Ol' D.W. joins the fray for Victory Challenge at LMS

HOUSTON -- Three-time Cup Series champion Darrell Waltrip has accepted the invitation to participate in the 2009 Pennzoil Victory Challenge on May 16 at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Waltrip was officially invited to compete by Shell-Pennzoil driver Kevin Harvick during SPEED's Trackside Live from Talladega, Ala. Waltrip accepted and will enter this unique on-track competition scheduled as a part of the pre-race festivities for the 25th running of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. Waltrip won the inaugural All-Star Race in 1985.

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"Pennzoil has always been special to the Waltrip family," he said. "Michael and I both got to drive the Pennzoil car. The No. 1 Pennzoil car revitalized my career when I really needed it. It will be fun to burn up the track again in the Pennzoil Victory Challenge."

Waltrip and Pennzoil have a relationship that dates back to 1998. The late Dale Earnhardt called on Waltrip to fill in for an injured Steve Park after he suffered a broken leg in a crash at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Competing against Waltrip will be Harvick, defending Challenge champion Greg Biffle, Clint Bowyer, Kyle Busch, four-time Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon and defending All-Star Race winner Kasey Kahne.

A new facet to the Challenge includes a panel of celebrity judges featuring 16-time wrestling champion Ric Flair, NFL All-Pro wide receiver Randy Moss, SPEED's Jimmy Spencer, plus Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry of the award-winning country music group Montgomery Gentry.

These celebrities will be judging the tire-smoking donut capabilities of the participating Cup Series stars.

The Victory Challenge is a competition that pits some of NASCAR's top drivers against one another to see who can deliver the best tire-smoking donut allowing the drivers a chance to showcase some of their best celebratory skills. Instead of an obstacle-course format like in 2008, this year's format will allow drivers a longer freestyle demonstration without a specific course to run. Each driver will compete in identically prepared stock cars and will have 30 seconds to complete their respective runs.

The event will take place on the front stretch of Lowe's Motor Speedway immediately preceding the Sprint Showdown. SPEED will carry the event live beginning at 6 p.m. ET.