Some may not agree, but I’ve always thought of Michael Waltrip as NASCAR’s equivalent of the Chicago Cubs. Four restrictor plate wins and an all-star victory aside, Michael has taken the role of “lovable loser” (and I mean that in the nicest way) in stride.
Things are happening, however, with Michael Waltrip the owner, that make me think that NASCAR’s funny man is getting serious. Last year, David Reutimann picked up Sprint Cup win number one for MWR, and he didn’t miss the Chase by much. Waltrip-affiliated JTG driver Marcos Ambrose was also solid in his first full season of Cup driving, and only missed a win at Watkins- Glen by a little. Michael ambled along with a season that has been about what fans and observers have to come expect from him in his post-DEI racing career. Waltrip said before 2009 got underway that he’d step out of the car if his results didn’t improve, and he made good on his word. Michael will only drive a limited number of races in a car numbered 51 in 2010.
Taking his place will be former EGR, and two-time Busch
Series champion Martin Truex, Jr. This is a good move for MWR. The career of Truex started in promising fashion, making the Chase in 2007, before things began stalling out the last couple of years. The New Jersey native will get a chance to see what a change of scenery will do for him. With his former employer, Truex was always overshadowed by either Dale Earnhardt, Jr. or Juan Pablo Montoya, but he was always the good teammate about it. Over here, Truex will enjoy a higher profile.
The presence of Truex could prove mutually beneficial for he and David Reutimann. The late-blooming journeyman made significant strides in 2009, and with a little more consistency, “The Franchise” might have made the Chase. Still, Reutimann has come a long ways from a guy who struggled to make races at all in 2007, and was better still than his improved 2008 performance. If you think about it, this pair and allied driver Marcos Ambrose are all in fairly similar positions, and each brings a little something different to the table. You would think all would benefit well from the information they could exchange.
Say what you want about Michael Waltrip as a driver, or as a commentator, he’s proven pretty smart as an owner. He’s hired good drivers to wheel his cars, his hires as crew chiefs have been smart, and in spite of the growing pains, he’s given his sponsors more than their money’s worth. Like it or not folks, that’s how the bills get paid. I’ll say the same thing about going with Toyota. Regardless of what you think of them, you have to know Michael Waltrip Racing has received support from the auto maker he wouldn’t get from Chevy or Dodge, to name a couple.
I’ll goes as far as to say I’ll bet one of these drivers makes the Chase this year. It sure seems like things are heading the right way, a long ways removed from the “go or go home” era of not so long ago.
PHOTO CREDITS- Michael Waltrip and Martin Truex, Jr. by Walter G. Arce. More of his work may be found at flickr.com. David and Buzzy Reutimann by Jason Smith/ Getty Images.
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If it wasn’t for David this “franchise” might not be around any more. A great driver has made MWR, period. Thanks to the Waltrip brothers for seeing the talent in David. When this season is over David will be smiling from ear to ear.
My dad was a professional ball player and I remember him saying that a journeyman player always made a better manager than a star because the journeyman had to work on all the details to get where he was. The star just had inate talent and really wasn’t as good at the details, he just could do it.
I mention that because I see MW in the same light. He didn’t have his brothers inate talent and had to learn to make the best with a lot of the equipment he had to work with through his career. DEI was the one top equipment team he worked for and had decent results there.
I would add to the article that MW has surrounded himself with some top engineering talent behind the scenes too. And that group now has had a full year of Cup racing behind them. So it could be a very interesting year for MWR.
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