DAYTONA BEACH - Michael Waltrip is quietly having the best season of his career and returning to Daytona International Speedway isn't likely to slow him down.
When last seen at the track in February, Waltrip was celebrating a victory in the rain-shortened Daytona 500. Since that win, he hasn't visited Victory Lane but is a solid fifth in the points standings.
He has produced four top-five finishes and six top 10s while completing each of the 16 races.
Going into Saturday night's Pepsi 400, the defending winner can move even higher and, at the same time, make history.
"I don't feel invincible at all, but I do feel like before it's all said and done that I'll be part of the story," said Waltrip, who drives for Dale Earnhardt Inc.
Only long-retired Cale Yarborough has won three straight Winston Cup races on Daytona's 2.5-mile oval.
Waltrip, who also won the 2001 Daytona 500, isn't getting caught up in the hype about the record. He simply wants another win.
"You don't worry about stuff like (the record) until it's done," Waltrip said. "That's not what motivates you. What motivates you is to try to beat everyone else.
"I never really thought about being a two-time Daytona 500 champion. I was just there to win the Daytona 500."
KANSAS INDY 300: Scott Dixon has some more bad news for his fellow IRL drivers. He was extremely pleased with his test two weeks ago at Kansas Speedway.
Dixon comes into Sunday's race off a victory, his second in a row and third in seven races, Saturday at Richmond International Raceway.
Though a rookie, the 22-year-old is no novice. In 2001 at Nazareth (Pa.) Speedway, Dixon made history, becoming the youngest CART driver to win a major open-wheel race.
DRIVE THRU: McDonald's has added CART to its menu and will sponsor the Newman/Haas car of rookie driver Sebastien Bourdais for three races this season, giving the troubled series an image boost and much-needed financial support.
"I think it's very important," CART president Chris Pook said. "For us, it's a ringing endorsement for CART."
The series has been in a downward spiral since the rival IRL was born in 1996. McDonald's is returning after leaving the series two years ago.
