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    From The Marbles

    Michael Waltrip to attempt Daytona 500 for Hillman Racing

    By Nick Bromberg | From The Marbles – Mon, Feb 13, 2012 9:08 PM EST

    Michael Waltrip will attempt to win his third Daytona 500 for Hillman Racing (Getty)

    Michael Waltrip has a ride for the Daytona 500.

    Waltrip will drive the No. 40 for Hillman Racing, a single-car team attempting the 500 for the first time. Sponsorship will come from Aaron's, a longtime sponsor of Waltrip.

    Aaron's is also sponsoring the No. 55 that Waltrip and Mark Martin (and a third driver) will share in 2012. While Waltrip, a two-time winner of the Daytona 500, is running the No. 55 in the Bud Shootout on Saturday, Martin will be in the No. 55 for the 500.

    The start will be Waltrip's 75th at Daytona in NASCAR's top three series, the most events of any driver at Daytona in NASCAR. Waltrip won last year's season-opening race at Daytona in the Camping World Truck Series.

    "Aaron's really does make your dreams come true," Waltrip said in a release. "When I was a kid thinking about racing in Daytona I never dreamed I would start more NASCAR races there than anyone. That's amazing."

    Hillman Racing is running full-time in the Camping World Truck Series and is run by Mike Hillman, Sr., who was formerly involved with Germain Racing. Hillman purchased the assets of the truck team a the end of the season. (Germain Racing is still in the Cup Series with Casey Mears.)

    If he wasn't to drive for his own team, Waltrip needed to drive for a single-car team in the 500 because of NASCAR's four-car limit. Since Waltrip owns MWR, a three-car team, driving for a two- or three-car team would have put him over the allowable limit. (For example, had Waltrip driven a second car for JTG Daugherty, a team that has a technical relationship with MWR, the two JTG and three MWR cars wouldn't have been allowed.)

    Waltrip will need to qualify on time for the 500, but Martin will not. The points from the No. 32 of FAS Lane Racing have been "transferred" to Martin and the No. 55.

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    63 comments

    • Jay
      Jay  •  Brunswick, Georgia  •  3 months ago
      very misleading, says he is "in" and then that he has to qualify
      • John M
        John M 3 months ago
        I swear I don't know what you people read! No where does it say he is "in". It says he has a ride. The headline says he will attempt the Daytona 500. Besides, barring a mechanical failure he most certainly will qualify. You know MWR will supply the car and the engine, so he will be in good equipment.
    • Jeff
      Jeff  •  3 months ago
      Hey, I like Michael as a person but he can't drive.
    • VinnyB
      VinnyB  •  Cincinnati, Ohio  •  3 months ago
      At least we hope he qualifies so he won't be up in the booth with his brother.
    • ARMYVET
      ARMYVET  •  3 months ago
      Now then, if we could some how put a muzzle on Darrell Waltrip...life would be good !!
    • Jim
      Jim  •  Lerna, Illinois  •  3 months ago
      Maybe someone will give DW a ride and we won't have to listen to his mouth. Also please put ' Digger' in the car with him. I'm sure tired of that cartoon rat appearing on the TV screen.
    • zilla
      zilla  •  Dekalb, Illinois  •  3 months ago
      Just go away Michael. Try focusing that effort more on your Cup team that sucks.
    • J-Mack
      J-Mack  •  3 months ago
      When Waltrip won his first Nascar points race (Daytona 500) he had lost 462 consecutive races which I believe was the worlds record at the time for Nascar races without a win. If he had any talent, he would have won before Sr. put him in a car from what was considered the best restrictor plate team in Nascar. At least 3 of his 4 wins were at Daytona and Talladega. He didn't have the talent to win in any other kind of race or any other cars except those restrictor plate cars.
    • Gary
      Gary  •  Louisville, Kentucky  •  3 months ago
      Correct me if I am wrong? Doesn't Daytona have qualifiers and races to determine spots. So if you qualify say 40th; It doesn't guarantee a spot? Is Mikey up to racing into this race?
      • larry n
        larry n 3 months ago
        The race is comprised of positions which are acquired by other than time on track decisions,. the qualifiers are just one of the ways to get into the race.
      • John M
        John M 3 months ago
        You need to post a qualifying time to set the order for the heat races and the time is used as a fall back in case you have problems in the heat race. If you don't qualify well and wreck on Thursday, you may miss the show.
    • don't look back
      don't look back  •  Yuma, Arizona  •  3 months ago
      Lets see, 2011' three (3) starts and 42nd in points. Sounds like a dam good average. 14% not to bad. GOOOOOOOO Mikey
    • mundo007
      mundo007  •  Hauppauge, New York  •  3 months ago
      oh boy..NASCAR is sooo boooringgg!!!
    • Tim
      Tim  •  Breezewood, Pennsylvania  •  3 months ago
      At least he can't take out half the field in qualifying!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    • GLL
      GLL  •  3 months ago
      his ego wont let him just simply go away, he is just like his brother was when he took Carl Long's ride a few years back because he was too slow on his own....
    • olgramar
      olgramar  •  3 months ago
      Go Uncle Mike..make all these naysayers eat worms. That's how low they crawl.
    • carlo
      carlo  •  San Salvador, El Salvador  •  3 months ago
      go for it mike
    • Donald M
      Donald M  •  Naperville, Illinois  •  3 months ago
      Fine. Mikey can race, but please, please, PLEASE don't give him an in-car microphone.
    • Scott S
      Scott S  •  3 months ago
      Having Mikey do Daytona doesn't bother me too much, since the guy loves to race there, its about the only place he can be competitive in. It's not like we are talking about that he has the inkling to run a full season again. Let him do his thing.
    • Phil
      Phil  •  San Francisco, California  •  3 months ago
      Maybe somebody will backstab Waltrip.His favorite quote is wait till their backs are turned then shoot.
    • Steve
      Steve  •  Sacramento, California  •  3 months ago
      When will people stop giving this guy $$$$ and tell him to just go away ? ....
      • Geo
        Geo 3 months ago
        Another one that should just go away is Jr.
    • RustyS
      RustyS  •  3 months ago
      What's it say about Michael Waltrip Racing when Michael Waltrip Racing won't even give Michael Waltrip a ride?
      • Hammerhead
        Hammerhead 3 months ago
        Did you even read the article??? He can't drive a car from his own team because of the 4 car limit of team cars imposed by NASCAR. #$%$ I wish this new era of race fan would learn to freaking read!!!!!!
      • Tios350Z
        Tios350Z 3 months ago
        You are wrong. He could drive a car for his own team.
      • RustyS
        RustyS 3 months ago
        Hammerhead, calm down. It was just a joke.

        However, he could have driven for his own team. He could have said "Mark, sorry, but you are out of the 500" and driven the 55.

        I WISH THIS NEW ERA OF RACE FAN WOULD FREAKING LEARN HOW TO TAKE A FREAKING JOKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    • Happy
      Happy  •  3 months ago
      Hey Michael, NAPA called and they want their fire suit back.
     Post a comment

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