Chat Transcript: Michael Waltrip

Michael Waltrip: Hello to all the fans out there today! I am looking forward to chatting with you.

Nicole: You've gotten off to a rough start this year in the Nextel Cup Series. What is the team doing differently compared to other seasons and how is the team planning on getting back into the competition?

	Michael Waltrip

Michael Waltrip: We tested for Talladega last week and it went very well. We found some things with the body, chassis and engine that we worked on. We were able to improve our car to be ready for Talladega and be a contender there.

We have upped our intensity level and preparation. We don't want to leave any stone unturned and have started looking at things differently. When we ended the 2003 season, we were on top of it. We came off a top 5 at Phoenix, and then went to Rockingham and broke an engine.

Then we went to Homestead and had a top-five until we blew a tire. The finishes weren't there, but the performances were. We thought we would start 2004 great, but we had some bad breaks and we just need to figure out what we have to change up to be more competitive.

From xStewartFANx: You seemed pretty happy with your Nashville guitar-trophy. Do you actually play? Does Jr.? (I saw that NAPA commercial where he was in the back seat playing guitar)

Michael Waltrip: No, I don't play. I just enjoyed that trophy. That was a really fun win to get. I have won like 10 or 11 Busch races now and that was the most unique way to win one. That was a unique trophy and I enjoyed celebrating in victory lane with it.

20yearMikeyfan: Michael Waltrip is now in charge of scheduling races. Do you increase to 40 races? Do you add dates at Las Vegas, Kentucky, Texas? Who loses dates?

Michael Waltrip: You know, I just don't get into the schedule issues. Just print it and I will go wherever they say. There are some places like Kentucky that deserve a date, and I think that diversification across the country is important for NASCAR, but I am not the one to make decisions on that. I know there are people that do those calls for a living and study those situations.

I think it is unfair if we judge or are critical of those decisions that are made when we don't have a lot of that same knowledge that the folks at NASCAR do when they are making these calls.

Gordonrules24: What do you think about the chunk of concrete that hit the No. 24 car and do you think NASCAR should have let Jeff repair it? (I mean, it wasn't his fault)

	Michael Waltrip's No. 15 during Daytona 500 testing.

Michael Waltrip: A lot of times you have accidents or situations that aren't your fault, but you just can't stop the race and let guys fix their cars. If it was Jeff Gordon's, or ours, or anyone else's, that isn't the way the rules work.

You race the track and the condition it is in, as do the other competitors. They shouldn't have let him fix his car. That situation was crazy though! Back in the early 1980s we had a lot of tracks get tore up like what we had at Martinsville this weekend. We haven't seen that lately because of the technology used to build these tracks, so that was a bit of a taste from the way it used to be.

JuniorFan4Life8: Do you have any more Aaron's commercials coming up with DW, or any more commercials with Junior (my favorite is the NAPA one where Junior plays the guitar)? They always crack me up.

Michael Waltrip: Yes, there are a couple of commercials that have been recorded and one of them is with Junior, and there is another one with Darrell. I think that the fans will be able to really enjoy what else is coming down the line. They are really funny and entertaining, so look forward to seeing those soon!

deimike15fan: I've been a fan of yours since you drove the No. 30 Pennzoil car. You are now in the most prolific ride of your long career and making the best of it. Do you feel more pressure to succeed with DEI than you did with your previous race teams?

Michael Waltrip: Yeah, I do. I feel like I have all the tools to do the job and therefore I want to get the job done. I do feel like there is more pressure to do well than ever before. That pressure comes from myself and my expectations on my performance, but I do want to take advantage of this great ride and our great sponsor in NAPA that are surrounding me.

	DEI teammates Michael Waltrip and Dale Earnhardt Jr. at speed. Credit: Autostock

NAPAMikey15: I bought tickets for the Truck race in May at Charlotte and then found out you would be driving. Are you excited to get in the Trucks and race with those guys (and girls)?

Michael Waltrip: Yes! Truck racing is something that I did a little bit of back in the mid 1990s and haven't had a chance to do that since then. The Truck out of Morgan-Dollar Motorsports Team is painted up with Sheryl Crow on it, and I really enjoy her music.

I like the association I have with Chevy and the opportunity to race that truck. We are going to test it in a week or so in Chicago and I feel like we can learn a lot and be really competitive

Foochey: Hey Mike, congratulations on the win in Nashville. Just wondering if you still use the roof hatch and if any other drivers have adopted it, including Jr.?

Michael Waltrip: There are some other cars with the hatch in them. It is not all of them, or even most of them for that matter. I am not sure if Dale Jr. has one in his car or not, but we will definitely have one at Talladega this weekend. We didn't have one at Nashville, so I had to stay inside!

MR_NASCAR: Michael, my question is about restrictor plate racing. The fact that you guys run faster on a mile and a half track like Atlanta than you will this weekend at Talladega seems totally backwards to me. Is there any way to get rid of the plates and still be safe?

Michael Waltrip: No, there is not. The speeds would be out of control without them, and to keep the cars on the ground, they need plates on them. So, that's it! The tracks at Talladega and Daytona have high banks and we run wide open. We have to let off in the corners at 1-1/2 mile tracks, and that keeps the average speed all the way around the track similar to what we run at say Talladega. We can't do that without a plate.

Beth: Michael, I had the pleasure of meeting you last Saturday night in Martinsville at the bowling tournament. I was wondering if that was something you did for fun or if you were raising money for a charity, and if so what charity was it for?

Michael Waltrip: It was just for fun. The teams, a lot of them, just come out and participate and just bowl for comradery. It is just neat to have all the guys come together and talk about something at the track. It is something to do at night that is constructive and fun to do.

	Michael Waltrip and crew chief Slugger Labbe. Credit: Autostock

mikeyfanfromWV: Michael, how do you feel about the after-race changes in the results of the Nashville race? Can NASCAR not make improvements to ensure that race outcomes are finalized and the fans that purchase tickets know the results before they leave the track?

Michael Waltrip: Well, the new rules make it important for us to slow down when the caution comes out. So when you have a new rule, the enforcement of that new rule is sometimes difficult to handle at first. NASCAR is just trying to make sure they do they right thing.

At the end of the day, after all the reviews, they got the finish right. Kahne was third, Sauter was second and I won. You would like to see it done better and smoother, and it will be over time. This rule is to make sure we don't race back to the caution and guys in a wreck don't get run over.

Mallory: Hi Michael! Being his teammate, do you think Dale Jr.'s punishment for Bristol was fair?

Michael Waltrip: I don't know about that. I guess. You aren't supposed to bring a caution out on purpose, and if you do, you shouldn't take about it. I guess NASCAR had all the evidence they needed to point out that Dale Jr. did do that on purpose.

mikey15fan: What is your opinion on the field fillers?

Michael Waltrip: I think they are great. I don't have a problem with them at all. They are just people that want to race and be part of NASCAR Nextel Cup Series racing. They have raced their whole life to be in this situation. We shouldn't be critical of them just because they are trying to take this on.

Hermie Sadler and Morgan Shepherd both ran really well over the weekend at Martinsville. That gives those guys track time so they can learn how to become more competitive as the weeks go on. I think everyone should just leave them alone.

	Michael Waltrip with one of his Daytona 500 trophies. Credit: Autostock

waltrip99: Hey, Mikey! Congratulations on being the Busch Series points leader! Should you win the championship, would you finally let DW drive the Aaron's Dream Machine? God bless and good luck!!

Michael Waltrip: I like the Busch Series for sure. It is real important for me to be all up in the middle of it, so hopefully we can continue to perform at this level, and as we get deeper in we will see if the championship could become a reality. DW is retired you know, and I think he looks really good on that lawnmower in my yard, so I am going to keep him there for now!

hmae: Michael, I have a question about the NASCAR Inside Nextel Cup Show. Do you guys actually look at any footage before the show starts or just cruise your way through it during the show? Either way it is still entertaining! Good luck at Talladega.

Michael Waltrip: No, we never watch the footage. We figured it would make it more entertaining to see our reactions than to see our speeches. We just goof around and I just enjoy Kenny, Johnny and Allen as we diagnose what went on during Sunday afternoon. We appreciate the opportunity to do the show and I am glad you watch it!

loopy4bud: Michael, what for you is the hardest part about being a car owner/driver (Busch Series) and then a driver for a different owner (Nextel)? I love all of your commercials and good luck with the remainder of both seasons! Chris L. - Chicago

Michael Waltrip: Those are two separate deals. I have had the Busch deal since 1996 and I understand how to operate it to be successful. I know my role with my Busch team and I know my role with my Nextel Cup team. I just go about my business and enjoy what I do!

sparkie: Mikey! What did you do during the paving delay on Sunday? Thanks and good luck!

Michael Waltrip: Talked to Robby Gordon. Had a Power Bar. Drank some Powerade. Changed shirts.

15DEIfan8: Mikey, it seems like you can't buy a break of luck this year, but the run in Martinsville shows that your team still has the ability to perform as well as you all did last season. How do you stay focused until the luck part of the equation comes together?

Michael Waltrip: I don't worry much about luck. I just figure fate has to do with how things work out. Things are going to be what they are going to be, and I don't think about that. If you have a fast car and you are unlucky each week, that is ok to me. Having a fast car is the most important thing to a racecar driver, but quite honestly our car hasn't been fast enough lately and we need to speed it up some!

	Michael Waltrip in his office. Credit: Autostock

Boo1296: First of all, congratulations Michael on your Busch win! What do you think of the new Goodyear tires?

Michael Waltrip: They are great. I am just amazed at the tire they created to do exactly what NASCAR asked them to do. It wears out when it needs to and it has become a bigger part of the equation. When I am driving down the road, I want some Goodyear tires because I know they are going do what they are supposed to do!

Va_Bill: Michael, Do you think a driver or owner should be docked points or fined for infractions found before a race? The infraction had no impact on the outcome of the race. (McMurray and Foyt at Bristol)

Michael Waltrip: You know, sometimes NASCAR sets precedences to get people's attention. If you know the rules going in, then that is how it is. If you bring a car that wont work, you will get fined for it. NASCAR is encouraging us to not make mistakes, and if you follow the guidelines we are supposed to play with, then any fine to me is acceptable.

derekgurtler: Mikey, first of all, good luck this weekend at Dega!! I was wondering what you thought about road races. I live out by Infineon and I love it when the NASCAR drivers come out and put on a great race. Do you think that more road races should be added to the schedule?

Michael Waltrip: I don't necessarily believe that any should be added, but the two on the schedule are an important part of our season. I love Sonoma and Watkins Glen and I am glad Nextel Cup cars race on the road courses.

	The No. 15 pit crew in action. Credit: Autostock

Tamtay33: Hi Michael, I am going to be a Talladega this weekend and I was wondering if you are going to be anywhere that my sister and I could meet you?

Michael Waltrip: I will probably be at the souvenir trailer over the weekend signing some diecast cars, T-shirts and such, so you can probably swing by there and run across me at some point!

racsan: How soon do you think Martin Truex will be up and running a full-time Cup schedule?

Michael Waltrip: I would guess sooner rather than later. He has proven everything you needed to do as a Busch driver. When you adapt as fast as he has in Busch, you would think he could do that in Cup. I wouldn't be surprised if you see him in Cup this year, and in a full-time ride next year. That is for the important people at DEI to figure out and see if they can work that out.

NASCAR_Mary: Michael, do you have any final thoughts?

Michael Waltrip: I would like to say thanks for chatting with me. I enjoy visiting NASCAR.COM myself and it means a lot to me that you logged on to share a few moments as we get ready to race the Busch race in our Aaron's Dream Machine, and then the NAPA Chevy on Sunday.

We will have an Aaron's Dream Machine with Kenny Wallace in the No. 99 on Sunday as well. This is an Aaron's weekend at Talladega and we are so happy to be part of everything with them this weekend, as well as NAPA, so I appreciate all your support and I will talk to you again later!