MICHAEL WALTRIP RACING TO VISIT GOODWOOD FESTIVAL OF SPEED IN ENGLAND

Michael Waltrip

CORNELIUS, N.C. – June 27, 2014 – Michael Waltrip Racing co-owners Michael Waltrip and Rob Kauffman are once again venturing across the Atlantic Ocean to share the sport of NASCAR in front of 150,000 global motorsports enthusiasts at the annual Goodwood Festival of Speed in England.

Waltrip will drive a No. 15 PEAK Toyota NASCAR Sprint Cup car at the festival that features a hill climb by historic motor racing vehicles. Kauffman will drive the 1963 “Mystery Motor” Chevy Impala that NASCAR Hall of Famer Junior Johnson drove to seven victories and nine poles during the 1963 season.
“It is so cool to drop the hammer on a NASCAR Sprint Cup car and see the reaction on the faces of everyone there,” said Waltrip recalling his 2010 and 2013 trips to Goodwood. “You wouldn’t believe all of the people who are interested in NASCAR around the world. This is as close as they’ll ever be to a Sprint Cup race. I’m honored they asked me to make a few runs and it’s also cool that Rob Kauffman will show the world one of the most historic cars in our sport.”

The Goodwood Festival has become one of the largest and most diverse motorsports events in the world. The festival includes everything from modern concept cars to historical vehicles dating back to 1902, along with racecars from all disciplines. NASCAR stock cars, Formula 1 Grand Prix racers, Le Mans style cars and various forms of motorcycles will all make their run up the hill at Goodwood.

Waltrip said sharing his and NASCAR’s history is important as the sport grows globally. In 2010 Waltrip drove a No. 15 car at Goodwood painted like the car he drove to Daytona 500 victories in 2001 and 2003. Last year Waltrip drove the No. 15 5-hour ENERGY Toyota that Clint Bowyer won three races in 2012 and finished second in the Chase for the Sprint Cup.

The theme for the 2014 Goodwood Festival of Speed is ‘Addicted to Winning – The Unbeatable Champions of Motor Sport. This 2014 theme will celebrate the legendary drivers and riders, teams and manufacturers, who have swept all before them in their sport.

Kauffman said he feels a special honor driving Johnson’s 1963 Impala. What makes the car unique and explained its performance on the track is the incredibly rare RPO Z33 Mk II 427 “Mystery Motor” supplied by Chevrolet.

“We’re taking a significant piece of NASCAR history and sharing it with the world,” said Kauffman owner of RK Motors Charlotte and the Impala. “When you fire it up, no matter who you are or what form of motorsports you follow, everyone stops and looks. It’s a fantastic conversation starter.”
Some of NASCAR’s most famous names like Waltrip’s brother Darrell Waltrip, Junior Johnson, Richard Petty, David Pearson, Bobby Allison and Smokey Yunick also made appearances at Goodwood since the festival’s inception in 1993.

MWR’s participation in international racing events is part of a worldwide business strategy and a way to promote the team on a global stage. MWR’s international effort has included appearances in events like Goodwood and Toyota Motorsports Festival in Japan as well as fielding entries in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Rolex 24 at Daytona plus races in Dubai, Bahrain, Shanghai, Spa, and Road Atlanta among others.

Waltrip left for England this morning. Follow updates on Waltrip’s Goodwood trip on Twitter at @mw55 and Instagram @mwr55.

 

HOMETOWN HERO WALTRIP HOPES FOR KENTUCKY BREAKTHROUGH

Michael Waltrip

June 27, 2014 – Thought omnipresent at a race track – in either a television studio or walking pit road – Owensboro, Kentucky native Michael Waltrip doesn’t get behind the wheel of a race car all that often anymore.

He has people to do that for him, these days.

And they’ll represent him at his home track of Kentucky Speedway. So, yes, in a way, this is a home race for Kansas native Clint Bowyer and North Carolina native Brian Vickers – the two cornerstones of Michael Waltrip Racing.

This is a big one for more than local pride, of course. Both drivers are winless, and especially in the case of Vickers, in danger of missing the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

Bowyer, coming off two consecutive top-10 finishes, has climbed to 14th in points – good enough to be one of the Chase Grid drivers were NASCAR’s playoffs beginning today. They’re not. So a win at Kentucky would go a long way. It’s more than possible; Bowyer finished third last year.

Vickers has yet to crack the top 25 at Kentucky, finishing 31st (DNF) last season and 27th in 2011. He’s hit a rough patch of late, a stretch defined by bad luck. His engine gave out at Dover, leading to a 43rd-place finish, and at Michigan, an early accident caused him to limp home in 42nd.

 

 

BRETT MOFFITT TO DRIVE MWR’S NO. 66 TOYOTA AT MICHIGAN SECOND CAREER START; JEFF BURTON TO DRIVE AT NHMS IN JULY

Brett Moffitt

CORNELIUS, N.C. – June 05, 2014 – Michael Waltrip Racing announced today Brett Moffitt will drive the No. 66 Let’s Go Places Toyota at Michigan International Speedway on June 15, marking his second career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start.

Moffitt, a 21-year-old Iowa native, made his NASCAR Sprint Cup debut in Dover last week in the No. 66 with Jay Robinson Racing, starting 18th and posting a 22nd-place finish. Jeff Burton, who was originally slated to run the Michigan race, now will be entered in the July 13 Sprint Cup Series event at New Hampshire Motor Speedway where he has won four times.

“Our No. 66 team was originally scheduled to run some new components at Michigan with Jeff, but those plans were delayed last week, causing us to debate running Michigan at all,” said MWR co-owner Michael Waltrip. “However, after the great effort we saw with Brett in his debut at Dover, we decided to move forward with Michigan, allowing Brett more seat time and to work towards his NASCAR eligibility to race on bigger tracks.

“Brett did an amazing job in Dover, not only to gain experience, but more importantly respect from the other competitors. The best part is we are now taking Jeff Burton to New Hampshire where he has a lot of success and can really impact the performance of all MWR cars.”

Moffitt is a nine-time winner in K&N Pro Series East competition and has served as a test driver for MWR for the past two seasons.

“It seems like this is all happening very fast, but I feel like we have been working towards this kind of opportunity for a long time,” said Moffitt. “At Dover, we set some goals and I feel like we accomplished all of them and exceeded most of them. Heading to Michigan our goals will be much of the same. I want to get comfortable and I want the greatest drivers in the world to be comfortable around me.”

Burton said he looks forward to racing at New Hampshire. His four victories are the most of any driver in the 38 Sprint Cup races held at the mile oval in Loudon.

“When the testing plans for Michigan changed and the ability to run New Hampshire became available I jumped at the opportunity. This gives Brett a chance to get some well deserve race time and the ability for me to race at one of my favorite race tracks. This is a win for all of us at MWR.”

A partnership between MWR and Jay Robinson Racing allows the No. 66 to compete in all NASCAR Sprint Cup races. Michael Waltrip raced the Toyota at Daytona and Talladega while Burton raced in Las Vegas.

 

 

 

BRIAN VICKERS AARON’S DREAM MACHINE LAS VEGAS PREVIEW

No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota driver Brian Vickers

CORNELIUS, N.C. – March 03,2014 – No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota driver Brian Vickers and his Michael Waltrip Racing team visit Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday for the 400-mile NASCAR Sprint Cup race.

The No. 55 raced well in the first two races of the 2014 season, but with little result. A multi-car accident at Daytona and a melted tire bead at Phoenix damaged the car leaving Vickers with 30th and 25th place finishes.

Jeff Burton joins Vickers and teammate Clint Bowyer this weekend driving MWR’s No. 66 Let’s Go Places Toyota. Burton and Michael Waltrip will run in limited races in 2014 but lead an extensive testing effort.

ON LAS VEGAS: “It’s been a few years since I have raced at Vegas in a Sprint Cup car. I think because of the progressive banking it should be a little easier to pass than it was at Phoenix. But how much is debatable. I think you will see a good race.”

ON WHETHER IT IS GETTING HARDER TO PASS DURING RACES: “I don’t buy into the whole racing has gone bad because of aero. Aero has always been there. I don’t know what people are talking about. I have been watching races for 20 years and I don’t ever remember the competition ever being this good. Aero has always been there it’s not like it just got invented five or 10 years ago. I think the reason you are seeing less shuffle on long green flag run is the tires don’t fall off as much. The reality is that the competition is closer than it has ever been. During practice the top 30 guys running by themselves can run with a tenth of each other. How am I going to pass someone when we are running the same lap times? I think as a sport we chase parity so much that we have accomplished it. The cars are so even and the box is so small that you could take the bodies off and the reality is that I am going to still have a hard time passing someone when I am only hundredth of thousands second faster.”

ON JEFF BURTON: “It’s fantastic having Jeff (Burton) involved and what he can bring to this team. His level of experience obviously, what he’s been able to accomplish in his career, the insight from all the teams that he’s worked with over the years. I think just having him on board, especially for me this past off-season, just being able to have two drivers in cars testing when I wasn’t able to be in a car has been huge. We couldn’t ask for a better guy to be in that role, in my opinion.”

 

THE CHAMPIONSHIP IN NASCAR NATIONWIDE SERIES MIGHT BE DETERMINE BY EXPERIENCE

Regan Smith

August 22, 2013 – assume that the NASCAR Nationwide Series points battle has narrowed to only five contenders: Sam Hornish Jr., Elliott Sadler, Regan Smith, Austin Dillon and Brian Vickers. With only 18 points separating them, all five drivers have a very realistic shot at capturing the title.

The determining factor in this year’s championship battle could come down to one thing – championship-hunt experience.

As the series heads to Bristol for Friday night’s Food City 250, four of the five drivers in the top five have some type of championship battle experience.

The odd man out is Smith, currently tied for third (-15), who returned to the series fulltime after six years of giving it a go in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. In seven years in the top series, seven previous years in the NNS (of which only one was fulltime before this season) and five years in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, he had never been in the title conversation. His best points finish in one of NASCAR’s three national series was 20th in 2006.

Austin Dillon

Although Hornish, the current points leader, has never really been embroiled in a battle for the points lead during his tenure in NASCAR (he finished fourth in 2012, but never made it higher than third in points during the season), he won the IZOD IndyCar Series title three times – 2001, 2002 and 2006.

Sadler gained a lot of experience dueling for the title the last two seasons. Unfortunately, his efforts fell short both years, finishing runner-up to Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in the final standings.

Austin Dillon was in the thick of the NNS championship hunt last season up until the very end, ultimately finishing third. The year before, he held off a hard-charging Johnny Sauter to capture the 2011 NCWTS title.

Vickers, who will be pulling double-duty for most of the remaining weekends, won the NNS championship in 2003. This could be his last chance at another NNS crown since he’ll be returning to the NSCS fulltime in 2014.

The points battle is so close that one poor performance could shake things up among those in contention, as evident by Dillon dropping from first to fourth at Mid-Ohio. With two shorts tracks (Bristol and Richmond) remaining on the schedule, no lead is safe. Schedule for the NNS race: 7:30 p.m. ET, NASCAR Nationwide Series Food City 250, ESPN on air at 7.

Source: NASCAR

 

MARTIN TRUEX JR. No. 56 NAPA AUTO PARTS TOYOTA BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY PREVIEW

CORNELIUS, N.C. – August 21, 2013 – No. 56 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota driver Martin Truex Jr. plans to continue Michael Waltrip Racing’s success at Bristol Motor Speedway when the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races on Saturday night. MWR’s three drivers own the best average finish in the last three races.

The MWR surge began in March 2012 when Truex, Clint Bowyer and Brian Vickers finished third, fourth and fifth — a first for the organization co-owned by Michael Waltrip and Rob Kauffman.

There’s a lot on the line Saturday night. Truex is 12th in the standings with three races remaining before the start of the 10-race Chase for the Sprint Cup. Truex holds the second and final provisional wild card (653 points, one win) as he seeks his second consecutive Chase berth. Kasey Kahne has the first transfer spot with 659 points and two victories. Only 14 points separate positions eight through 12 and 10 points separate Truex from 10th place in the standings.

TRUEX ON BRISTOL: “It’s just insane — it’s out of control. Bristol is like having a boxing match in an elevator. Everything is so right there and so packed together. The fans are on top of the action. When you’re driving the car, you’re always in the middle of something.  You’re always busy and you don’t get any time to rest. It’s just an exciting place and it keeps you amped up and keeps you on the edge of your seat all night long.”

WINNING AT BRISTOL: “The NAPA team has been close to winning there. We’ve been second there a few times and third — we’ve been really good there. It would be a fun one to win. I won there in Nationwide and it sure would be great to win. We want to win everywhere, but there are certain tracks that are really cool to win at and Bristol is definitely one of them with that night race and getting to drive on top of the building with the fireworks shooting off. Yeah, that is one I want to get especially considering how close the points are with three races to go. A second win would certainly help us if we need a wild card to make it into the Chase.”

RACING WITH VICKERS: “He’s been a great part-time teammate. He fits in so well with our group that Monday’s announcement to put Vickers in the seat for 12 of the 13 races left makes the most sense. It gives us all a head start and allows for a seamless transition into 2014. I think with the few races he’s run with us this year — obviously it includes a win, he’s done an incredible job. Now, he’s going to be able to help us even more as we try to lock up two of our three cars into the Chase with just three races to go.”

 

MICHAEL WALTRIP WILL RACE WITH THE No. 20 NAPA AUTO PARTS TOYOTA CAMRY AT SPOKANE COUNTY RACEWAY THIS SATURDAY

CORNELIUS, N.C. August 21,2013 – Two-time Daytona 500 champion Michael Waltrip flies to Spokane County (Wash.) Raceway this week to compete in Saturday night’s K&N Pro Series West race on the half-mile oval.

The founder and co-owner of Michael Waltrip Racing will drive the No. 20 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota for Bill McAnally Racing in the 10th race on the 15-race schedule. Waltrip finished fourth at Talladega and fifth at Daytona in Sprint Cup competition in 2013.

Saturday night’s race marks the 50-year-old Waltrip’s first K&N start in 2013. In addition to Spokane, Waltrip is slated to race Oct. 12 at All American Speedway in Roseville, Calif. He owns one win (Pikes Peak—1997), three top-five and 5 top-10 finishes in six series starts. Waltrip finished sixth at Colorado in his only series start last year.

WALTRIP ON RACING AT SPOKANE: “I can’t wait to fly out to Washington State to see all the fans out there. I watched the 2011 race from Spokane and the track and fans sure made it look like a great place to race. I have a blast whenever I get to race and that’s a part of the country we don’t get to visit too often. I enjoy racing in the NASCAR K&N Series. It’s a place where you get to see the upcoming stars of NASCAR. That’s where drivers like Kevin Harvick, Trevor Bayne, Martin Truex Jr. and Clint Bowyer learned their lessons. This series is fun to race and you’re helping develop the future of NASCAR.”

 NOTES:

 · PEAK Challenge’ Winner To Compete: The winner of the PEAK Stock Car Dream Challenge, Patrick Staropoli, is slated to race in the K&N West event at Spokane. In the Challenge, which premiered on FOX Sports 1 earlier this month, nine stock car racing hopefuls competed for the chance of a lifetime. Clint Bowyer, Mark Martin, Danica Patrick, Martin Truex Jr. and others coached the drivers in front of a panel of judges. Staropoli – a Florida driver who in his racing career, progressed from karting to late model stock cars – will be competing for Bill McAnally Racing at Spokane.

 · The Race: The starting field is 24 cars, including provisional. The first 20 cars will qualify through two-lap time trials. The remaining four spots will be awarded through the provisional process. The race will be 150 laps and begin at 9:50 p.m. Practice is 2:30—3:15 p.m. and 4:15-5 p.m. on Saturday followed by qualifying at 7:30 p.m. All times Eastern. The race is not broadcast.

 · NASCAR Stats: Waltrip has 1,061 starts in NASCAR’s three top series. He owns 16 wins, 103 top-five and 241 top-10 finishes. He won the Daytona 500 in 2001 and 2003.

 

BRIAN VICKERS TO DRIVE NO. 55 AARON’S DREAM MACHINE IN 12 OF FINAL 13 RACES; MWR GRANTS MARK MARTIN RELEASE, PLANS TO DRIVE NO. 14

CORNELIUS, N.C. – August 20, 2013 – Michael Waltrip Racing announced Monday that Brian Vickers will drive the team’s No. 55 Toyota in 12 of the 13 races remaining in the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup season.

The announcement follows the mutual decision by MWR and Aaron’s Inc. to grant Mark Martin an early release, enabling him to replace the injured Tony Stewart.

Vickers was originally scheduled to drive three of the remaining races in 2013. The announcement increases that schedule to 12. Michael Waltrip, MWR founder and co-owner, will race the No. 55 at Talladega on Oct. 20 as originally scheduled.

The move gives the 29-year-old Vickers an early start to his full-time role in the No. 55. Last week Aaron’s and MWR announced Vickers will drive the Aaron’s Dream Machine full-time beginning in 2014.

Waltrip said Martin achieved all of the goals both he and the team set when he began a 24-race schedule in the No. 55 in 2012.

“With Mark Martin, we accomplished everything we hoped to when he came to this organization, which was bringing that winning confidence to the team, the experience to help elevate our program and ultimately find the full-time driver for the future who can race for a NASCAR Sprint Cup championship,” said Waltrip, a two-time Daytona 500 champion.

“Mark’s leadership the past two years has been so impactful that he has left a mark on this company that will be here as long as we race. This opportunity to help two Hall of Famers in Mark and Tony Stewart at the same time, while getting the opportunity to run the rest of the year with Brian makes sense for MWR. But nothing could happen without the support of Aaron’s, Toyota and the other MWR sponsors. Each of them saw the same benefits in such a move and helped make it happen. This is a truly win, win, win situation.”

In 2012 and 2013 with MWR, Martin earned five top-five finishes and five pole awards in 39 races. His work with teammates Clint Bowyer and Martin Truex Jr. also played a role in MWR putting both drivers in NASCAR’s 2012 Chase for the Sprint Cup as well as making both favorites to earn 2013 berths.

“I’m proud of the work we’ve done the last two seasons and I’m extremely thankful for the effort everyone on my team and at MWR put behind me,” said the 54-year-old Martin whose 870 Sprint Cup starts is the fifth most in NASCAR history. “I also want to thank Michael Waltrip and (co-owner) Rob Kauffman for giving me this opportunity. They are building a strong organization at MWR and one that’s going to be a force in NASCAR for years to come both on and off the track.”

Aaron’s thanked Martin for his work behind the wheel and with its customers and employees in the last two seasons. Aaron’s featured Waltrip and Martin in several national television commercials.

“Aaron’s is supportive of the arrangement with Mark Martin agreeing to drive for Stewart-Haas Racing,” said Ronald W. Allen, Aaron’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. “We’re energized about Vickers’ availability to drive the No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine for the remainder of the season. MWR talked about how this move would better position our team for 2014 while helping Stewart-Haas Racing so we believe this is the best of all possible outcomes for everyone. We appreciate everything Mark Martin has done for Aaron’s over the last two years and wish him the best of luck in the future.”

Vickers joined MWR in 2012 with plans to run a five-race schedule. That schedule increased as the performance improved and the Thomasville, N.C. native grew more comfortable with the organization. He won the July race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and posted four top-five finishes in 14 races with MWR.

“No one wants to see Tony out of the 14, but I am appreciative of the opportunity to get more seat time in the 55 as a result,” said Vickers who is also seeking a second Nationwide championship in 2013.

“I didn’t think things could get any better than last week’s announcement with Aaron’s, but having a chance to run the rest of the 2013 season creates a tremendous opportunity for our team and we’re excited that all of this came together the way it did. Mark gets to help out Tony and we get to start our program early in the No. 55. We’ve proven we can win races in a part time capacity so far in 2013 and I’m confident that spending more time working with the 55 crew will only to help improve our already strong performance to date, giving us the momentum needed to start the 2014 season off strong in Daytona.”

Vickers will race the No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Saturday night in Bristol.

 

MARK MARTIN OWNS FIVE VICTORIES IN 55 STARTS AT MICHIGAN

He’s posted 18 top-five and 31 top-10 finishes while leading 965 laps.

CORNELIUS, N.C. -August 13, 2013 – No race track on the NASCAR Sprint Cup circuit has been kinder to No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine driver Mark Martin than Michigan International Speedway where he’ll race Sunday for Michael Waltrip Racing.

The 54-year-old Batesville, Ark. native has made 55 of his 869 starts on the two-mile, D-shaped oval in Brooklyn, Mich. He’s visited victory lane five times—the most for Martin at any track on the Sprint Cup circuit. He’s also earned two Nationwide Series victories and has led 965 laps.

He’s frequently asked why Michigan is one of the tracks he always wants to add to his racing schedule.

“I love Michigan. It’s like a big short track. The track lends itself to the guys who focus on the handling of their race cars. That’s always been my specialty. We’ve run well there over the years and last year we had a really good car.”

Martin led 54 laps in the June 2012 race before a wreck ruined his chances for victory. In June 2013 he climbed as high as third before an untimely caution followed by mechanical problems left him with a 26th-place finish.

“The cars are different this year. We ran well in June, but a caution got us. We got back up to 11th but our day ended early. It just needed to hold together 16 more laps. We weren’t the fastest that day but we were faster than a lot of other cars.”

Martin said this weekend’s goal is the same as it has always been.

“We want to run well and win the race. That’s why everyone is here. (Crew Chief) Rodney (Childers) and the No. 55 guys have given me good cars all year. They’ve worked hard of late to get better and I think you’ll see that work show this weekend.”

Martin finished third in the Daytona 500 in February. He owns four top-10s in 15 races in 2013 sharing the driving duties in the No. 55 with Brian Vickers and Michael Waltrip. He’s led 75 laps this season.