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Motorsports

Soaking it all up

Michael Waltrip wins rain-shortened event and becomes eighth driver to win multiple 500s.

By JOANNE KORTH, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published February 17, 2003

DAYTONA BEACH -- Michael Waltrip huddled under an umbrella on pit road, an arm around his wife, and watched as thick drops of rain splattered Daytona International Speedway.

He waited.

He prayed.

An hour later, he celebrated.

Waltrip won the Daytona 500 for the second time Sunday, his No. 15 Chevrolet under a tarp, its engine strangely silent, when NASCAR officials called the race after 109 of 200 laps.

Robbed of a victory lap, or even a checkered flag, Waltrip galloped onto the tri-oval grass, planted his feet on the Daytona logo, raised his arms and howled at the smattering of poncho-clad fans who lingered in the grandstand.

"I was in disbelief," said Waltrip, who has three career wins, all at Daytona. "Everybody said, 'Does it feel different than last time?' I said, 'No, I couldn't believe it last time in Victory Lane, and I couldn't believe it this time."'

Waltrip's celebration in 2001 was ruined by the tragic news that friend and car owner Dale Earnhardt was killed in a last-lap crash. After becoming the eighth man to win multiple Daytona 500s, Waltrip paid tribute to the Intimidator.

"I'm so thankful for Dale Earnhardt," said Waltrip, in his third season driving for Dale Earnhardt Inc. "I knew his heart. He was about this place. When it's your time to die, you need to go somewhere where you're at ease and at peace and at home. And for Dale, that was Daytona."

NASCAR's premier race, which never has been rained out, was shortened for the third time in its 45-year history. Fred Lorenzen won after 133 laps in 1965 and Richard Petty after 198 in 1966. Delayed more than an hour by a brief but heavy shower, Sunday's rain-plagued version was the shortest at 272.5 miles.

Kurt Busch was second and Jimmie Johnson third.

Dale Earnhardt Jr., who dominated Speedweeks with victories in the Bud Shootout, a 125-mile qualifier and the Busch Grand National race, was leading at the time of the first rain delay. When he tried to refire the No. 8 Chevrolet, the battery was drained, the result of a failed alternator.

Junior got a push from the wrecker to ignite the engine, but within 10 laps the car was losing power. He pitted on Lap 89 to change the battery, putting him two laps down.

Still, Earnhardt played a factor in the outcome.

With rain approaching, a gas-only pit stop under caution put Johnson in the lead for a Lap 100 restart. But with DEI teammates Earnhardt below him and Waltrip behind, Johnson was a sitting duck. Earnhardt got a strong start in the inside lane and Waltrip pulled in behind to power both past Johnson.

It was the decisive move.

"When we got the one-to-go signal, I looked in the mirror and I saw the 15 and 8, hands out the window, hand signals, pointing, thumbs up," Johnson said. "I knew I was in trouble."

Five laps later, the rain returned.

During the second delay, Waltrip chatted with his wife, Buffy, atop the team's pit box about the day's strange circumstances and whether the rain would last. They hoped it would. Waltrip, who led a race-high 68 laps, did not feel the least bit guilty, nor cheated.

"Oh yeah, it's just ruining me," said Waltrip, who won $1.4-million of the record $14-million purse. "I wanted it to rain. I think anybody else probably would have been the same way if they were leading. ... You know what I heard? They're still going to pay me the whole amount. Isn't that crazy?"

Waltrip has won three of the past five races at Daytona, but no matter how many times he wins the 500, nothing will erase what happened in 2001. He accepts his fate as the man who won the race in which Earnhardt, a seven-time Winston Cup champion, died.

"That chapter will never be closed," Waltrip said. "That's just part of my life. It's a part of who I am. That will never be considered a great race because of what happened. But, you know, I'm okay with that. I'm at peace with what occurred that day."

Waltrip could hardly fathom joining Richard Petty, Cale Yarborough, Bobby Allison, Dale Jarrett, Bill Elliott, Jeff Gordon and Sterling Marlin as the only multiple winners.

"This is the Daytona 500," Waltrip said. "I'm not smart enough to explain the significance of this event. I'm just honored to be the champion of it again."

Three hours later, his racing suit drenched and his shoes soggy from rain and champagne, Waltrip left the press box after completing the last of his postrace duties and headed for what he promised would be a wild party.

It was still raining.

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