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 altrip 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)
