January 28, 2000

Ask any driver in the garage area who the best driver is that hasn't won a race and to a man, they will tell you it's Michael Waltrip.

Waltrip, a former Kentucky Motor Speedway track champion in the mini-modified division, made his Winston Cup debut in 1985, driving for Dick Bahre, in the World 600 at Charlotte.

Known for his consistency, he has finished in the top-twenty in points 12 of his 14 years in Winston Cup racing. This will be his fifthteenth.

Despite starting 428 Winston Cup events and placing his car in 17 top-five finishes, Michael is still winless. The thirty-six year old driver has found some success with eight Busch Grand National wins under his belt. He has won a Winston Cup race, but it was "The Winston", NASCAR's all-star race, in 1996 and that wasn't a points paying race.

So how does Michael handle the losses, the weekly disappointment that surely haunts him?

"It's simple, I just love to race", said Waltrip, "I've got a great car and a great race team. I'm very fortunate to have the opportunity to do what I do. I don't think I'm due anything or owed anything, I just go out there and give it all I can give it. I feel like if I work at it hard enough, I'll be successful. I'll win one someday. I don't live my life by what happens on the track, but when I'm out there, I do the best I can each time I'm in the car."

Michael switched teams last year from the famous No.21 Wood Brothers Ford Taurus to the No.7 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. Failing to find success in the three years with the Wood Brothers, it was time to make a change and he's glad that he did, although he is still searching for that elusive win.

A fifth-place finisher in the Daytona 500 a year ago, Waltrip's historic record in restrictor plate races is unmatched in his category. In fact, of the four restrictor plate races last season, Waltrip led and/or finished in the top five in three of them.

That shouldn't surprise anyone. NationsRent Chevrolet driver Michael Waltrip has finished in the top-ten and/or led the event in seven of the last eight restrictor plate races. The mark goes back even further than that, noting the driver's prowess in the most mentally-demanding events in racing: he has finished in the top-ten and/or led the event in 10 of the last 12 restrictor plate races. . . 13 of the last 16 restrictor plate races. . . 15 of the last 20 restrictor plate races. . . and 17 of the last 24 restrictor plate races, the latter of which carries back to the 1994 season.

The most memorable race for Waltrip was the 1993 NASCAR Busch Series Grand National Division event at Bristol. He won and then did the first ever Alan Kulwick memorial Polish Victory Lap after the NASCAR Winston Cup Series champion had been killed several days earlier.

Oh yes, and he proposed to his wife in Victory Lane that day.

Away from the track, Waltrip has seen a change in his life as well. His wife Buffy gave birth to Macy in September 1997. Waltrip's oldest daughter, Catlin, is nine years old.

The marriage to Buffy and the birth of Macy brought a new perspective to his life and a renewed focus.

"Every of day of my life is so special, just being able to watch her grow up and do new things. My life focuses around my family and my career now more than it ever has," he said, "I used to play golf, but it took away from my family so much that, except for charity events, I don't do that anymore."

The schedule that Waltrip keeps, allows little spare time to goof off or play golf. He spends his off days at his shop, where his Busch Series cars are housed and at his Winston Cup shop in addition to making personal appearances and taking care of numerous business ventures that he is involved in. There are also daily meetings with crews.

One more thing eats into Waltrip's time, the endless meetings with reporters, usually asking the same question. "When are you going to win a Winston Cup race?

"I deal with that as best I can. I want to win, but my life doesn't hinge on whether I do or not," said Waltrip, "through my faith, I have an inner peace. I have a lot of things in my life figured out because of my faith. I'm thankful to God for putting me where I am today. It's a new team, a new season and a new millennium. Maybe I can win a race."

With the exception of his wife, there is no one who would like to see Waltrip record his first victory more than his fellow competitors.

When he does cross the finish line for the first time, the scene will be reminiscent of Dale Earnhardt's victory when he finally won the Daytona 500 in 1998.

Whether Waltrip deserves a victory or not, there is no question to the fact that he deserves the respect of the other drivers and the fans for his determination, his character and his talent.


You can contact Ron at: Insider racing News