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History and Biography
Michael Waltrip
Birthdate : 4/30/63
Hometown : Owensboro , Kentucky
Winston Cup :
Team : Dale Earnhardt Inc.
Owner : Dale & Teresa Earnhardt
Crew Chief : Steve Hmiel
Engine Builder : Dale Earnhardt Inc.
Primary Sponsor : NAPA Auto Parts
Make : Chevrolet
Busch Series :
Team : Michael Waltrip Racing
Owner : Michael Waltrip (D'uh !)
Crew Chief : Bobby Kennedy
Primary Sponsor : Aaron's
Make : Chevrolet
Michael Waltrip has been having somewhat of a Moderate Career in NASCAR : Winston Cup Competition . From the start of his career in 1986 to February 18,2001 , Waltrip could not win a single Winston Cup Points Race for 463 Races . As you know , Michael Waltrip is the younger brother of 3-time Winston Cup Champ , Darrell Waltrip and they have raced in The Winston Cup for about 14 years together but Darrell started in the mid-1970's .
For years , he's searched for Winning Possibilities : Sabco , Bahari Racing , Wood Brothers Racing ,Mattei Motorsports . But in 1996 with Wood Brother's Racing , Michael Waltrip finally got to victory lane in The Winston , It was great except for one thing , It wasnt an Official Points Race .
Michael Waltrip then in 1999 joined the newly formed Mattei Motorsports , till late 2000 , Waltrip still couldnt take victory in his grasp . Finally in Late 2000 , He was accepted into Dale Earnhardt's Team : DEI and now made a member of NAPA Racing .
Then on Feb 18,2001 , Michael Waltrip took the lead at Daytona , and took the checkered flag before Teammate , Dale Earnhardt Jr. But Tragedy struck on Turn 4 when Dale Earnhardt , NASCAR's Greatest Driver of All-Time slamed into the wall and was sadly taken away from the world .
Michael Waltrip since then hasnt finished in the Top 10 or better . But Finally , Closure came when Michael Waltrip and the others returned to Daytona International Speedway for the Pepsi 400 . Teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. led 116 of 160 laps and on the final lap , Waltrip aided Dale Earnhardt Jr. to win the race .
The rest of the year looks bright for DEI as Park , Earnhardt Jr. , and Waltrip will begin their ascension to the Top of the Points Standings .
Winston Cup 2001 Stats
Date
|
Race
|
Started
|
Finished
|
Qualifying Results
|
Status
|
Feb 18, 2001
|
Daytona 500
|
19
|
1
|
1st race/9th place
|
running
|
Feb 25, 2001
|
Dura Lube 400
|
7
|
19
|
155.379 mph
|
running
|
Mar 04, 2001
|
UAW-Daimler/Chrysler 400
|
4
|
13
|
171.603 mph
|
running
|
Mar 11, 2001
|
Cracker Barrel Old Country 500
|
10
|
23
|
191.186 mph
|
running
|
Mar 18, 2001
|
Carolina Dodge Dealers 400
|
6
|
25
|
 |
running
|
Mar 25, 2001
|
Food City 500
|
29
|
22
|
123.602 mph
|
running
|
Apr 01, 2001
|
Harrah's 500
|
7
|
39
|
189.235 mph
|
running
|
Apr 08, 2001
|
Virginia 500
|
35
|
24
|
92.792 mph
|
running
|
Apr 22, 2001
|
Talladega 500
|
8
|
29
|
183.575 mph
|
running
|
Apr 29, 2001
|
NAPA Auto Parts 500
|
29
|
43
|
179.645 mph
|
accident
|
May 05, 2001
|
Pontiac Excitement 400
|
12
|
35
|
123.502 mph
|
 |
May 19, 2001
|
The Winston
|
19
|
20
|
 |
running
|
May 27, 2001
|
Coca-Cola 600
|
28
|
28
|
181.812 mph
|
running
|
Jun 03, 2001
|
MBNA Platinum 400
|
27
|
43
|
 |
accident
|
Jun 10, 2001
|
KMart 400
|
35
|
29
|
185.448 mph
|
running
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Jun 17, 2001
|
Pocono 500
|
17
|
30
|
167.339 mph
|
running
|
Jun 24, 2001
|
Dodge/Save Mart 350
|
19
|
20
|
92.080 mph
|
running
|
Jul 07, 2001
|
Pepsi 400
|
22
|
2
|
181.459 mph
|
$108,850
|
Jul 15, 2001
|
Chicagoland Speedway
|
39
|
23
|
provisional
|
running
|
Jul 22, 2001
|
New England 300
|
18
|
28
|
130.309 mph
|
running
|
Jul 29, 2001
|
Pennsylvania 500
|
23
|
19
|
167.932 mph
|
running
|
Busch 2001 Stats
Date
|
Race
|
Started
|
Finished
|
Qualifying Results
|
Status
|
Feb 17, 2001
|
Daytona International Speedway
|
28
|
37
|
181.803 mph
|
engine
|
Mar 03, 2001
|
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
|
33
|
39
|
164.304 mph
|
accident
|
Mar 10, 2001
|
Atlanta Motor Speedway
|
9
|
3
|
188.514 mph
|
$17,975
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Mar 24, 2001
|
Bristol Motor Speedway
|
10
|
10
|
123.499 mph
|
$11,735
|
May 26, 2001
|
Lowe's Motor Speedway
|
39
|
43
|
 |
 |
Jul 14, 2001
|
Chicagoland Speedway
|
26
|
12
|
176.425 mph
|
running
|
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