CUP: Michael Waltrip To Retire After 2017 Daytona 500

Two-time Daytona 500 champion, Michael Waltrip will retire after the 2017 Daytona 500. (Jerry Markland/Getty Images North America)

CHARLOTTE, N.C.– After 29 starts and two victories in the Daytona 500, Michael Waltrip will hang up his helmet following the 59th running of the “Great American Race” at the Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 26.

Announcing on his Twitter late Thursday afternoon, the 4 time Cup series race winner reflected on a career that spanned 32 years in the highest level of NASCAR, ahead of his 30th and final start at Daytona.

“The Daytona 500 in a lot of ways defines a racer’s career and I am proud to have been able to win our sport’s most prestigious race twice.”

Waltrip’s first win in the Daytona 500 came on the sports darkest day. Waltrip was hand picked by Dale Earnhardt to drive the No.15 NAPA Chevrolet in the 2001 Cup season for Dale Earnhardt Inc. Waltrip went on to win the race and broke a 462 race winless drought. But here was no celebration, as his boss and close friend, Earnhardt died while blocking for position on the final lap.

His second victory in the Great American Race came in 2003. Rain halted the event and for the first time in the race’s history, ended the race early, declaring Waltrip, the leader at the time, the victor. This time there was celebration as Waltrip and his DEI crew ran out into the soaked Daytona infield and embraced one another and happiness poured from those men more than the rain coming from the sky.

“I have experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows at the Great American Race. But when you are a NASCAR driver who has the privilege of racing here, you love Daytona no matter what happens.”

Waltrip along with his Hall of Fame brother Darrell, are the only siblings to ever win the Daytona 500. With Michael besting his older brother with two wins in the event, to Darrell’s one.

Waltrip credits the company, Aaron’s for their longtime support in his racing endeavors.

“I started working with Aaron’s almost 20 years ago with some commercials and six Xfinity Series races when I had a team behind my house.” Waltip reflected. “We have been together ever since and it makes my heart smile thinking about all the great things we did together.”

Waltrip scaled back his racing efforts and raced in selected events in recent years as he focused on being a team owner and opened a Cup series team, Michael Waltrip Racing in 2007 and found success with drivers like Martin Truex Jr., David Reutimann and Clint Bowyer. The maiden Cup win for MWR came with Reutimann in 2009 in a rain shortened Coca-Cola 600. Their best finish as a team was third place in the final drivers standings with Bowyer in 2012. In 2015, MWR ceased operations and closed by after the end of the season.

Aside from owning a team, Michael is an analyst for FOX where he shares shares a commentary role in the booth for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series events and joins Chris Myers in the “Hollywood Hotel” during FOX’s coverage of their Cup races.

Waltrip a man who has embraced this sport with open arms and emotions will not go far from the sport as he is still going to be on television for FOX, covering the Truck races and Cup events throughout the season.

Waltrip concludes his post saying, he will soak up every moment of the weekend and to appreciate one last chance to attempt to become a three-time champion of the Daytona 500.

“In my 30th and final Daytona 500, I am just going to enjoy every moment and be happy that Aaron’s has given me one more opportunity to hoist the Harley J. Earl trophy.”

About the Writer

Rence Brown is Race Chaser Online’s West Coast-based correspondent, who currently resides in California and carries a deep passion for NASCAR, but is a follower of multiple forms of auto racing across multiple disciplines.