[Team Yates]

MWR to make announcement on July 7th? On Friday Rowdy.com visited Michael Waltrip Racing [Cornelius, NC] which offers an amazing tour of the facility, including the fabricating shop. Even more interesting than the tour itself was this tidbit...someone in our group was asking how Ryan and Martin Truex Jr. (brothers) were related. Somehow this led to our tour guide telling us that Michael Waltrip Racing would be making a MAJOR announcement on July 7th.(Rowdy.com)(6-27-2009)

[Racer Duck]

Mikey's giving up the steering wheel to focus on his (new) media career??? (I hope, I hope, I hope.)

[bob101]

People make fun of Michael but I honestly think he's going to make a good owner. He pushes product, gets sponsors, understands media, is actually knowlegable about the sport, and if you ever actually listen to him he loves the sport of NASCAR, and has shown the ability to hire people who can get the job done.

[Bob Tanner]

He'll give up his seat but make an announcement that he'll run a few selected races on a quasi-"Farewell Tour" next season. That's my prediction, anyway.

[WestCoast]

I always thought he understood the game and played it well.
Plus he has the right wins to call his career a success.

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by WestCoast

I always thought he understood the game and played it well.
Plus he has the right wins to call his career a success.

I guess if winning Daytona qualifies you to have a successful career then Derrick Cope is a success. Waltrip has 4 wins to his credit. Not sure I would consider that a successful career over a 20 plus year time frame ... but that is just my opinion. There is no question, once again from my perspective, that he is a great salesman. There is no doubt that NAPA loves him and will continue to do so. He's not one of my favorites, but then again his last name is Waltrip.

[WestCoast]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

He's not one of my favorites, but then again his last name is Waltrip.

Lucky for me, I don't see drivers as a popularity contest.
But, you have to look at the "quality" of wins, as in...

- 2 Daytona 500
- 1 Talladega
- 1 Pepsi 400

Most drivers would give up a Championship for those stats.
Just like most in Indy car would give up a dozen wins for a single Indy 500.

[bob101]

About 1/3 or more of the field that lines up each week now doesn't have a single win.....

I could see him sitting in on the plate tracks unless he announces a big name and they have an honest chance at the chase then he won't.

[clutch]

Originally Posted by WestCoast

Lucky for me, I don't see drivers as a popularity contest.
But, you have to look at the "quality" of wins, as in...

- 2 Daytona 500
- 1 Talladega
- 1 Pepsi 400

Most drivers would give up a Championship for those stats.
Just like most in Indy car would give up a dozen wins for a single Indy 500.

Yes, those wins really are something to be proud of.......no matter how long you've been racing. Now he's a team owner.....with a win just a few weeks ago by Reutiman, hes been racing and doing what he loves all his life,............I'd say his career has been successful

[loco4pablo]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

I guess if winning Daytona qualifies you to have a successful career then Derrick Cope is a success. Waltrip has 4 wins to his credit. Not sure I would consider that a successful career over a 20 plus year time frame ... but that is just my opinion. There is no question, once again from my perspective, that he is a great salesman. There is no doubt that NAPA loves him and will continue to do so. He's not one of my favorites, but then again his last name is Waltrip.

Waltrips career was successful in my book.... Anyone who can keep a full time ride for 20 years in this sport to me is considered a success... Regardless of wins. I feel the same way about Ken Schrader and even Kenny Wallace.

Was he a big success? No he wasn't..But he supported himself very well for 20 years doing something he loved.

[jks812]

Originally Posted by loco4pablo

But he supported himself very well for 20 years doing something he loved.

To me the wins don't matter, it's being able to say he made a good living doing what he loves. If anybody can say they were able to support themselves well while doing something they love, they were a success, to me anyway.
But I do hope he's ready to get out of the car and concentrate on being just the owner. I think he'll have more success as a owner if he does that.

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by loco4pablo

Waltrips career was successful in my book.... Anyone who can keep a full time ride for 20 years in this sport to me is considered a success... Regardless of wins. I feel the same way about Ken Schrader and even Kenny Wallace.

Was he a big success? No he wasn't..But he supported himself very well for 20 years doing something he loved.

I will most certainly agree that anyone who has a ride for an extended period of time is successful at what they are doing. Needless to say there are different levels of success. Jeremy Mayfield has been in NASCAR for 16 years, has 5 wins and became a team owner. I don't view him as successful as Schrader who only has 4 wins. I believe you have to look at the entire package when considering success. Realistically anyone who makes it to the top levels of NASCAR should be considered successful, but like anything else we all view success in different ways. Michael is certainly a great business man but I personally don't consider him a successful driver .... by comparison.

[loco4pablo]

How can anyone see Schrader as more successful in nascar then Mayfield or Waltrip?
Just curious

[Team Yates]

UPDATE: Earnhardt Ganassi Racing President Steve Lauletta said no matter what happens with Martin Truex Jr., he expects Bass Pro Shops will remain with the organization for 2010. Truex, who drives for EGR, is expected to be announced as the 2010 full-time replacement for Michael Waltrip at Michael Waltrip Racing on July 7.(SceneDaily)(6-28-2009)

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by loco4pablo

How can anyone see Schrader as more successful in nascar then Mayfield or Waltrip?
Just curious

One only needs to define success.

Originally Posted by loco4pablo

Anyone who can keep a full time ride for 20 years in this sport to me is considered a success.

Waltrip and Schrader both have 4 wins. Schrader has 184 top 10's and 23 poles. Waltrip has 124 top 10's and 4 poles. Jeremy has 5 wins, 96 top 10's and 9 poles In short Mayfield averages 6 top 10's per year, Waltrip 5.1 and Schrader 5.4.

As you can see success is a matter of perception.