MICHAEL WALTRIP TO STEP OUT OF BOOTH INTO CAMPING WORLD TRUCK AT DAYTONA

With 25 plus years in the sport, it isn’t often Michael Waltrip experiences something new in NASCAR.

 

But next week in Daytona the two-time Daytona 500 champion enters his first Camping World Truck Series race on the 2.5-mile Florida highbanks.

 

Vision Aviation Racing (VAR) announced today that Waltrip will pilot the No. 15 NASCAR.COM RaceView/Wounded Warrior Project/Vision Airlines Tundra in the Feb. 18 truck race.

 

“I love Daytona and I’ve always wanted to race a truck there,” said Waltrip. “Those races are so fun to watch on television or be a part of in the broadcast booth. Last year’s winner hit the wall on the last lap and the guy who finished second spun out. It was an amazing last lap. I want to be part of that.”

 

The No. 15’s sponsor NASCAR.COM RaceView is the most comprehensive Sprint Cup race experience online allowing fans to watch the action and listen to live in-car audio right from a computer. The brand new and improved RaceView gives fans control of live race coverage with the ability to customize their entire experience. RaceView features upgraded virtual video and even more camera angles including pit road.

 

NASCAR.COM will also be launching Truck Race Buddy, content which will provide live feeds of racing action from four different camera angles and a mosaic view, all featuring the natural sounds of the at-track action. Waltrip is always happy to be a part of getting fans closer to the action. “There is so much action in the truck series, and it is really difficult to capture it all. NASCAR has always been all about getting fans closer to the action and now with this new content from NASCAR.COM they will be able to do just that.”

 

Vision Airlines and The Wounded Warrior Project, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to honoring and empowering wounded service men and women, will also be partnering up with VAR and Waltrip for the NextEra Energy Resources 250 in Daytona.

 

The Vision Aviation Racing team begins its first season of truck racing after sweeping the top two spots with drivers Justin Johnson and Dusty Davis in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. The team won 74% of the 19 races it entered last year and plans to make an impact in the ultra-competitive truck series.

“With Michael’s proven track record at Daytona and our exciting partnerships with NASCAR.COM RaceView, The Wounded Warrior Project, and Vision Airlines we at VAR are looking forward to great things in Daytona,” said team General Manager, Tom Davis.

The VAR announcement also means Waltrip will race in all three major NASCAR series in Daytona – another first for Waltrip. Waltrip will also race the No. 15 NAPA Toyota in the Daytona 500 and the No. 99 Pastrana-Waltrip Toyota in the Nationwide race.

 

“On my way to retirement I seem to have gotten really busy,” laughed Waltrip who owns two top-five finishes in eight truck starts. “I’ve always wanted to run all three races down in Daytona so now after 25 years I get my chance. I’ve come so close to winning truck races and I would like to get that accomplished.”

 

Waltrip’s VAR Tundra carries a special paint scheme to commemorate his 2001 Daytona 500 victory driving for car owner Dale Earnhardt who died in a turn four accident on the final lap.

While he’s reduced his NASCAR schedule he hasn’t slowed down. Waltrip raced in Dubai earlier this month and took the “Michael Waltrip Comedy Garage” to appearances in Kansas and Canada. He plans a handful of superspeedway races in 2011 and more international racing. On Feb. 1 Waltrip’s book “In the Blink of an Eye” went on sale chronicling the events of the 2001 Daytona 500 as well as his life and the challenges building Michael Waltrip Racing.

The RaceView truck is 1-0 in NCWTS competition.

 

Vision Racing PR