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Sprint Cup
CUP: Michael Waltrip Book Forthcoming
Michael Waltrip offering provides unique perspective on loss of an icon...
Michael Waltrip will release his book “In the Blink of an Eye: Dale, Daytona and the Day that Changed Everything" in February of 2011. (Photo: LAT Photographic)
Article by Erik Spanberg, scenedaily.com
Over the course of his first 462 NASCAR races, Michael Waltrip never made it to victory lane.
Then, in the 2001 Daytona 500, he snapped his epic winless drought in dramatic fashion. That day, Waltrip won the sport’s biggest race – and did it in his first appearance as a member of the late Dale Earnhardt’s team.
Soon after, his euphoria morphed into crushing grief. Waltrip’s new boss, the seven-time champion and icon known as The Intimidator, wrecked on the final lap and was killed as Waltrip took the checkered flag. Everyone in the sport was devastated.
The aftermath and ripple effects of Feb. 18, 2001 play a major role in Waltrip’s forthcoming book, “In the Blink of an Eye: Dale, Daytona and the Day that Changed Everything.”
It will be published in February, coinciding with the 10th anniversary of Earnhardt’s death, a loss many believe NASCAR has yet to overcome.
Brian Williams, the host of NBC Nightly News and a friend of the late Earnhardt, is among those who have read advance copies of Waltrip’s book. Reflecting on what happened in Daytona in 2001, Williams says it was “the best and worst of NASCAR in a single day. And a victory that was almost erased by sadness.”
Waltrip’s book is sure to receive plenty of attention as the 2011 Daytona 500 approaches. Expect plenty of media coverage recalling what happened that day, and the lingering impact Earnhardt’s death at age 49 has all these years later.
The first sign of the expected wave of retrospectives can be seen on newsstands now, as Sports Illustrated recently published an Earnhardt tribute, “Earnhardt: His Life and Legacy.” It includes past articles and photos of Earnhardt from the pages of SI. Triumph Books “Dale Earnhardt: The Defining Moments of a NASCAR Legend,” featuring race coverage of the Intimidator’s most memorable moments, is scheduled to hit bookstores Jan. 30, 2011 as well.
Still, Waltrip’s book is sure to receive a lot of attention. He offers one of the most unique perspectives on Earnhardt as someone who was both a friend and employee – and who claimed his biggest moment just as NASCAR lost its biggest star.
Today, Waltrip owns a NASCAR race team of his own, with a former Dale Earnhardt Incorporated executive, Ty Norris, serving as the company’s general manager.
If Earnhardt had survived the crash at Daytona, Waltrip believes he would have finished his driving career at DEI. And, he says, Dale Earnhardt Jr. would probably have a championship to his name, while DEI would be ranked alongside Hendrick Motorsports as one of the sport’s powers.
“There are some things that would have been much different,” Waltrip says. “[Dale] had such a passion for DEI. He loved running that place and he loved being the man who made all the decisions. Ty had the same passion for DEI that Dale did. It was just a matter of time until [Dale Jr.] won championships.”
Waltrip still refers to the day Earnhardt called and asked whether he would be interested in driving a NAPA-backed car at DEI as the biggest day of his career. At the time, Waltrip was winless and many questioned whether he could compete at the Cup level.
Earnhardt’s interest, and subsequent offer, gave Waltrip confidence, as well as top-flight cars and engines. When he was in victory lane at Daytona, Waltrip couldn’t wait to hug his team owner and crow over their improbable victory.
Instead, he waited and waited for Earnhardt to arrive without getting an explanation of what was delaying him.
As the minutes dragged on, Waltrip recalls feeling disconnected from victory lane. Then, after Earnhardt’s death became known, all Waltrip wanted to do was get away from the race track. That pain lingers.
“It’s been a tough 10 years,” Waltrip says. “A lot of things changed for the racing world that day and a lot of things changed for me, too.”
SceneDaily.com • Geoff Smith stepping down as president of Roush Fenway Racing
Over the course of his first 462 NASCAR races, Michael Waltrip never made it to victory lane.
Then, in the 2001 Daytona 500, he snapped his epic winless drought in dramatic fashion. That day, Waltrip won the sport’s biggest race – and did it in his first appearance as a member of the late Dale Earnhardt’s team.
Soon after, his euphoria morphed into crushing grief. Waltrip’s new boss, the seven-time champion and icon known as The Intimidator, wrecked on the final lap and was killed as Waltrip took the checkered flag. Everyone in the sport was devastated.
The aftermath and ripple effects of Feb. 18, 2001 play a major role in Waltrip’s forthcoming book, “In the Blink of an Eye: Dale, Daytona and the Day that Changed Everything.”
It will be published in February, coinciding with the 10th anniversary of Earnhardt’s death, a loss many believe NASCAR has yet to overcome.
Brian Williams, the host of NBC Nightly News and a friend of the late Earnhardt, is among those who have read advance copies of Waltrip’s book. Reflecting on what happened in Daytona in 2001, Williams says it was “the best and worst of NASCAR in a single day. And a victory that was almost erased by sadness.”
Waltrip’s book is sure to receive plenty of attention as the 2011 Daytona 500 approaches. Expect plenty of media coverage recalling what happened that day, and the lingering impact Earnhardt’s death at age 49 has all these years later.
The first sign of the expected wave of retrospectives can be seen on newsstands now, as Sports Illustrated recently published an Earnhardt tribute, “Earnhardt: His Life and Legacy.” It includes past articles and photos of Earnhardt from the pages of SI. Triumph Books “Dale Earnhardt: The Defining Moments of a NASCAR Legend,” featuring race coverage of the Intimidator’s most memorable moments, is scheduled to hit bookstores Jan. 30, 2011 as well.
Still, Waltrip’s book is sure to receive a lot of attention. He offers one of the most unique perspectives on Earnhardt as someone who was both a friend and employee – and who claimed his biggest moment just as NASCAR lost its biggest star.
Today, Waltrip owns a NASCAR race team of his own, with a former Dale Earnhardt Incorporated executive, Ty Norris, serving as the company’s general manager.
If Earnhardt had survived the crash at Daytona, Waltrip believes he would have finished his driving career at DEI. And, he says, Dale Earnhardt Jr. would probably have a championship to his name, while DEI would be ranked alongside Hendrick Motorsports as one of the sport’s powers.
“There are some things that would have been much different,” Waltrip says. “[Dale] had such a passion for DEI. He loved running that place and he loved being the man who made all the decisions. Ty had the same passion for DEI that Dale did. It was just a matter of time until [Dale Jr.] won championships.”
Waltrip still refers to the day Earnhardt called and asked whether he would be interested in driving a NAPA-backed car at DEI as the biggest day of his career. At the time, Waltrip was winless and many questioned whether he could compete at the Cup level.
Earnhardt’s interest, and subsequent offer, gave Waltrip confidence, as well as top-flight cars and engines. When he was in victory lane at Daytona, Waltrip couldn’t wait to hug his team owner and crow over their improbable victory.
Instead, he waited and waited for Earnhardt to arrive without getting an explanation of what was delaying him.
As the minutes dragged on, Waltrip recalls feeling disconnected from victory lane. Then, after Earnhardt’s death became known, all Waltrip wanted to do was get away from the race track. That pain lingers.
“It’s been a tough 10 years,” Waltrip says. “A lot of things changed for the racing world that day and a lot of things changed for me, too.”
SceneDaily.com • Geoff Smith stepping down as president of Roush Fenway Racing
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