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)
