I listened to a Dr. Phil book-on-tape and it changed my life
1. I was warm and toasty in my car while you losers were up to your asses in snow
(David Letterman site), a little side note: Waltrip was propped up in the booth where you always see his brother Darrell where they broadcast the races. He was up there looking down on victory lane in his firesuit. Dave asked him to put on his fire suit as he wanted the whole effect and basically between Michael and Letterman they just came up with the top ten list, they came up with it together. Michael changed a few things. Snow prevented Waltrip from actually going to NYC on Monday to do Letterman so he did it by Satellite.(XM Radio Satellite - NASCAR Radio)(2-19-2003)
Waltrip on the go: Michael Waltrip will go straight to Rockingham without going home and is in New York City now. From his PR person (heard from an XM Radio report). "He is in New York this morning. He started out at WNBC in New York on their morning show - he got to wake up New York City with his bright shiny voice and eyes and got to basically got to tell the world that he's going to back in July and back in February to be the three time Daytona 500 Champion. He's not settling for two time although he's pretty satisfied with it right now. Right now standing in the lobby of the Fox building and he's going to say hello to the nation and be on fox and friends and we're going to run over to the stock exchange and he's going to ring the bell at the stock exchange this morning. Then it looks like he's going to do some one on ones over at NASCAR's PR firm at Allen Taylor he'll be there a couple of hours enjoy lunch over at Smith and Walinski and then he'll be off to do Gretta Van Sustern [Fox News - On the Record] and a couple of other radio shows and [ESPN] Dan Patrick and one of the Chicago radio stations. He's not even going to make it home before he goes to Rockingham. We've still got tomorrow morning (Thursday) he's got Regis and Kelley in the morning and then he goes to Philadelphia to do a QVC show - kind of like Tampa Bay did their deal after they won the Superbowl." Note: PR advice had Mike and Buffy pack an extra "New York" bag just in case they won....and they are now taking advantage of the smart thinking.(XM Radio Satellite - NASCAR Radio aired at 10:30am/et and will be througout the day)(2-19-2003)
The Daytona 500 is OVER: after 109 of 200 laps, the race has been called due to rain and #15-Michael Waltrip has been declared the winner. Waltrip is the 8th driver who has won the Daytona 500 two or more times. #97-Kurt Busch was 2nd. Pole sitter #30-Jeff Green was involved in an accident and failed to finish the race. #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr had electrical problems and ended up 36th, a lap down. For my race rundown, note and cautions, see my Daytona 500 Race Info Page. Race Re-air: The race will be re-aired on Speed Channel, Wed, Feb 19th, 8:00pm/et (enhanced) and Thurs, Feb 20th, 1:00am/et and at 3:00pm/et. Results: see my Daytona 500 Results page or my 2003 Results Page for links.(2-16-2003)
Waltrip the Eighth: Michael Waltrip is just the eighth driver to win the Daytona 500 more than once. He joins Richard Petty (7), Cale Yarborough (4), Bobby Allison (3), Dale Jarrett (3), Bill Elliott (2), Jeff Gordon (2) and Sterling Marlin (2) on the list.(ThatsRacin.com)(2-17-2003)
Mikey's Car to Daytona USA: On Monday at DAYTONA USA, the #15 NAPA Auto Parts Chevy, Michael Waltrip's winning car from Sunday's 45th annual Daytona 500, was inducted into the official attraction of NASCAR. The car will rest inside Gatorade Victory Lane at DAYTONA USA for one year and will be returned to the team before the start of the 46th annual Daytona 500 on Feb. 15, 2004. The car is in the same condition as it was when it left Victory Lane and bears the signatures of all of the crew members including Waltrip. Waltrip, who also won the 2001 Daytona 500, participated in a fan forum along with his crew chief Richard "Slugger" Labbe and DEI executive vice president Ty Norris. Speedway President Robin Braig presented all three with Daytona 500 leather jackets while Gatorade presented the 2003 Daytona 500 champ with a framed photo from last night's Victory Lane celebration. Waltrip, who'll continue handling media obligations of a Daytona 500 winner in the next few days including an appearance via satellite on tonight's Late Show with David Letterman, visited with the reporters before the induction ceremony and fan forum. He said he spent last night celebrating with the team on Teresa Earnhardt's yacht. He also got a warm welcome from family, friends and fellow drivers such as Elliott Sadler, Dale Jarrett and Ken Schrader outside his motor home. "I thought it was fun to get to party with (Teresa) and just enjoy her company," Waltrip said. "I had a lot of good folks over. We went back to the motor home. I didn't do anything crazy. I just enjoyed the family and friends."(DIS PR)(2-17-2003)
Michael Waltrip's #15 NAPA Auto Parts Chevy being inducted into Daytona 500 (DIS Photo)
The Daytona 500 is OVER: after 109 of 200 laps, the race has been called due to rain and #15-Michael Waltrip has been declared the winner. Waltrip is the 8th driver who has won the Daytona 500 two or more times. #97-Kurt Busch was 2nd. Pole sitter #30-Jeff Green was involved in an accident and failed to finish the race. #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr had electrical problems and ended up 36th, a lap down.(2-16-2003)
DW, Mikey, Tide and a few truck races - Boogity! Boogity! Boogity!: Darrell Waltrip will drive the Micahel Waltrip owned #17 Tide Chevy truck at Martinsville in April and at IRP in August in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Jeff Hammond is the "Interperator"; Bobby Kennedy the crew chief; Larry McReynoldsis the spotter. Martinsville will be Tide with Bleach paint scheme, IRP race will feature the "Give Kids The World Village" paint scheme. Speed Channel is going to mike up DW, Larry and Jeff AND Three-time NASCAR Winston Cup Series champion Darrell Waltrip is strapping in for two NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series events in 2003 and SPEED Channel is taking viewers along for the ride. Waltrip, a regular on SPEED Channel’s Trackside program, will be wired for sound and his #17 Chevrolet, sponsored by Tide, will be equipped with extra cameras. FOX broadcast partners Larry McReynolds and Jeff Hammond will get in on the act, with Larry serving as DW’s spotter and Hammond taking position on the pit box. Both will have live mics as part of the SPEED Channel broadcasts from the spring race at Martinsville and the August NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Indianapolis Raceway Park. “It doesn’t get any better than this,” said Rick Miner, SPEED Channel Sr. VP/Executive Producer. “DW behind the wheel, Larry Mac as our eye in the sky and Hollywood Hammond interpreting it all on the pit box. With Darrell using kid brother Michael’s truck as well as his NASCAR Busch Series pit crew, these will certainly be great events for SPEED Channel and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.”(Allwaltip.com)(2-14-2003)
Teresa Earnhardt to be on Dateline: Teresa Earnhardt will give her first interview since the death of her husband, racing legend Dale Earnhardt, to Dateline NBC, a producer for the show said Tuesday. Producer Matt Lombardi said Teresa Earnhardt will be interviewed by Katie Couric on Tuesday in Charlotte, N.C., and the taped segment is expected to air in mid-February. The interview "will most likely look at how she and Dale met, their years together and how she has taken over much of the responsibility of running Dale Earnhardt Inc.," Lombardi said. The segment also will touch on Teresa Earnhardt's fight to restrict access to autopsy photos, he said.(Orlando Sentinel)(1-16-2003)
Panasonic and DEI? hearing Panasonic could be an associate sponsor on one of the DEI [#1,#8,#15] cars in 2003.(1-15-2003)
Spying on the Spies: A little bit of scanner chatter this afternoon provided some entertainment for those who happened to catch the action. The talk centered on a Hendrick Motorsports employee as observed by a Dale Earnhardt Inc. employee. The Hendrick employee, in street cloths, was taking pictures of competitors’ car noses and tails. The DEI employee dutifully reported each new location of the Hendrick employee as he moved through the garage. This week there’s been a lot of open talk regarding the rear bumper cap and rear-end styling of the DEI cars. There’s no doubt that there’s a visual difference in those areas between the DEI cars and the other Chevys. But NASCAR doesn’t inspect cars during these test sessions – unless requested – so, it wouldn’t matter how DEI, or any other team, trimmed any aspect of their car. The only true hit comes from lost test time, which is a valuable commodity with just four weeks until the Daytona 500.(Ford Racing)(1-10-2003)
2002 News
Dale Earnhardt Legacy Series logo: Action Performance announced an agreement with Teresa Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Inc. to showcase the new Dale Earnhardt Legacy Series logo on a special-edition die-cast race car. The Dale Earnhardt Legacy Series logo honors Earnhardt's winning spirit by showcasing the Intimidator at his finest - arms outstretched in victorious celebration. The Legacy Series logo is a prominent feature on the limited edition black-and-red toned die-cast. Additionally, the Legacy Series die-cast car salutes Earnhardt's signature "E" with a unique stripe mark featured on the body. Action will release the Earnhardt Legacy Series die-cast in a variety of prized collector scales. In 2003, the "E" stripe design also will be incorporated as an intricate part of every DEI race car paint scheme, including vehicles driven by the #1, #8 and #15 race teams [see my Paint Scheme Gallery for the images]. Every product released as part of the Dale Earnhardt Legacy Series will include specially designed packaging that incorporates the new logo on a hologram sticker. The agreement between Action and DEI also ensures future production of Earnhardt Legacy Series die-cast vehicle editions and other related merchandise. The Earnhardt Legacy Program will include the Dale Earnhardt Foundation, which will target various charities he contributed to during his life. Also planned is the early-2003 launch of a new official Earnhardt website, www.daleearnhardtinc.com that will have up-to-date news about the foundation, plus photos, clips and statistics pertaining to The Intimidator's career.(Action Performance PR)(12-5-2002)
Waltrip Hood to the Pentagon UPDATE: NASCAR Winston Cup and Busch Series driver Michael Waltrip will donate the hood of the car baring the Phoenix Project logo that he drove at the Richmond International Raceway on Sept. 6, 2002 to the Pentagon. The special presentation will be made at the Pentagon's Phoenix site Wednesday, Dec. 4, at 10:00am/et. Phoenix Project Manager Will Colston will accept the hood on behalf of the Pentagon. The Daytona 500 winner is making the donation in remembrance and recognition of the sacrifices of those who lost their lives in the terroist attacks on September 11, 2001 and the resilience shown by those who rebuilt the Pentagon.(DefenseLink)(12-3-2002) UPDATE: NASCAR driver Michael Waltrip said he may have dropped a couple of slots at the Sept. 6 race at Richmond International Raceway to keep it in good condition, but yesterday he presented the Pentagon with the uncrumpled hood of the race car he drove that day. Blazoned across the purple hood is the Pentagon Phoenix Project's emblem, an image of the five-sided building with smoke pouring out of a gash and a red phoenix, the mythological symbol of rebirth after fire, rising over it. Underneath it in big white letters is "Let's Roll." Waltrip drove the car with the emblem that day not only in honor of the 183 people who died when a terrorist-controlled jetliner crashed into the Pentagon but also to salute the workers who labored to have the building reconstructed. He finished eighth in that race. "It's a short track, and a lot of times you run into each other," he said as he toured the Pentagon with his wife, Buffy, and 5-year-old daughter, Macy. "So I was more concerned about having a hood left when all was said and done.'' Now the Pentagon has to find a permanent place to display the hood somewhere among its 17 miles of corridors.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(12-5-2002)
More Mikey Stuff: Michael and Buffy Waltrip, owners of the #99 BGN Aaron's Dream Machine, held a fundraiser titled, "Party with the Posse," in an effort to raise money for four local charities. Waltrip refers to the crew that makes up Michael Waltrip Racing as the, "Sherrills Ford Posse." The first annual Posse event, held the first week in October around the UAW-GM Quality 400, raised over $73,000 benefiting the Sherrills Ford-Terrell Fire & Rescue, Victory Junction Gang, the Busch Series Ladies Association, and Michael Waltrip Incorporated (MWI) employee, Randall Bradford. The idea for this event first came together when Waltrip vowed to
assist Bradford, a long-time MWI team member with medical expenses which have built up during his continuing battle with cancer. The afternoon's events were highlighted with an auction and a three-hour autograph session with appearances by Michael and Darrell Waltrip ("DW"), Sterling Marlin, Steve Park, Ken Schrader, Johnny Benson, Harry Gant, Busch Series Champions Greg Biffle and Randy Lajoie, and many more NASCAR favorites. Waltrip kicked off the auction by asking his older brother Darrell to join him in auctioning off a chrome "DW"-autographed helmet, as well as helmets belonging to and signed by former Winston Cup Champion Dale Jarrett and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Sterling Marlin and Waltrip donated their personal helmets worn themselves at Talladega Superspeedway the weekend before the auction.(Champion Sports Group PR)(12-3-2002)
DW and Mikey: Heard that Michael Waltrip and Darrell Waltrip are filming another series of Aaron's Rents commercials today in Charlotte. No word if Michael will finally let his big brother drive the #99 Dream Machine.(11-20-2002)
Labbe re-signs with DEI: Dale Earnhardt Inc. sources say Slugger Labbe will be back with Michael Waltrip in the #15, but it took three contract proposals before Labbe signed.(Sporting News)(11-18-2002)
Mikey and Terry have words UPDATE: Drivers #5-Terry Labonte and #15-Michael Waltrip had an altercation after the race, but neither man would discuss the incident. Waltrip went to talk to Labonte at Labonte's hauler before Labonte angrily went after Waltrip. Labonte had to be pulled away from Waltrip after chasing him down in the garage area. Waltrip finished 20th Sunday and Labonte was 26th, but Labonte was a lap behind Waltrip. The two drivers have had several bumping incidents in races this season.(Dallas Morning News) AND For some reason, Michael Waltrip and Terry Labonte, who were running six positions and one lap apart from each other at the end of the race, nearly came to blows in the garage area. They had to be separated just outside Labonte’s team hauler, Waltrip apparently having gone inside to confront Labonte. The source of their mutual anger was not ascertained. One Labonte crewman, when asked what caused the two to clash, said only, “Michael (Waltrip) running his mouth.”(Gaston Gazette)(11-11-2002) UPDATE: from the DW chat on FoxSports: What's the story with Mike (Waltrip) and Terry (Labonte) from Sunday? Darrell Waltrip: There's no story. Apparently they had had a run-in a time or two before Sunday. They had words after the Phoenix race, and as far as I know, and I talked to Michael, he said that was the end of it. Two drivers that weren't having very good days decided to take it out on each other at the end of the race.(FoxSports)(11-14-2002)
Jerry Jones and DEI? The latest on the Dallas Cowboys' front is the report that Jerry Jones is interested in trying to buy Dale Earnhardt Inc. Jones, who owns the Cowboys, and car owner Andy Petree spent much of the summer in negotiations to team next season on the Winston Cup tour, but that deal fell through. During those negotiations, Jones was reported to be interested in signing a top-name driver and was willing to offer as much as $5 million to Dale Earnhardt Jr. Ty Norris, general manager for DEI, wouldn't say that there had been no talk with the Cowboys, but he did say that there was no way any such deal could go down. There have been several reports during the year about the possible sale of DEI, but each report has been officially rebuffed.(Winston Salem Journal)(9-23-2002)
NAPA and Waltrip stay with DEI: NAPA Auto Parts announced Sunday it will stay on as sponsor of the #15 DEI Chevy through the 2004 season, and Waltrip will be along for the ride. “It’s been so much fun being a part of the NAPA family,” Waltrip said. “Over the last year and a half we’ve developed wonderful relationships with NAPA store owners and NAPA customers. NAPA uses NASCAR to sell products. I understand that, and I think we’ve produced a valuable partnership in a short time.”(RacingOne)(7-14-2002)
NAPA hopes to re-sign with DEI UPDATE hmm...which is it? Pennzoil re-ups: DEI's contract with NAPA to sponsor Michael Waltrip's #15 Chevrolet is up for renewal, as is Waltrip's driving contract. Mike Rearden, director of events and sponsorships for NAPA, says his company plans to re-sign with DEI, though he won't give specifics.(Atlanta Journal Constitution)(7-6-2002) UPDATE: NAPA is not expected to return as a sponsor at DEI {#15], but Pennzoil has signed a contract renewal. NAPA could go to Rick Hendrick, who is also looking for a driver, if he doesn't keep Joe Nemechek.(Winston Salem Journal) [NOTE: for the #25 car but been told Delphi Automotive is signed Thru 2003 as is Kelloggs with the #5, DuPont with the #24 and Lowes with the #48, so not sure where NAPA fits in with Hendrick](7-10-2002)
Did Waltrip make a '3"? On whether he [Micheal Waltrip] was aware he carved a figure 3 in the tri-oval lawn in doing his victory donuts [at Daytona]. "Hey, that's pretty cool. That's a E if you turn it around. I never did donuts before so I didn't want to do it on pavement because I was afraid I didn't know how. I figured any idiot could do them in the grass. So I just went out there and did me a couple. I never was a donut guy. I just thought you ought to win and go into victory lane."(Florida Today)(7-9-2002)
NAPA hopes to re-sign with DEI: DEI's contract with NAPA to sponsor Michael Waltrip's #15 Chevrolet is up for renewal, as is Waltrip's driving contract. Mike Rearden, director of events and sponsorships for NAPA, says his company plans to re-sign with DEI, though he won't give specifics.(Atlanta Journal Constitution)(7-6-2002)
Nadeau in a Waltrip car at Chicago? an Image: ESPN2 RPM 2 Night's Ray Dunlap reports that Jerry Nadeau will drive a Michael Waltrip owned car at Chicagoland and possibly some additional races.(6-12-2002) UPDATE: hearing Nadeau will be driving the Michael Waltrip Racing Inc. #00 Chevy, sponsored by Aaron's Sales & Lease Ownership, at Chicagoland Speedway.(6-18-2002) UPDATE 2: hearing Waltrip has purchased a Cup car from DEI (a former #15 NAPA car) and will lease DEI engines. Suppoesdly a one-race deal right now, but may end up at the Brickyard 400 also.(6-19-2002) UPDATE 3 Nadeau/Waltrip official: Jerry Nadeau will pilot the #00 Aaron's Dream Machine at Chicagoland Speedway on Sunday, July 14th. The car will be Michael Waltrip Racing's second venture as a Winston Cup team owner. Waltrip fielded the #98 Aaron's Dream Machine driven by Kenny Wallace in the Aaron's 499 at Talladega Superspeedway this past April. Aaron's Sales and Lease Ownership will sponsor the #00 Winston Cup entry. Nadeau, a native of Danbury, CT, logged his first Winston Cup start June 15, 1997 and his first win in the 2000 NAPA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Recently, he was behind the wheel of the #10 Valvoline Pontiac while Johnny Benson recovered from injuries sustained at Richmond International Speedway earlier this year. Last weekend at Sears Point, rear-end gear failure with three laps to go cost him the victory in the #44 Petty Enterprises car. Waltrip, whom owns and drives the #99 Aaron's Dream Machine in the BGN, bought the Winston Cup car from Dale Earnhardt, Inc. "Aaron's comes to me about everything they do in NASCAR", said Waltrip. "I wanted to field another Winston Cup car and they were willing to back me."
"I don't know about other companies," said Ken Butler, President of Aaron's, "but NASCAR works for us. You have to advertise where demographics show your customers are and NASCAR fans are our customers. We're using it to drive our customer base. So we're more than happy to join this endeavor with Michael, Waltrip Racing and Jerry Nadeau."
"I'm excited that Michael and Aaron's are giving me this chance," said Nadeau. "Especially at a track like Chicago. I almost won there last year. Mile and a half tracks have in general been good to me. And the guys at the shop have been working their butts off to give me a great car to test with. It's going to be a fun weekend and hopefully if things go well I'll have more opportunities like this in the future." For more information on Aaron's, please visit www.shopaarons.com or call 1-800-950-7368.(Aaron's PR)(6-25-2002) AND See my Paint Scheme Gallery for a image of the scheme.(6-26-2002)
DW and Mikey: Michael Waltrip took a playful jab at his older brother in a TV interview during the final practice. Darrell Waltrip speculated during Fox's prerace show last week that his brother could be headed to another team. "My brother reminds me of Jerry Glanville," Michael Waltrip said. "He's good for entertainment but don't rely on him for information, for sure." With his performance at Dale Earnhardt Inc. under scrutiny, Waltrip has reeled off four top-10 finishes in the past six races. He will start a season-best second today.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(6-16-2002)
DEI's deadline pushed back UPDATE: Ty Norris, the manager of DEI, said he has postponed a decision on contract renewals for #15-Michael Waltrip and #1-Steve Park for another three weeks. "We had set June 15 as a target date, and we're a little behind, but it's not the world will be coming to an end," Norris said. Insiders say that Waltrip's improving performances in recent weeks have boosted his standing with sponsor NAPA considerably and could help him keep his DEI ride.(Winston Salem Journal)(6-15-2002) UPDATE: A Dale Earnhardt Inc. official laughed Saturday at the continuing speculation that Steve Park and Michael Waltrip may not be retained for 2003 and that the company itself is for sale for $300 million. The racing organization doesn't help the situation. A week ago, Dale Earnhardt Jr. admitted he's talked with Waltrip and told him to improve his finishes. He also said Park seems to have lost the chemistry with the rest of his teammates since returning from a brain injury sustained last September at Darlington [in a BGN race]. The contracts for both Waltrip and Park are up at the end of the season and the team originally said it would try to have new deals completed by June 15. Now that deadline apparently is being moved back a few weeks. Waltrip sounds like a driver who already knows about his future, saying he knows he will be driving a car next year - if not for DEI, for another race team.(Augusta Chronicle)(6-16-2002)
DEI and DeWalt? UPDATE: the LTN Radio show reports that Dale Earnhardt Inc is talking to DeWalt Tools to sponsor a team, DeWalt's contract with Roush Racing and the #17 Matt Kenseth team is over at the end of 2002. Roush is in negotations with DeWalt also.(6-3-2002) AND - Roush/DeWalt still negotiating: Roush Racing president Geoff Smith said talks continue with DeWalt, whose contract expires after this season as Matt Kenseth 's sponsor [#17 Ford]. The deadline for the two sides to negotiate exclusively with each other ended May 31. "It's taken a long time for a renewal," Smith said. "They were talking to other teams as well but they claim they want to be with us. We hope to shortly conclude the business arrangement either way."(Roanoke Times)(6-10-2002) UPDATE: Officials from DeWalt Tools have told Roush Racing President Geoff Smith that it wants to return as sponsor of Matt Kenseth’s Ford for 2003. But until a deal is signed, Smith says he will listen if other perspective sponsors come calling.
The contract that expires at the end of this season prohibited DeWalt from negotiating with other teams until June 1. Smith’s heard that the company has talked with Dale Earnhardt Inc. regarding a deal for next year, but isn’t sure if those talks are ongoing. Kenseth’s contract is up following the 2003 season, but it’s expected that talks of an extension will begin following this season.(Winston Cup Scene - need sub to read)(6-13-2002)
DEI Looking for Waltrip replacement? Dale Earnhardt Jr. said Saturday that Michael Waltrip has been informed that Dale Earnhardt Inc. -- the race team founded by his late father -- is looking at a possible replacement. "His job is in his hands, so to speak," Earnhardt said of Waltrip. "It's been a tough situation over the past several weeks for us. We tried to deal with it as best we can."(Sporting News/AP)(6-9-2002)
DEI and DeWalt? the LTN Radio show reports that Dale Earnhardt Inc is talking to DeWalt Tools to sponsor a team, DeWalt's contract with Roush Racing and the #17 Matt Kenseth team is over at the end of 2002. Roush is in negotations with DeWalt also.(6-3-2002)
DEI for sale? UPDATEs Speculation is increasing that a possible sale of Dale Earnhardt Inc. or parts of DEI may be under consideration, with word that owner Teresa Earnhardt may be considering a move to Florida. Finding anyone willing to finance such a sale might be difficult, particularly with the uncertainty surround two of DEI's three teams. But there are indications that Anheuser-Busch might be involved in however the situation might play out, possibly as part-owner, to protect its investment in star Dale Earnhardt Jr. It is unclear how much of a financial stake Earnhardt Jr. has in the company his father built.(Winston Salem Journal)(5-18-2002) UPDATE: Rumors have also cropped up that Teresa Earnhardt is looking to sell all or part of the DEI operation. Norris said those statements are false and Park concurs. “I’ve talked to Teresa quite a bit and there’s no indication that the team’s going to be sold,” Park said. “I think that’s part of the rumor mill we’re all kind of suffering through right now. We’ve got Dale Earnhardt Jr. (and) Teresa Earnhardt and they plan on being around the sport for quite a long time.”(Winston Cup Scene - need sub to read) AND Dale Earnhardt Inc. may be sold. TV and several news sources are reporting that Teresa Earnhardt, widow of Dale Earnhardt, is interested in selling all or part of the three-team operation in order for her to take up a permanent residence in Florida. Two of the team's three drivers - Steve Park and Michael Waltrip - have contracts that expire at the end of the season. Only Dale Earnhardt Jr. remains a fixture. Anheuser-Busch, reportedly, is very much interested in what happens at DEI, to a point where they might buy in to protect their investment in Earnhardt Jr. and his future with the company.(Danville Register Bee)(5-23-2002)
DEI Employee Charged: Joseph George Katula III, of Concord, NC, has been charged with seven counts of felony larceny by employee in the theft of $500 worth of auto parts from the racing enterprise, Iredell Sheriff Phil Redmond said this morning. He was taken to Iredell County Jail on a $10,000 bond and has a June court date. Katula started working at Dale Earnhardt Inc. nine months ago, Redmond said. Katula worked in the shop area rebuilding rear axle gears, the sheriff said. The owner of a local used parts store called DEI when a man sold auto parts to the owner for $1,000. The owner wanted to make sure the man had permission to sell the DEI items, Redmond said. Rex Garrett, a DEI supervisor, found that the parts had been stolen, the sheriff said. Sheriff's Detective Sgts. Allen Sipes and Neil Hayes arrested and charged Katula this week.(ThatsRacin.com)(5-22-2002)
DEI Shakeup Coming? UPDATE 2: A shakeup appears to be looming at Dale Earnhardt Inc., with word that DEI boss Ty Norris is talking with Elliott Sadler about driving for the company next season, presumably replacing either #15-Michael Waltrip or #1-Steve Park. Norris says that DEI will make a decision on next year's drivers lineup by the end of May. Sponsor demands may be the key to Norris' calls. The NAPA sponsor is considered one at stake, with other car owners looking to make a bid for it. But Geoff Smith, the head of Roush Racing and the man who helped write Sadler's contract with the Woods brothers, says the decision on Sadler is up to Eddie Wood. "There have been rumors coming out of DEI about Michael Waltrip and Steve Park for some time," Smith said. "I think this is their logical time table to address change.(Winston Salem Journal)(5-3-2002) UPDATE: Michael Waltrip said Friday morning at Richmond he intends to be back in the #15 Dale Earnhardt Inc. Chevy in 2003. “I fully expect that I’ll be driving this car next year,” Waltrip said. “That’s my intention. If it’s a forgone conclusion that I won’t be, then I don’t know about that.” Dale Earnhardt Jr., now part-owner in DEI, didn’t completely deny that the team was thinking about putting Sadler in a DEI car next year, and that changes wouldn’t be made. “It’s not the truth until you hear from us or him (Sadler),” Earnhardt Jr. said. “I don’t know why everybody has to believe stuff like that. It’s kind of funny. I don’t know if we’re looking at Elliott; we’re just looking at ways to improve our team. I look at our teams myself individually as if they were stock, and we have to continue to raise the value of the team and try to improve the team as far as members, crew members, or any area that we see needs to be improved. We either try to take this guy and help him along or try to improve him or give him the things that he thinks he needs to succeed or we make a change. That’s the nature of the beast. As far as Elliott goes, I wouldn’t worry about posting anything until you hear it from us.”(RacingOne)(5-3-2002) AND from NASCAR.com -DEI executive vice president Ty Norris told NASCAR.com Friday that the Nos. 1 and 15 teams need one of two things: improved results or a personnel shakeup within the organization. Norris said that DEI has a set deadline for its decision, but would not disclose that date. The current contracts for drivers Steve Park and Michael Waltrip expire following the 2002 season, and Norris said DEI is exploring the possibility of hiring other drivers. Norris said that sponsor input will play a large role in the decision, and that drivers aren’t the only individuals in question. “We basically have two drivers with contracts up and the end of the year,” Norris said. “So we’re feeling things out, seeing who is available and what is available.” Among the candidates is Elliott Sadler, who asked for his release from Wood Brothers Racing last weekend. Norris said Sadler was “very high” on his short list of possibilities.(5-3-2002) UPDATE: Norris - "I'm thinking by the beginning of June we'll know what we're going to do, for the end of this and for next year, because both Michael and Steve have a renegotiating deadline of June 15."(ThatsRacin.com)(5-4-2002)
DEI to Honor Singer: Dale Earnhardt Inc. will honor the late Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, of the popular R&B group TLC, this weekend at Richmond by carrying special stripes on all three of the company's Winston Cup Chevy's (#'s 1,8,15). Lopes, 30, was killed instantly in a traffic accident in Honduras on April 25. Within days, morgue photos of Lopes were circulated on the internet, striking a nerve within the Earnhardt organization. Teresa Earnhardt, wife of seven-time NASCAR Winston Cup Champion Dale Earnhardt, was drawn into extensive courtroom battles protecting the privacy of her family and memory of her late husband following his death in February of 2001. Several news organizations and a website unsuccessfully tried to obtain autopsy photos of Earnhardt following his fatal accident. "We want to express our deepest sympathy to her family, friends and fans. She has a huge following here at our shop," said Steve Crisp, Director of Media Relations for the Mooresville, NC-based company. As a trademark, Lopes, an Atlanta, GA native, often performed with a single black stripe under her left eye. The Dale Earnhardt Inc. Chevys, driven by #1-Steve Park, #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. and #15-Michael Waltrip will each carry a similar stripe under the left headlight. In addition, over the wall pit crew members on all three teams will wear black stripes under their left eye in Saturday night's event.(DEI PR)(5-3-2002)
Waltrip to field a car for Kenny Wallace at Talladega? UPDATE yep #98: Mike Waltrip mentioned during the Fox BGN rain delay coverage that Michael Waltrip racing will field a Cup car at Talladega for Kenny Wallace that will carry Aaron's Rent sponsorship and that Aaron's will also be the title sponsor of the Cup at Talladega that will be know as the 499 not the 500. Supposedly DEI will supply the car (a backup #15) and engine, not sure what number it'll use (#81 as used in Daytona testing?). Waltrip seemed serious and Kenny Wallace was interviewed a bit later and says it is a serious effort and it is being posted on the Kenny Wallace site.(4-6-2002) UPDATE: Michael Waltrip Racing Inc. (MWR) will field a Cup car for the first time in the Aaron's 499 on April 21, 2002 at Talladega Superspeedway. Michael Waltrip, owner of MWR and driver of the #15 DEI NAPA Chevrolet, announced, Kenny Wallace, will pilot the #98 Chevy sponsored by Aaron's Sales and Lease Ownership. Ken Butler, President of Aaron's Sales and Lease Ownership, announced March 16th Aaron's would be the title sponsor for the Busch Series race at Talladega Superspeedway in addition to its primary sponsorship of Waltrip's #99 BGN car. Butler decided one race and one car entry was simply not enough. Butler revealed Aaron's would make it a double header by sponsoring the Winston Cup race. While Waltrip drives the Aaron's Dream Machine on Saturday's, their was no Dream Machine entered in Sunday's race until Waltrip stepped up to the plate offering his team and cars. "I am blessed to have a wonderful sponsor in Aaron's," Waltrip said. "They love NASCAR racing and NASCAR fans and have chosen NASCAR as their main source of spreading the word of their company's products. I didn't think twice about making this happen for a sponsor like Aaron's. Michael Waltrip Racing, supported by Dale Earnhardt Inc. will give Kenny (Wallace) a legitimate opportunity to win in Talladega." The car Wallace will drive was tested at Talladega Superspeedway by Waltrip and competed by Dale Earnhardt Jr. in Daytona in 2001. Wallace finished sixth in last year's Talladega 500 with a best superspeedway finish of second when he pushed Dale Earnhardt to his last win at Talladega in 2000.(Fahlgren PR)(4-10-2002)
Waltrip Hard Time Getting Out of car: Michael Waltrip complained that his car's interior was too small this weekend. The 6-4 driver struggled to get out of the [#99] car after he flipped during the BGN race Saturday at Texas. "My car was a little smaller than it should have been," he said. "I couldn't get out of it. . . . Thankfully, they were right there to attend to me." Jeff Burton said NASCAR needs to study the problem. It was his understanding that Waltrip's window net could not be removed, trapping the driver. "There's a lot of things that NASCAR is addressing on making the cars bigger," he said. "Really, at the end of the day, that's the problem. Even though the windows are bigger than they've ever been, they're still small. . . . For me to get out of my car, I literally hurt my shoulder once trying to get out of my car. It's just hard to get out, and in a bad situation it's even harder."(Richmond Times Dispatch)(4-8-2002) AND Michael Waltrip's fiery crash in Saturday's BGN race was frightening. Waltrip's car landed on its roof and he was unable to get out easily. Then firemen sprayed him with choking halon.(Winston Salem Journal). Waltrip was unhurt and said during a rain delay interview Sunday that he felt no pain from the wreck.(4-8-2002)
#500 for Mikey: Michael Waltrip will make his 500th career Winston Cup start Sunday at North Carolina Speedway, the 23rd series driver to reach this milestone.(2-24-2002)
Stars and Stripes: hearing Michael Waltip will once again run a Stars and Stripes scheme at Daytona in July(1-22-2002)
2001 News
Harvick, Waltrip and the NBA and the NHL: Kevin Harvick and Michael Waltrip will make a guest appearance on TNT's Inside The NBA on Thurs., Nov. 15, at approximately 11:30pm/et, with TNT host Ernie Johnson, and analysts Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley. Harvick is bringing his remote control cars to the studio so he and Waltrip can take on Johnson, Smith and Barkley in a race around the studio.. Both drivers are in town for the NAPA 500 at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. AND On Friday, Harvick will drop the puck at the Atlanta Thrashers hockey game against the Nashville Predators, which airs on Turner South at 7:30 p.m., with the pre-game show beginning at 7 p.m.(NBC PR)(11-15-2001)
DEI Tests at Kentucky: DEI tested a pair of Cup cars at Kentucky Speedway on Wednesday, Oct. 31. Michael Waltrip, in the #15 NAPA Chevy, and Kenny Wallace, in the #1 Pennzoil Chevrolet, rarely left their driver's seats while working over their machines on Kentucky's 1.5 mile tri-oval during the day-long test. "We're trying to find out some things, " a busy Wallace said. Kentucky Speedway is currently offering 2002 season ticket. All packages include preferred parking and can be reserved by calling 1-888-652-RACE.(Kentucky Speedway)(11-1-2001)
Waltrip and the #15 UPDATE rumor update from beginning to end(?): Will Michael Waltrip be with Dale Earnhardt Inc. in 2002? there are rumors that NAPA, the sponsor of his #15 car, is not happy with his performance(CNN/SI - Burning Questions)(10-3-2001) UPDATE: the Oct 3rd issue of the National Speed Sport News print edition reports that "Michael Waltrip is rumored to be considering retirement. Waltrip is said to be in contact with broadcast executives about possible employment that would take him out of the driver's seat" AND FSN's Totally NASCAR reports the DEI is denying that Waltrip will be leaving the #15 car and that Waltrip still has a year to go on his two-year deal with DEI(10-5-2001) UPDATE 2: "As of today, he [Michael Waltrip] still has a job for next year," DEI vice president Ty Norris said. "We have not talked about next year and he has not told us he wants to go into broadcasting, but with him being just 38 years old, I can't really see retirement being an option." But Norris said Waltrip has been called in three times this season to talk about on-track performance and gently reminded of the urgency to turn things around. Waltrip has another year left on his contract and the team has one more year on its sponsorship deal with NAPA.(That's Racin'/AP) AND Michael Waltrip says he has two more years on his contract with BGN sponsor Aarons [#99 Chevy], but he is unsure whether he'll drive the car. Many expect Waltrip to move into the TV booth next year(Richmond Times Dispatch)(10-7-2001)
UPDATE 3: Also at DEI, according to [FSN] sources, the 15 car is Michael Waltrip's for next year. Some things have got to change, especially Michael's attitude and how he works with the team. If he doesn't change his attitude toward the team, it will definitely be his last year there.(FSN's Totally NASCAR)(10-10-2001) UPDATE 4 Waltrip Stays: Michael Waltrip will be back with Dale Earnhardt Inc. next season. Teresa Earnhardt, after listening to several weeks of rumors about Waltrip's future, held a team meeting Thursday and laid down the law to the crews - her late husband had signed Waltrip to a two-year deal, and she was going to hold to Dale's wishes. But, according to team sources, Teresa also had a private meeting with Waltrip to try to help him regain his focus. At Charlotte last week, DEI men were scouting the garage for potential new drivers, focusing on Jeremy Mayfield, Johnny Benson and Kenny Wallace. Mayfield, however, appears headed to Ray Evernham's Dodge team, a deal the two have been working on for much of the year. Benson, according to team sources, wouldn't be willing to leave his current team without being able to bring along crew chief James Ince and the rest of the crew; that option, sources say, was vetoed at DEI.(Winston Salem Journal)(10-15-2001)
More on Mikey and the #15: Also at DEI, according to [FSN] sources, the 15 car is Michael Waltrip's for next year. Some things have got to change, especially Michael's attitude and how he works with the team. If he doesn't change his attitude toward the team, it will definitely be his last year there.(FSN's Totally NASCAR)(10-10-2001)
Kenny in the #15? Waltrip to retire? UPDATE 2: DEI has an announcement set for Friday [Oct 5th] morning. Could it be Kenny Wallace in the 15 car for 2002?(NASCAR.com)(10-4-2001) UPDATE: the Oct 3rd issue of the National Speed Sport News print edition reports that "Michael Waltrip is rumored to be considering retirement. Waltrip is said to be in contact with broadcast executives about possible employment that would take him out of the driver's seat" AND FSN's Totally NASCAR reports the DEI is denying that Waltrip will be leaving the #15 car and that Waltrip still has a year to go on his two-year deal with DEI AND Chevrolet and Dale Earnhardt Inc. have elected to postpone Friday's media event at Dale Earnhardt Inc. scheduled at 9:00am/et(10-5-2001) UPDATE 2: "As of today, he [Michael Waltrip] still has a job for next year," DEI vice president Ty Norris said. "We have not talked about next year and he has not told us he wants to go into broadcasting, but with him being just 38 years old, I can't really see retirement being an option." But Norris said Waltrip has been called in three times this season to talk about on-track performance and gently reminded of the urgency to turn things around. Waltrip has another year left on his contract and the team has one more year on its sponsorship deal with NAPA.(That's Racin'/AP) AND Michael Waltrip says he has two more years on his contract with BGN sponsor Aarons [#99 Chevy], but he is unsure whether he'll drive the car. Many expect Waltrip to move into the TV booth next year(Richmond Times Dispatch)(10-7-2001)
Waltrip and NAPA? trouble at DEI? Will Michael Waltrip be with Dale Earnhardt Inc. in 2002? there are rumors that NAPA, the sponsor of his #15 car, is not happy with his performance(CNN/SI - Burning Questions)(10-3-2001)
Waltrip - not so good: #15-Michael Waltrip is making negative history by being lower in points than any Daytona 500 winner in history. He's 27th, and his only top 10s were his 500 victory and his second-place in the July race in Daytona Beach(Daily Press)(9-6-2001)
New Crew Chief for the #15: DEI has hired Richard "Slugger" Labbe as the new crew chief for its #15 NAPA Chevys and driver Michael Waltrip. The position of crew chief has been vacant since Scott Eggleston's departure from DEI in May. Steve Hmiel has served in the position on an interim basis. Waltrip and Labbe worked together previously while Waltrip drove for Ultra Motorsports. Labbe will take over the position this weekend at Richmond. Labbe also served as crew chief for the late Kenny Irwin at Robert Yates Racing(That's Racin')(9-4-2001)
Graves at DEI UPDATE: Fred Graves, former crew chief for the #14 AJ Foyt team and DEI CTS team, is now the Car Chief at Dale Earnhardt Inc(DEI) for driver #15 Michael Waltrip(CNN/SI Qualifying Coverage)(8-11-2001) UPDATE: Fred Graves, who had worked as a freelance consultant earlier this season, is back with Dale Earnhardt Inc., as of last week, serving as car chief for Michael Waltrip's #15 Chevrolet. "I talked to them Wednesday, and they said the plane leaves Thursday," Fred Graves said of his recent return to DEI, where he formerly served as crew chief for Ron Hornaday's Craftsman Trucks series entry. Fred Graves manages the race-day crew for Waltrip's car, as well as helping out with in-shop matters during the week. "This is a young crew," he said. "They were just trying to add a little more depth and experience to the team."(Syracuse Online)(8-13-2001)
Hmiel Stays as Crew Chief: Ty Norris, executive vice president of motorsports at Dale Earnhardt Inc., said Friday Steve Hmiel will remain as crew chief for Michael Waltrip's #15 NAPA Auto Parts team through the end of the season. Hmiel, DEI's director of motorsports, has been filling in since the team released former crew chief Scott Eggleston in June(That's Racin')(7-28-2001)
MW Honored: Michael Waltrip, driver of the #15 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, made a stop at DAYTONA USA onWednesday for what he thought was a special fan forum. What his visit turned out to be was a celebration of his victory in this year’s 43rd annual Daytona 500. After being introduced to the guests at DAYTONA USA by Speedway President John Graham, Waltrip was posed several questions from the fans attending the forum, but got interrupted by Dale Earnhardt Inc. teammate Steve Park when asked about how his golf game. Following the fan forum, Waltrip was presented with some gifts and took a look at his winning car, which will continue to be on display until next year’s 44th annual Daytona 500 on Feb. 17. Waltrip received a Daytona 500 champion helmet, a scrapbook from his fellow competitors, several framed pictures of his victory from different sponsors and the Speedway. Waltrip’s family, including wife Buffy, daughters Caitlin and Margaret, were in attendance along with NASCAR President Mike Helton and the Chairman of NASCAR Bill France. “This is your day,” France said. Darrell Waltrip, Michael’s brother and 1989 Daytona 500 champion, was traveling to England and left a video message. “You and I are the only brothers to win the Daytona 500,” Darrell Waltrip said. “I’m proud of you. I’m happy for you. Enjoy this ceremony. What an accomplishment to have your car on display for a year. I wish I could be there and give you a hug.” Waltrip was grateful for the day of celebration. His Dale Earnhardt Inc. team were all presented with their Daytona 500 rings by Ty Norris, DEI Executive Vice President of Motorsports.. “We understand the significance of the Daytona 500. We’re truly honored to be your champions,” said a grateful Waltrip. Waltrip, a native of Owensboro, Ky., hopes he can reel in another win at Daytona on Saturday in the 43rd annual Pepsi 400. “We got a great car for this race,” Waltrip said. “It’s the car we ran at Talladega. We led the race and had a good day. Unfortunately, we had problems at the end with the car. We feel confident we can win this race too and do like we talked about on the commercial – win the Daytona 900.”(DIS PR)(7-5-2001)
#15 Crew Chief Leaves: Scott Eggleston, crew chief for Michael Waltrip's #15 NAPA Chevy, has parted ways with the team. Steve Hmiel, technical director for Dale Earnhardt Inc., will fill that duty on a temporary basis. Eggleston left the team on Thursday(NASCAR.com)(6-8-2001)
Michael, Ken and Johnny back: Responding to the clamor of the fans, Speedvision will present a special one-time only (for now) reteaming of those bad boys of stock car racing, Michael Waltrip, Ken Schrader and Johnny Benson in One More Time With Michael, Ken and Johnny. The program will premiere in their old time slot on Monday, June 25th, 7:00pm/et (8:00pm/pt), with additional runs during the week. Mon, Jun 25 - 7pm, Mon, Jun 25 - 11pm, Tue, Jun 26 - 8am, Tue, Jun 26 - 5pm, Sat, Jun 30 - 8:30am(Speedway Illustrated)(5-25-2001) UPDATE: see story at SpeedVision - Speedvision Reunites Mikey, Kenny and Johnny, The one-hour special, entitled "One More Time," was shot on location at Schrader's Concord, N.C., race shop and will include a guest appearance by fellow NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver Kenny Wallace, a frequent panelist on the popular show, which aired on Speedvision on Mondays through Jan. 2001. (5-30-2001)
DEI News: The company founded by seven-time NASCAR Winston Cup Champion Dale Earnhardt and his wife Teresa, today revealed its corporate structure, still aimed at long-term development of the company and its three NASCAR Winston Cup teams. The definition of the company's structure comes after three months of outside speculation regarding the organizational future of one of NASCAR racing's most competitive operations. The structure is part of a long-term plan to develop the company well into the 21st century. Teresa Earnhardt, owner and CEO of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. has named Doug Swanson to continue as Chief Operating Officer, Ty Norris Executive Vice President of Motorsports, Steve Hmiel Director of Motorsports, Joe Hedrick Vice President of Licensing and Judy Queen Director-Office of the CEO. She stated, "Dale and I had a plan for the long term growth of this company years ago. As DEI moves ahead, we're placing people in their respective roles to meet the goals that we envisioned. We have people at Dale Earnhardt Incorporated that are very dedicated to their profession and the goals we have as a company. This structuring defines the roles of specific individuals and their responsibilities that will help the company reach our potential. Based on what I've seen from our people, we'll meet our expectations and more in the next few years." Chief Operating Officer Doug Swanson, 60, brings over 35 years of business management to Dale Earnhardt, Inc. A former partner of a Big Five CPA firm, Swanson, a Greensboro, NC native, has owned his own business and served as an officer with several other corporations before joining DEI in August of 2000. Ty Norris, previously Director of Motorsports, has been promoted to the position of Executive Vice President of Motorsports. All racing-related issues at Dale Earnhardt, Inc. are the direct responsibility of the 35-year-old Norris, both at the track and at the company's 200,000 square-foot Mooresville, NC complex. The Sumter, SC native has been an integral part of the operation since 1996, when DEI claimed its first championship in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Since that time, DEI teams have claimed an additional truck series crown (1998), two NASCAR Busch Grand National Series titles (1998-1999) and six Winston Cup victories, including the 2000 Winston and the 2001 Daytona 500. Assuming Norris' former position as Director of Motorsports is Steve Hmiel, DEI's current Technical Director and longtime NASCAR Winston Cup crewchief. Hmiel's role as Technical Director will be merged with his new position, creating the title of Director of Motorsports and Technical Development. The 47-year-old, Albany, NY native has been instrumental in guiding DEI's wind tunnel and chassis development programs and he will continue to do so along with numerous other management responsibilities. In addition to overseeing daily operations at the shop, Hmiel will manage the operation of all three of DEI's NASCAR Winston Cup teams trackside. On the licensing side of Dale Earnhardt, Inc., 34 year-old Joe Hedrick has been promoted to the position of Vice President of Licensing. Hedrick's role includes the licensing of the Dale Earnhardt, Inc. brand and the Dale Earnhardt name and likeness, as well as performing similar duties for the three DEI teams and Kerry Earnhardt. Hedrick joined DEI in mid-2000 after a five-year stint at Sports Image, a company Earnhardt owned prior to selling it to Action Performance, Inc. Hedrick, a Lenoir, NC native, will be responsible for maintaining the quality and availability of all Dale Earnhardt and DEI-related apparel and collectables. Judy Queen has been named Director of the Office of the CEO, assisting Teresa Earnhardt directly. Queen, a Dale Earnhardt, Inc. employee since 1998, served as the Earnhardts' personal assistant since joining the firm. Among her duties are the networking of information relating to the CEO. In addition, Queen serves as Office Manager, overseeing administrative personnel(DEI PR)(5-17-2001)
Change at #15 DEI team? UPDATE: NASCAR.com Buzz is reporting that the #15 DEI team could be making a crew chief change by the time The Winston or Coca-Cola 600 takes place. If that does happen, look for Steve Hmiel, Technical Director at Dale Earnhardt Inc., to take a more involved role in the No. 15 team. Since winning the Daytona 500, the team has fallen from first in points to 26th in only 11 races(NASCAR,com Buzz)(5-9-2001) UPDATE: A spokeswoman for Waltrip's team says there was no truth to the rumor that crew chief Scott Eggleston was being replaced, but his responsibilities might be redirected in the future. Expect to see tech director Steve Hmiel taking a more visible role(Sporting News)(5-14-2001)
Waltrip's Seat Breaks: When #15-Michael Waltrip hit the Turn 2 wall on lap 154 of Sunday’s NAPA 500 at California Speedway, the inside of his car was dismantled. According to a team spokesperson, the bottom of the driver’s seat was cracked. The buckle on the right side head net, which is a safety device that prevents the head from hitting a roll bar or other parts inside the car and is made of the same material as the window net, was broken and not affixed. Also, the head rest on the right side was opened up towards the passenger’s side window and the ignition box, which is bolted to the car, fell off. The team spokesperson said NASCAR took pictures of the inside of the car for further evaluation(NASCAR.com Buzz)(4-30-2001)
Waltrip OK: #15-Michael Waltrip also hit hard after a flat tire on Lap 153. Waltrip was examined at the infield facility and released(SpeedVision)(4-30-2001)
Waltrip Paint at Daytona: many readers saw on For Race Fans Only (QVC) the other night that Michael Waltrip unveiled a paint scheme for the July Daytona Race. It has the NAPA Slogan "We Keep America Running" on the hood. Also had red/white stripes on it to give it an american flag feel(4-21-2001) IMAGE: see an image of the car on my Paint Sceme Gallery(also added the #51 Subway, the #24 Jeff Gordon Foundation car and others)(4-24-2001)
Another #15 Crew Change: The #15 Chevy of Dale Earnhardt, Inc., which has not quite matched its season opening Daytona 500 winning performance in the five races since, has made a change. Jackman Britt Goodrich was let go Friday morning after struggling the past few weeks(NASCAR.com Buzz)(3-31-2001)
Some Paint Scheme Rumors: #8-Ducks Unlimited at Lowes in Oct; #15 NAPA Memorial Day, Lowes at the Winston and the 600 and at the Pepsi 400 at Daytona(3-27-2001)
#15 and DEI? UPDATE 2: have heard it was reported on Fox Sports Net show on Tuesday night that some crew members have left or were released from the #15 DEI team UPDATE: hearing Car Chief Mike Kelly and Front Tire Changer Tim Sheets are two of the three who left(3-21-2001) UPDATE 2: Three members of Michael Waltrip's team are no longer a part of the DEI operation. Car chief Mike Kelly, front-tire changer and tire specialist Tim Sheets and shop mechanic Steve Durne have left. Kelly now works with Casey Atwood's #19 team at Evernham Motorsports and Sheets is now with Morgan-McClure Motorsports, which fields the #4 Chevys(That's Racin')(3-24-2001)
Waltrip to wear HANS at Atlanta UPDATE: Like many drivers, Michael Waltrip had been interested in the HANS device, but chose to wait until he could try it in his car at speed under testing conditions before making the final decision to use it in competition. Waltrip tried the HANS device during testing at Atlanta last week and found he had the necessary mobility and vision to use it safely in the car. He will begin wearing it in this weekends Cracker Barrel 500 at the Atlanta Motor Speedway(Speedway Illustrated)(3-7-2001) UPDATE: actually Waltrip wore the HANS at Las Vegas for the first time(3-8-2001)
HANS News: Michael Waltrip said that he'll wear the HANS device, a head and neck support system, in today's race. Waltrip tried it at a test session at Atlanta last week. Last week, at least seven of the 43 drivers wore a HANS device at Rockingham. They were Dale Jarrett, Brett Bodine, Matt Kenseth, Kurt Busch, Robert Pressley, Hut Stricklin and Terry Labonte. About seven other drivers wore other restraint systems(Roanoke Times). See my Safety/HANS page for an unofficial list(3-4-2001)
Rock Fact: Michael Waltrip will try to become only the third driver in history to win the first two races of the season. Jeff Gordon accomplished the feat in 1997 and David Pearson turned the trick in 1976. Only two drivers have ever won the Daytona 500 and went on to win the first race at North Carolina Speedway -- Richard Petty (1974) and Gordon (1997). (WRAL/Sports Network)(2-25-2001)
DEI Drivers Meet The Press: DEI drivers #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr., #15-Michael Waltrip and #1-Steve Park made their first group appearance since last week’s tragedy that claimed Dale Earnhardt, and each proclaimed their gratitude for how the matter has been treated, and then spoke about carrying on the legacy of their fallen leader. The younger Earnhardt also lashed out at those that have placed blame for the accident on Sterling Marlin, forcing the driver of the #40 Coors Light Dodge to hire extra security at his shop and at the track this weekend at Rockingham. See quotes and comments with the rest of the story at SpeedVision(2-23-2001)
Daytona USA Celebration Postponed: The traditional induction at the Daytona USA attraction of the car driven by the winner of the Daytona 500 has been postponed, in light of the death of Winston Cup driver Dale Earnhardt in Sunday's race. Michael Waltrip, who was driving a car owned by Earnhardt, won Sunday's 500 and was planning to meet members of the media Monday morning, then proceed to Daytona USA, where his #15 Chevrolet would be inducted and held until next year's race. Kevin Triplett, NASCAR's director of operations, said Sunday the ceremony would be rescheduled at a later date(That's Racin')(2-19-2001)
The Daytona 500 Winner: Michael Waltrip wins his first ever Winston Cup points race. His first win in his 463 Winston Cup race (the most races ever run before a driver won their first race). #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr was 2nd, #2-Rusty Wallace was 3rd, his best career finish in the Daytona 500. 4th was #28-Ricky Rudd and 5th was #9-Bill Elliott. See unofficial results at That's Racin'(2-18-2001)
2000 News
Waltrip runs another marathon: Michael Waltrip ran in this past weekends inaugural Hop's Marathon by the Bay in Tampa, FL. He was 1209th over all (out of approx 3200 marathoners). His time was 4:36:07.(Hops Marathon Page/Tampa Bay Online)(12-11-2000)
#15 for DEI? UPDATE 2: hearing Michael Waltrip will run the #15 on the NAPA Auto Parts DEI Chevy in 2001(9-23-2000) UPDATE: Michael Waltrip will unveil his number for next season, 15, on his new Dale Earnhardt-owned NAPA Chevrolet tonight on SpeedVision's Inside Winston Cup. Waltrip said the number is a tribute to Bud Moore, the former car owner who enjoyed success with #15 in NASCAR's early days. Waltrip moves to the #15 car next season(AJC). NOTE: Bud Moore is no longer in the sport, selling to Fenley Motorsports, who have been heard from since early in the season and I have no idea what their 2001 plans are if any(11-6-2000) UPDATE 2: it was announced on SpeedVision's Inside Winston Cup that Waltrip will drive the #15 NAPA Auto Parts Chevy, the car was shown, even have a few images, see my Paint Scheme Gallery(oops, forgot to send the pages, they are updated now)(11-7-2000)
Mikey at Homestead? UPDATE probably not: hearing that Michael Waltrip was testing a Dale Earnhardt Inc Chevy at Homestead this week. Waltrip is of course going to drive the #15? NAPA Auto Parts Chevy for DEI in 2001 and rumor has it that he MAY drive the last two Cup races(Homestead and Atlanta) of the season in the car. Waltrip presently drives the #7 Ultra Motorsports Chevy(10-26-2000) UPDATE: RPM2 Night reported that Waltrip said it was unlikely that he would drive for his new DEI team at Homestead and/or Atlanta. BUT, just in case #7 owner Jim Smith and sponsor Nations Rent changes their minds and lets Waltrip out of his contract, DEI has two Chevy;s ready for Waltrip to drive, for Homestead the car would be sponsored by Aaron's Rent and the Atlanta car is a NAPA Auto Parts scheme(11-3-2000)
DEI Crew chief and number? UPDATE 2 #40 Crew Chief? still hearing that the new NAPA Cup team with Michael Waltrip will be the #15 and also now hearing that SABCO/Ganassi Racing's Scott Eggleston, who is Sterling Marlin's crew chief(#40) may be the new crew chief of Waltrip's team with DEI(10-9-2000) UPDATE: Dale Earnhardt Inc. was expected to sign Scott Eggleston to a contract on Monday to be the new crew chief for the #15 car and driver Michael Waltrip next season. Eggleston, 38, is currently the crew chief for Sterling Marlin on the #40 car at Ganassi/Sabco Racing(Sporting News)(10-10-2000) UPDATE 2: still hearing Scott Eggleston will be the crew chief of DEI's #15 Napa Chevy, who will replace him at Ganassi Racing/Sabco on the #40 car? Hearing it could be be Kevin Cram, who is part of Bill Elliott's crew chief by committee on the #94(10-24-2000)
Waltrip to leave #7 early? UPDATE: It is likely that Michael Waltrip will leave the #7 Ultra Motorsports Team before the end of the season and race in a NAPA-sponsored(#15?), Dale Earnhardt Inc.-owned car in the final one or two races this year. Waltrip will move to that team full time next year. Geoffrey Bodine could wind up driving the #7 car in the races remaining after Waltrip's departure(That's Racin')(10-16-2000) UPDATE: According to sources at Ultra Motorsports, Michael Waltrip is expected to leave the #7 Nations Rent Chevrolet before the end of the season to begin his new stint as the third driver in the Dale Earnhardt Inc. stable. Waltrip could make his debut as early as Phoenix, but more likely will drive for DEI at Homestead. Last month, Earnhardt announced that Waltrip, 37, would drive the NAPA Monte Carlo in the Winston Cup series. Scott Eggleston, currently of SABCO Racing, will be named crew chief of that team. The team has designs on running the #15 on Waltrip's car. Mike Wallace, who drives the #2 Ford for Ultra Motorsports in the CTS will drive the #7 Monte Carlo for the remainder of the year. Wallace is also under consideration for the #7 seat in 2001, but has talked to other Winston Cup owners including Larry McClure(Sporting News)(10-18-2000)
#15 for DEI? hearing Michael Waltrip will run the #15 on the NAPA Auto Parts DEI Chevy in 2001(9-23-2000)
DEI and Walrtip...the PR and...: Dale Earnhardt announced today that Dale Earnhardt, Inc. will be expanding its motorsports program with the addition of a third Cup team in 2001. The newest DEI entry will be driven by Winston Cup veteran Michael Waltrip while carrying the blue and gold of NAPA AUTO PARTS. DEI currently has two NASCAR Winston Cup teams featuring drivers Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Steve Park. Terms of the multi-year agreement were not disclosed.(in part from a Champion Sports Group PR). No images of the car or car # yet UPDATE: It is not yet known what the car number will be, as Earnhardt indicated he’s currently working that out with NASCAR, nor who will be the team’s crew chief. Waltrip will continue to campaign his own Busch Team while driving for DEI(SpeedVision)(9-13-2000)
PR from Ultra Motorsports UPDATE and Dodge? statement from Jim Smith, Owner of #7 Nationsrent/Ultra Motorsports team: "We wish Michael Waltrip nothing but the best in his new ride. He is a fine person and a good race car driver, and we think he will do a fine job for his new owners. Everyone at Ultra Motorsports is moving forward and we're planning on a big year in 2001. We're working hard every day, and we feel we're making some real progress. The finishes the past several races haven't been indicative of how good the cars have been. Once the finishes start matching that, this NationsRent team is going to be a team to reckon with. My goal from the minute I purchased this team was to run up front and that goal hasn't changed at all. Everything we do, including bringing in a new driver, will be with that goal 100 percent in mind." and from Gary Stewart, Nationsrent Sr VP: "Michael Waltrip has been a great ambassador for the NationsRent team and we wish him only the best in his future with Dale Earnhardt Inc. Ultra Motorsports is working with NationsRent to continue to do everything possible to elevate the team's level of performance, including securing a driver for our team in 2001. We are anticipating positive results for the remainder of the season and beyond."(Williams Co) UPDATE: Michael Waltrip indicated that his parting with current team Ultra Motorsports was an amicable one. He had not yet signed a contract to continue with the Jim Smith-owned operation, and he said that Smith had decided to change marques to Dodge for the 2001 season, and he felt the opportunity with Earnhardt was too good to pass up.(SpeedVision). See the #7 Team News and Links page, for the history of the Dodge and #7 rumor(from August)(9-13-2000)
3rd DEI team? it's Back UPDATE 5, press conference and....: Rumor on the distant horizon: A third team for Dale Earnhardt Inc.?(SpeedVision) currently run the #1-Steve Park and #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr teams. No drivers mentioned(5-28-2000) UPDATE: Ty Norris, head of DEI, isn't enthusiastic about expanding with a third Cup team next season, but says he can't rule it out. Michael Waltrip's name has been coming up in connection with a third Cup team and other possibilities, following Jim Smith's Ultra Motorsports merger with Mattei Motorsports. Smith, who runs Mike Wallace in the #2 CTS Ford truck, might want to put Wallace in a Cup car(PitNow)(5-29-2000) UPDATE 2: thought this rumor was dead and buried, but even though it was announced a few weeks ago that Michael Waltrip would be staying with the #7 Ultra Motorsports team (and switching to Ford), am hearing strong rumors that Waltrip will take a ride with DEI in a third team car for Earnhardt, becoming teammate with #1-Steve park and #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr UPDATE 3: DEI has scheduled a 2:00pm/et news conference on Wednesday to announce it will field a third Winston Cup team in the 2001 season, with Waltrip being the apparent selection as the new team's driver. The news conference has been scheduled for the DEI headquarters in Mooresville, N.C., where the Winston Cup cars driven by Steve Park and Dale Earnhardt Jr. are currently prepared(That's Racin'). Note: also hearing that DEI will not field a BGN team in 2001 and Ron Hornaday will not be back but will finish out the 2000 season(9-11-2000) UPDATE 4: hearing that NAPA will move up from Earnhardt's BGN team to sponsor the new third DEI team and Waltrip(9-12-2000) UPDATE 5: must be pretty real, now the AP is reporting it: Michael Waltrip to join Earnhardt stable, all that is left to know, is the car # (03?, 30?) and the crew chief? Kennedy? Kennon?(9-13-2000)
