Two-time winner of the Daytona 500, TV personality, and now a highly successful NASCAR car owner, Michael Waltrip has been tapped to take on the role of event Grand Marshal for the eighth running of NASCAR’s Toyota All-Star Showdown. Set for Friday, January 28 and Saturday, January 29, the annual champion’s event takes place at Toyota Speedway in Irwindale, California.
“We really couldn’t be more pleased that Michael accepted our invitation to be honored at this year’s All-Star Showdown,” said Speedway VP/GM Bob DeFazio. “He’s a real fan favorite, just a great guy. I think that everyone looking forward having him here at this event. His big brother, Darrell, was our first Showdown Grand Marshal eight years ago, the Waltrips are all very welcome here.”
At the first All-Star eight years ago, Michael’s brother Darrell said that the racing at Toyota Speedway was the best short track racing that he had ever seen. The expectations are for Michael, an avowed short track racing fan, to finally have an opportunity to see the progressively-banked Speedway at its best: filled wall-to-wall with fire-breathing NASCAR machinery driven by a highly-talented group of professional drivers.
“I’ll bet that this guy brings all his ‘stuff’ (helmet and driving gear) with him,” DeFazio said only half in jest. “I know that Michael would love nothing more than to get out there and mix it up on the track. We’ll be sure to let him drive our Toyota Camry Hybrid pace car for a couple of laps. It would be cruel not to at least let him take a couple of laps around ‘LA’s Half-Mile Superspeedway’ while he’s here.”
Saturday’s race marks the NASCAR debut of action sports star Travis Pastrana who’ll race for Pastrana-Waltrip Racing. Pastrana plans to race seven Nationwide races in 2011 and at least 20 races in 2012. Pastrana, Michael Waltrip Racing, along with Gary and Blake Bechtel own Pastrana-Waltrip Racing. Michael Waltrip Racing also fields Sprint Cup entries for Martin Truex, David Reutimann and Waltrip out of its Cornelius, N.C. shops.
Credit: Toyota Speedway PR
