Waltrip to honor Earnhardt Sr. at Daytona 500

It’s been 10 years since Michael Waltrip sped to victory in the Daytona 500 while Dale Earnhardt Sr. blocked the path of any would-be pursuers. Earnhardt died in the wreck that occurred coming out of Turn 3 in that race and Waltrip’s victory celebration was short-lived.

Now, a decade later, Waltrip is honoring his former car owner by running the same No. 15 he drove to victory that day in this year’s 500. Waltrip unveiled the car during NASCAR’s annual media tour.

“It was a real important event for me,” Waltrip said as he recalled the 10th anniversary of the race, won in the blue No. 15 Chevrolet for Dale Earnhardt Inc. “Going back to Daytona in 2011 is another chance for me to celebrate Dale’s life and the fact that he believed in me like he did.”

Waltrip has called the 2001 Daytona 500 the “best and worst moment of his life”, recalling the emotions that go with winning your first superspeedway race fatal crash , only to drive past your car owner as he struggles for life on the victory lap.

To further complicate matters that day, DEI teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished second in the race and was the first one to tell Waltrip about the consequences of the wreck, during his celebration.

While winning that race was a bit of surprise for Waltrip, repeating the feat this year would be an even bigger shock.

He drove four Sprint Cup races last year, finishing 18^th in the Daytona 500 for his highest finish of the year. He has not won a race since 2003 and has had only two poles since then.

In fact, if you want to bet on Waltrip to win, you have to take the field, which is currently listed at 20/1. Ironically, it is Kevin Harvick who is the race favorite right now at 7/1.

It was Harvick who was thrust into the national spotlight in 2001 as the driver who took over Earnhardt’s seat after his death.

Tony Stewart and Kyle Busch are both 8/1, while Jamie McMurray is 17/2. Earnhardt Jr. is showing at 11/1 right now, with Carl Edwards, Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon all 12/1.

An interesting longshot is Denny Hamlin, who is listed at 14/1.

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