Warbird Information Exchange

This is like Patton going to Hitler and saying, hey, I want to blow some stuff up with you.

Pfff. DEI has been limping along since Waltrip took those big NAPA dollars with him. Like it or not, Junior made the best possible business decision. He's going to a team that he feels, unlike his current home, has the resources to win championships, not just the occasional race.

After the dust settled, I realize that JR is making a GREAT move in getting championship under his belt.

His dad's death really f'd him up and his step-mom has done nothing to promote him into the championship contention.

With the past that Rick has, and with strong ties to the roots of racing and the equipment he has, well, hell Jr next year, will be in the front of the pack for the championship.

Good for him.


Paul

NAPA has reaped some great rewards with that little move, huh? I'd always figured Little E would drive for RCR, but he and Rick Hendrick do share the goal of winning championships.

Scott

LOL Yeah, if Napa was smart they would have stayed at DEI.

I always like Mickey, but he really hasn't won all that much to make me say he is a really great driver. I mean he is ok, but his stat's well they suck.

One thing about Mikey-he does a whale of a sales pitch under most all circumstances. He's had some pretty good equipment with not too much to show for it, even the Bahari Pontiacs were front line stuff and it just never fell right for him to win. How he has usually come out smiling at the end of the day says a lot for him, but this car owner/Toyota launch is more than he bargained for!

Scott

Mikey won 2 Daytona 500s in his Napa, Coca Cola, Dominos Pizza,
Best Western, Oreo Cookie, Goodyear Tire, Chevy.
And he didn't need the Aarons Lucky Dog, where at Aarons
you can get quality products for just $99 a month.

No matter what happens with Toyota,
you can't take those Daytona wins away from him.
Ever.

Below is a shot I got of Mikey helping push his DEI car across the finish line at
Pocono a couple years ago in practice. Even at this speed, it's faster than
what he's had to drive most races this year

Now as far as Jr.
My guess at this point is he may not get the #8 next year.
But more surprising, and this is a wild guess on my part,
his main sponser next year will be...
Pepsi.

You heard it here first.
Bill




Here is a shot I got 2 weeks ago of the #8

_________________
Bill


Website

Bill,

That 15 car is at least on the asphalt and not on the hauler endgate, huh!!! You're right about those Daytona trophies, Mike is no slouch with good equipment, that's what has always frustrated me about his career. The moon and sun just never seem to line up for him. It is like when Rick Mast was leading at Rockingham in '94 or '95 and he kept thinking that the engine would fall off the blimp and take him out. Turns out it was a black 3 that ruined his day.
I heard of a beverage change for Little E also. I was kind of hoping that his new ride would look like Shrader's car from '95, but a sponsor is a sponsor.

Great photos and a good sponsor plug!
Scott

Funny, Darrell Waltrip was hinting at Jr. getting a "beverage sponsor" that "wasn't red" just the other day. I still say he gets #8 from DEI.

I'm more curious as to what happens to long-time sponsor Kellogs. "Back in the day" they were a premier sponsor, but much like interstate batteries, the going rate to be a premium sponsor went up while the money they were offering didn't. I'm thinking they get bumped to the #25 with car quest, and the National Guard ends up as more of a part time sponsor.

Waltrip won one Daytona even up, and got lucky on the other one. I don't think the car would have held up for a full race during his second win. That said, a win's a win, and you take 'em any way you can get 'em. He's certainly got a very full plate with being an owner, driver, pitch man, company president, corporate secretary, janitor, and lavatory specialist.

Chico,

It just dawned on me that you missed one of MW's job descriptions--doesn't he do rollover testing for Toyota too?!

Scott

Mikey shoulda learned a lesson from his big brother about team ownership.

Dave

Actually, i am hearing that Monster Energy drink maybe the sponsor too.

But, if you think about it, Jeff Gordon and Hendrick ( both part owners ) have a MAJOR tie with Pepsi products. I think it would be more like Mountain Dew ( the old Hendrick sponsors ) then I think totally Pepsi.