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)
