MARTIN AND WALTRIP CAR NUMBER SWITCHES FROM 00 TO 55
Number Commemorates Aaron’s Founding in 1955

CORNELIUS, N.C. – Michael Waltrip Racing announced today that Mark Martin and Michael Waltrip’s Toyota Camrys will carry the number 55 during the 2012 and 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series seasons.

The number commemorates Charlie Loudermilk’s founding of Aaron’s, Inc. in 1955.

Aaron’s, Inc., the nation’s leader in the sales and lease ownership of residential furniture, consumer electronics, home appliances and accessories, grew from 400 to more than 1,900 stores since its initial race sponsorship of MWR in 2000.

Continue reading “Mark Martin & Michael Waltrip to drive 55 in 2012”

FORT WORTH, TEX. – Michael Waltrip Racing announced today it has hired Mark Martin to share in driving duties of the No. 00 Toyota and extended its 30-race sponsorship with Aaron’s, Inc. through the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup season.

Martin will drive in 25 Sprint Cup events each of the next two seasons, sharing the No. 00 Aaron’s Dream Machine with Michael Waltrip, who will drive five events with Aaron’s sponsorship. Martin will join Martin Truex Jr. and recently acquired Clint Bowyer in the MWR stable next season.

“Aaron’s has been a part of Michael Waltrip Racing for more than a decade and I’m proud that we will be racing together into the future,” said Waltrip, co-owner of Michael Waltrip Racing with Rob Kauffman. “This is a big day for our organization, announcing a sponsorship extension and adding a future first-ballot Hall of Famer like Mark Martin.

 

Continue reading “Mark Martin joins Michael Waltrip Racing Two Years, Part Time”

CORNELIUS, N.C. – Michael Waltrip Racing announced today that driver David Reutimann will not return to the team for the 2012 season.

Team officials notified Reutimann this week.

“David has been a significant part of Michael Waltrip Racing since the very beginning and will forever be a part of our heritage,” said Co-Owner Michael Waltrip. “We want to thank David for his contribution to our growth and success over the past five years and wish him well in the future.”

Reutimann will remain with the team for the final three races of the 2011 season.

In 168 Sprint Cup Series starts, all for Michael Waltrip Racing, Reutimann recorded two wins, 12 top-five, 25 top-10 finishes and won four pole awards.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Oct. 25, 2011) – NASCAR has issued penalties to the No. 00, No. 47 and No. 56 teams that compete in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series as a result of rule infractions discovered during opening day inspection Oct. 21 at Talladega Superspeedway.

All three cars were found to be in violation of Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-J (any determination by NASCAR officials that the race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules detailed in Section 20 of the rule book, or has not been approved by NASCAR prior to the event); and 20-3.2.1A (unapproved modification to an approved windshield) of the 2011 NASCAR rule book.

Continue reading “Michael Waltrip teams penalized for wayward windshields”

TALLADEGA, Ala. — Crew chiefs of two Michael Waltrip Racing teams and one affiliated program are facing penalties after NASCAR confiscated the front windshields from all three vehicles on Friday.

(from NASCAR.com)

The front windshields from David Reutimann’s No. 00 car, Martin Truex Jr.’s No. 56 car, and Bobby Labonte’s No. 47 car were all taken after they were found to have unapproved modifications, NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp said. The violations were discovered in opening inspection at Talladega Superspeedway, site of Sunday’s Sprint Cup event.

MWR fields the cars of Reutimann and Truex, and also builds the cars for Labonte, whose vehicle is owned by JTG Daugherty Racing. All three vehicles are Toyotas. Additional penalties for the infractions are expected early next week, Tharp said.

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Kyle Busch’s #18 machine pounded the wall from a blown tire, they go to a backup car.