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)
