Michael Waltrip's Assessment Of 1,000th Start: "Such Promise, Shi**y Results"

Michael Waltrip, driver of the No. 55 Napa Auto Parts Toyota and owner of Michael Waltrip Racing, reached a major milestone at Atlanta this past weekend. He joined Richard Petty as the only other driver with 1,000 NASCAR starts.

 

But as Waltrip said today, this 1,000th start exemplified his season this year, starting races with "such promise" and ending with such "shi**y results" (translated crappy in other more mainstream interviews). All with all those starts, he also said that he felt like he has endured 1,000 wrecks this season as well.

 

The weekend got off to such a great start, with many celebrations and media events in honor of his milestone. The pride and joy of Waltrip, daughter Macy, even surprised her dad with a pre-race visit to wish him well.

 

Michael's car was fast at Atlanta, with some of the quickest lap times in the race.  He was on the move, starting from the 29th position and quickly marching forward into the top ten in the first part of the race.

 

But, his dream day quickly turned into a nightmare. He lost radio communication with his crew and could not advise them of the changes needed to make his car even better.

 

Even after switching out his radio, it still did not work. Waltrip hung in there, doing the best he could in spite of being in a communication vacuum with his crew chief and spotter.

 

Then, things went from bad to worse. He brushed the wall and, according to Waltrip in an experience he had never had before, the "contact with the safer barrier wore down the tire", blowing it out, causing a tire explosion that killed his right-rear.

 

Unfortunately, this was not the end of Waltrip's woes. He suffered another blown tire, continuing radio problems, and a few mishaps on pit road that would mar the rest of his milestone day. 

 

Michael finally, and mercifully, finished the Atlanta race in the 37th position.

 

Michael Waltrip has achieved much in his 1,000 starts, which span 25 years of racing in all of NASCAR's series. But, after the Atlanta race, Michael could only that reaching this milestone made him feel "old."

 

Photo Credit: Michael Waltrip joins Richard Petty as the only drivers with 1,000 NASCAR starts. Getty Images.