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Waltrip's reputation is different this time

Perennial midpack runner? No. Call him defending champ.

By JOANNE KORTH, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published February 16, 2002

DAYTONA BEACH -- Not much has changed for Michael Waltrip since he won stock car racing's biggest event.

People still whisper.

But rather than nudge the person next to them to whisper that Waltrip has gone 400-something points races without a victory, people now lower their voices and point to the 2001 Daytona 500 winner.

Look, there he goes.

"Yeah, it's cool," Waltrip said.

"Winning the Daytona 500 hasn't changed my life that much, but it has changed people's perception of me. And it's helped me feel good about my career."

Waltrip's most satisfying moment was tempered by the death of his boss and friend, Dale Earnhardt, in a last-lap crash seconds before Waltrip crossed the finish line. But he is thrilled to be back.

He wants to win. Again.

"I've been judged by the media and people my whole life; I've become calloused to it, it doesn't affect me," said Waltrip, driver of the No. 15 Chevrolet. "I'm comfortable with where I'm at and what I can do. I just want to do more of it."

Long one of NASCAR's most colorful personalities, Waltrip also was one of its most frustrating drivers to root for: It never paid. Waltrip, 38, drove 15 full Winston Cup seasons for five teams without cracking the top 10 in standings, let alone winning a race.

Insiders were stunned when Earnhardt hired fishing pal Waltrip as a teammate at Dale Earnhardt Inc. to rising stars Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Steve Park. Waltrip's victory in the Daytona 500, his first race with DEI, affirmed Earnhardt's belief in Waltrip.

Finally, the younger brother of three-time Winston Cup champion Darrell Waltrip had proven he belonged.

By August, Waltrip was ready to quit.

Six months into the season, he was back to his old ways: running at the rear of the pack and destined for another mediocre points finish. Waltrip had gone 462 races before his first win; it seemed like he would go another 462 before his second.

"I was lost, basically," Waltrip said. "I didn't like where I was, didn't like how I felt, and I didn't like my attitude heading to the race track every week.

"I had always just asked for a chance, and I was sitting there with a wonderful chance. Dale Jr. is hauling the mail and Steve's running good and I'm struggling."

With 11 races left, Waltrip got a new crew chief: Richard "Slugger" Labbe. Their chemistry was good and Waltrip's attitude and results gradually improved.

He was a contender to win in November at Homestead, finishing second to Bill Elliott. It was the third top-10 of the season for Waltrip, who also was runner-up to Earnhardt Jr. in a triumphant DEI return to Daytona in July. After a relaxing offseason -- "I told my PR person I wasn't a racecar driver anymore" -- Waltrip is reenergized.

"My brother should be able to win a lot of races," said Darrell, whose first race as a Fox broadcast analyst was an emotional call of his brother's win.

"He'd have won a lot of races last year if it hadn't been for what happened here (to Earnhardt) in February. It broke that kid's heart. And he had to deal with that all year, and it's been hard for him. I think you'll see a lot of good things out of him this year. He's got the walk, he's got the attitude and he's got the genes, too."

Waltrip has no sadness returning to Daytona for the one-year anniversary of Earnhardt's death. Like Earnhardt Jr., he dealt with those emotions in July.

"I'm glad to be back at Daytona," Waltrip said. "It's just where I want to be. I don't like answering a lot of questions about it and I'm not going to. But I'm very balanced and emotionally centered on what I'm here for. That's a good feeling."

Waltrip proved he is a top contender for Sunday's race by winning his 125-mile qualifying race Thursday. He will start fourth in the 500, surrounded by 2002 championship contenders Jeff Gordon, Earnhardt Jr. and Tony Stewart.

No one is more confident than Waltrip.

"I'm walking into Daytona with the same attitude I imagine Jeff Gordon has," Waltrip said. "I haven't checked with him to see where he's at, but I know where I'm at.

"When I went into Daytona last year, it was the best chance I had to win the Daytona 500. Now, this is the best chance I've ever had to win it. It feels good to walk around here as the Daytona 500 champion, but it feels better to know I have a real good chance to do it again."

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