At 1 p.m. on Sunday, the NASCAR season kicks off with the Daytona 500. And NASCAR hopes for another successful year like 2011. Television ratings were up after three years of decline, and the Sprint Cup title wasn’t decided until Tony Stewart beat Carl Edwards in the final race of the season at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Michael Waltrip is a two-time winner of the Daytona 500, but a crash in the first qualifying race Thursday ended his streak of 25 consecutive Daytona 500 starts.
Before the race, Waltrip discussed the main storylines.
Danica Patrick will run a full season on the Nationwide Series as well as several Sprint Cup races. What will be a successful season for her?
Waltrip » “I think you have to define success. She can compete and grab some top fives in Nationwide. Can she win in Cup? I didn’t see her fast enough on track to win, but that’s why you have to define success. Learning how to run those 900-horsepower beasts in your first season can be viewed as success.”
What are the key changes at Daytona?
Waltrip » “This season NASCAR modified the restrictor plate, made the spoiler smaller and adjusted the radiator on the cars. It has also banned driver-to-driver communication through in-car radios. That will reduce the two-car drafts that had come to dominate super speedway racing like Daytona.”
What is it like to be a car owner, driver and Showtime analyst?
Waltrip » “I just love the sport. … Racing and talking racing are both passions of mine so this is not that difficult of a balance for me. The two mesh quite well.”
Examiner columnist Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. Check out his blog, Watch this!
