Michael Waltrip owns 50 NASCAR Sprint Cup starts at Talladega Superspeedway, but he’ll reach back into family history when he makes his 766th start on Oct. 23 at the Alabama track. With the support of long-time sponsor Aaron’s Inc., Waltrip will celebrate the election of his brother Darrell to the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte. He’ll race a brown-and-gold paint scheme similar to the Terminal Transport car Darrell drove in his first NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Talladega on May 7, 1972. Michael’s Talladega paint scheme includes a large photo on the hood taken after Darrell’s first Sprint Cup victory at Nashville Speedway in 1975. The deck lid carries a picture of “DW” during the 1989 Daytona 500 victory lane celebration as the three-time series champion dances the “Ickey Shuffle.” Waltrip honored Darrell’s first victory with an orange and white scheme at the inaugural Kentucky Speedway race in June. Rain cancelled qualifying depriving Waltrip the chance to start the race despite posting a fast qualifying speed before NASCAR halted the session and set the field by points.(Michael Waltrip Racing)(10-14-2011)
