texastrophies Posted July 15, 2005 Report Share Posted July 15, 2005 DEI and Waltrip Split -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RacingOne Report Posted Friday, July 15, 2005 Where Will Waltrip Go? Waltrip is looking for a ride in 2006. Michael Waltrip Hat Blue NAPA Your Price: $9.95 Dale Earnhardt Incorporated (DEI) and Michael Waltrip announced Friday they will no longer be together beginning in 2006. The DEI No. 15 NAPA Chevrolet has been driven by Michael Waltrip, a fan-favorite, in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series for the past five seasons where he earned four victories; including two Daytona 500 wins in 2001 and 2003. "All of us at DEI want to thank Michael for all his contributions to our organization and wish him well as he moves on in his career," said Richie Gilmore, DEI's Vice President of Motorsports. "Dale and Teresa gave me an opportunity with a winning organization that I have been proud to be an integral part of for the last five years," Waltrip said. "My professional relationship with DEI is ending, but my personal relationships have ties that are deep-rooted. Therefore, my decision to leave DEI is a difficult one. Our individual visions for the future are taking different courses, but our goals are the same-to be successful in the premier division of NASCAR." Gilmore added, "DEI's NASCAR NEXTEL Cup focus for 2006 will be to sharpen every entity of our race teams by preparing the No. 1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet, driven by Martin Truex Jr., and the No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet driven by Dale Earnhardt Jr., for the championship. Additionally, we are working diligently with our current partner, NAPA, on returning to the No. 15 car." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichiganHuntr1 Posted July 15, 2005 Report Share Posted July 15, 2005 Re: Waltrip - DEI split Um, I seriously wonder if there is more to this story than meets the eye. I dont want to cause anything, but it makes you wonder doesnt it? This has been semi good year for mikey. Kinda Sad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deerslayer06 Posted July 15, 2005 Report Share Posted July 15, 2005 Re: Waltrip - DEI split it looks like waltrip and napa will be in the #0 chevy next year. watch trackside on speed at 6:00pm for more info Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrud Posted July 15, 2005 Report Share Posted July 15, 2005 Re: Waltrip - DEI split I'm not too surprised. Mikey NEEDED to make the Chase this year to keep his job. That was clear at the beginning of the year. Too bad he won't be around with DEI, but I'm sure you'll see he and Junior still work together somewhat on plate tracks. Too bad Shane Hmiel is on dope. Thought I said he'd be in the 15 next year. It'll be interesting to see who DEI puts in the 15. Paul Menard would be a great fit in another year or so. He's really getting things together in the 11 Busch ride. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NY_Bowhunter14 Posted July 16, 2005 Report Share Posted July 16, 2005 Re: Waltrip - DEI split that really sucks... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dg Posted July 16, 2005 Report Share Posted July 16, 2005 Re: Waltrip - DEI split I know it's business, but I don't like it either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fisherguy Posted July 16, 2005 Report Share Posted July 16, 2005 Re: Waltrip - DEI split I like him, he has a great team and hasn't been able to turn it into what they had hoped, but he is still a consistant mid standing driver with a great personality and marketability. I think he will be around for a while yet. I saw this in the future a couple weeks back when he commented in the interview about how he was given a great team and cars and hadn't been capitalizing, and that he hoped he deserved the team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MUDRUNNER Posted July 16, 2005 Report Share Posted July 16, 2005 Re: Waltrip - DEI split I kinda knew this was coming all year.It's a shame,but I hope Mikee gets a good ride for next year.Although I doubt he'll ever win a championship,I think he has a couple wins left in him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tedicast Posted July 16, 2005 Report Share Posted July 16, 2005 Re: Waltrip - DEI split Kinda sad to see Mikey go myself. Not sure how he will do in the 0 car, as no one has done much of anything in that car. Dale SR. did wonders for Mikeys career when he hired him to drive for DEI. I honestly think if SR didn't hire him, he may have been all done already. Hope things work out for him, he is definately one of the good guys in Nascar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snapper Posted July 16, 2005 Report Share Posted July 16, 2005 Re: Waltrip - DEI split I seen this coming along time ago...actually there is a post from way back about this somewhere. I said it before...Mikey is one of the "good guys" but not a "good" driver. He's been in the cup series for over 20 years and has only a handful of wins and never finished in the top ten in points. I can't imagine him doing well in the #0 car! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest deldeer Posted July 16, 2005 Report Share Posted July 16, 2005 Re: Waltrip - DEI split mikey may not be one of the best drivers out there, however....he is one of the most personable, mikey will be fine. as long as he does'nt move on to tv & act like a moron like his brother!!!!...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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