Head2Head: M. Waltrip

By NASCAR.COM
April 25, 2007
02:53 PM EDT

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This week's hot-button debate focuses on Michael Waltrip and whether or not he should step down as driver of the No. 55 Toyota and focus on being an owner.

This season has been a difficult one for Waltrip. In eight races, he's only qualified for one and that one came with controversy. Plus, off the track hasn't been a picnic either.

Read both sides of the argument and then weigh in with your take:

Should Michael Waltrip step down as a driver?


YES	NO
This has nothing to do with Michael Waltrip's ability as a driver. With four Cup victories and 122 top-10 finishes, he doesn't have to prove to anybody that he can drive a racecar. But as a car owner, it's a perfect time for Waltrip to step out of the No. 55 and provide the kind of leadership to get his team back on track, literally. As Ricky Rudd, Bill Elliott, Geoffrey Bodine and Darrell Waltrip can attest, trying to be a driver-owner in NASCAR's premier division is an awesome and frightening responsibility. Even with the strength and guidance of wife Buffy, Michael's attempt at getting a brand-new three-car team off the ground has been exponentially more difficult. With his competitive nature, I'm certain watching the races from the garage each Sunday is tearing Waltrip apart. Each race he misses just digs at him that much more. That's why handing the driving duties to someone else for the short term is a win-win situation. First, it will remove much of the stress he faces. Instead of worrying about how he'll qualify on Friday, he can focus his priorities on places where his team is doing well, such as David Reutimann's qualifying efforts. Second, Waltrip will have the chance to step back and re-evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of his operation and shift resources where needed. Another driver would provide additional feedback to the team as they refine their strategies. Third, he has the opportunity to assure his sponsors -- and the manufacturer -- that he's doing everything he can to make his operation better. Toyota and NAPA have been steadfast in their support of Waltrip, and there's no reason to believe that will change in the near-term. Right now, points shouldn't matter to the No. 55 team. Making races and regaining confidence should -- and that's with Waltrip running the show from outside the cockpit. • Mark Aumann, NASCAR.COM	This has been the season from hell for Michael Waltrip, his No. 55 race team and for Michael Waltrip Racing as a whole, but this predicament is Waltrip's doing, and the only way for it to get better is for him to continue racing. If he runs away and hides, the consequences could be disastrous. No one can honestly tell me they saw Waltrip making just one of the first eight races this season. He was expected to make every race, and it just hasn't happened. But that is no reason to give up and hand the wheel to someone else. If Waltrip doesn't drive, then everyone from Toyota, to NAPA, to Waltrip himself will be admitting this season is lost, and that is not the way you do business. Here is a question I want you to ponder: Who will be the face of Toyota and NAPA if Waltrip steps down? It can't be him. Owners do not get the TV time and advertising time that drivers do. How many commercials have you seen that feature Ray Evernham, Richard Childress or Rick Hendrick? Exactly -- none. If Waltrip isn't in the car, then he can't be Toyota or NAPA's spokesman. If there is anything Waltrip has done right in his career, aside from two Daytona 500 wins, it's he's an advertisers dream. The fans love him, and Waltrip is fantastic in front of the camera. Only two months into the season, and the list of embarrassments for Waltrip is a long one. The fuel additive at Daytona, missing seven of eight races, leaving the scene of an accident, still in the minus column in points two months into the season. It's been a tough go for Waltrip. But if there is one thing we know about Waltrip, he's not the kind of guy to run and hide when the going gets tough. He's a competitor and will do what it takes to right this ship. He's not someone who is going to throw in the towel and hide from his embarrassments. Stepping down as a driver could end his racing career, and I think he'd argue he still has a lot left in the tank. • Bill Kimm, NASCAR.COM

YES

This has nothing to do with Michael Waltrip's ability as a driver. With four Cup victories and 122 top-10 finishes, he doesn't have to prove to anybody that he can drive a racecar. But as a car owner, it's a perfect time for Waltrip to step out of the No. 55 and provide the kind of leadership to get his team back on track, literally.

As Ricky Rudd, Bill Elliott, Geoffrey Bodine and Darrell Waltrip can attest, trying to be a driver-owner in NASCAR's premier division is an awesome and frightening responsibility. Even with the strength and guidance of wife Buffy, Michael's attempt at getting a brand-new three-car team off the ground has been exponentially more difficult.

With his competitive nature, I'm certain watching the races from the garage each Sunday is tearing Waltrip apart. Each race he misses just digs at him that much more. That's why handing the driving duties to someone else for the short term is a win-win situation.

First, it will remove much of the stress he faces. Instead of worrying about how he'll qualify on Friday, he can focus his priorities on places where his team is doing well, such as David Reutimann's qualifying efforts.

Second, Waltrip will have the chance to step back and re-evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of his operation and shift resources where needed. Another driver would provide additional feedback to the team as they refine their strategies.

Third, he has the opportunity to assure his sponsors -- and the manufacturer -- that he's doing everything he can to make his operation better. Toyota and NAPA have been steadfast in their support of Waltrip, and there's no reason to believe that will change in the near-term.

Right now, points shouldn't matter to the No. 55 team. Making races and regaining confidence should -- and that's with Waltrip running the show from outside the cockpit.

• Mark Aumann, NASCAR.COM

This has been the season from hell for Michael Waltrip, his No. 55 race team and for Michael Waltrip Racing as a whole, but this predicament is Waltrip's doing, and the only way for it to get better is for him to continue racing. If he runs away and hides, the consequences could be disastrous.

No one can honestly tell me they saw Waltrip making just one of the first eight races this season. He was expected to make every race, and it just hasn't happened. But that is no reason to give up and hand the wheel to someone else. If Waltrip doesn't drive, then everyone from Toyota, to NAPA, to Waltrip himself will be admitting this season is lost, and that is not the way you do business.

Here is a question I want you to ponder: Who will be the face of Toyota and NAPA if Waltrip steps down?

It can't be him. Owners do not get the TV time and advertising time that drivers do. How many commercials have you seen that feature Ray Evernham, Richard Childress or Rick Hendrick? Exactly -- none. If Waltrip isn't in the car, then he can't be Toyota or NAPA's spokesman.

If there is anything Waltrip has done right in his career, aside from two Daytona 500 wins, it's he's an advertisers dream. The fans love him, and Waltrip is fantastic in front of the camera.

Only two months into the season, and the list of embarrassments for Waltrip is a long one. The fuel additive at Daytona, missing seven of eight races, leaving the scene of an accident, still in the minus column in points two months into the season. It's been a tough go for Waltrip.

But if there is one thing we know about Waltrip, he's not the kind of guy to run and hide when the going gets tough. He's a competitor and will do what it takes to right this ship. He's not someone who is going to throw in the towel and hide from his embarrassments. Stepping down as a driver could end his racing career, and I think he'd argue he still has a lot left in the tank.

• Bill Kimm, NASCAR.COM