Former professional stock car racer Michael Waltrip, brother to three-time NASCAR champion Darrell Waltrip, boasts a net worth of $35 million.
With two Daytona 500 victories under his belt, he’s not only conquered the track but also the commentator’s booth, offering analysis for the NASCAR Cup Series and colorful commentary for both the Xfinity and Craftsman Truck Series on Fox Sports.
Quick facts
| Category | Richest Athletes › Race Car Drivers |
|---|---|
| Net Worth | $35 Million |
| Birthdate | Apr 30, 1963 (60 years old) |
| Birthplace | Owensboro |
| Gender | Male |
| Height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
| Profession | Race car driver |
| Nationality | United States of America |
Early Life
Michael Waltrip was born on April 30, 1963 in Owensboro, Kentucky. He is the younger brother of Darrell Waltrip, who also became a stock car racing driver; he is also the younger brother of Bobby Waltrip.
As a child, Michael began racing go-karts at various carnivals and clubs in his area.
Having won a number of races, he soon gained the attention of stock car driver Dale Earnhardt.
Racing Career in the 1980s and 90s
Waltrip began racing cars in the early 1980s. He became well-known when he won a championship at Kentucky Motor Speedway.
Then, in 1983, he won another championship. He started racing in a big event called the NASCAR Cup Series in 1985. His first race wasn’t great, but his brother won that day.
He got better in the next years and had some good finishes. In 1988, he started racing in another series and did pretty well.
But in 1990, he had a bad crash. He got back to racing in 1991 and won some races. He raced with different teams over the years, winning a big race in 1996. He kept racing until 1998 with some good finishes.
Racing Career, 2001-2010
In 2001, Waltrip won the Daytona 500 while racing for Dale Earnhardt’s team, breaking his 462-race winless streak.
Earnhardt Sr.’s death overshadowed the victory. Waltrip’s results declined afterward, with a few highlights like a second-place finish in the Pepsi 400.
In 2002, he won races and had top finishes but had a less successful 2004 season. In 2005, he had seven top-tens and joined Bill Davis Racing, later forming Waltrip-Jasper Racing.
He struggled in 2006 and faced penalties in 2007 due to illegal fuel additives. He rebounded with some top finishes in 2008 and scored his first win as an owner in 2009.
He ran several races in 2010, including Daytona 500 and others.
Final Racing Years, 2011-2017
In 2011, Waltrip raced in Daytona 500, Aaron’s 499, Quaker State 400, Good Sam Club 500, and won NextEra Energy Resources 250 on a significant anniversary.
He joined FIA World Endurance Championship in 2012, faced NASCAR penalties in 2013, and raced with Identity Ventures Racing in 2014 before its closure.
Returned to racing in 2015 and 2016 for Daytona and Talladega, with his last NASCAR race in 2017 Daytona 500, finishing eighth.
Television Appearances
Beyond racing, Waltrip acted in a two-part episode of the television sitcom “My Name is Earl” in 2009.
Later, in 2014, he competed in the 19th season of the reality series “Dancing with the Stars,” paired with professional dancer Emma Slater.
Among his other television appearances, Waltrip appeared in a 2019 episode of “WWE Raw,” helping Kyle Busch defeat R-Truth for the WWE 24/7 Championship.
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Personal Life
With his ex-wife Elizabeth Franks, Waltrip has a daughter named Margaret. He has another daughter, Caitlin, from a previous relationship. Waltrip resides in Huntersville, North Carolina.
In 2011, Waltrip published the book “In the Blink of an Eye: Dale, Daytona, and the Day that Changed Everything.” It was later adapted into the 2019 documentary film “Blink of an Eye.”