Waltrip would serve team better by giving up wheel

	With the complications inherent to running three teams, Michael Waltrip's own racing efforts have run aground this season. Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

After five races this season, the time for change is now for Michael Waltrip. After racing his way into the Daytona 500 in the Duel 150 after a mysterious substance was found in the fuel tank of his first car, Waltrip has failed to qualify in any of the next four races. Last year, Waltrip's top finish was 14th at Talladega. But there may be a way for Waltrip to salvage his season.

Fire himself.

That's right, Waltrip should remove himself from the cockpit and hire a veteran to drive the No. 55 Toyota. It may hurt his pride and ego, but it's the proper course of action for a program in deep, deep trouble.

Waltrip needs to focus on ownership of his three-car operation, a massive undertaking. With 24 years of NASCAR experience, 22 in Nextel Cup, he's capable of organizing and running a successful multi-car team.

But he's not helping that effort behind the wheel.

All of the Toyota teams have struggled, but when rookie teammate David Reutimann has put it in the show three times and you once, it's time to consider where your future lies. A.J. Allmendinger, who doesn't have the stock car experience to be racing in Cup, even qualified last week in the Red Bull Toyota.

Waltrip is marvelous with sponsors and he's assembled an impressive lineup for his first full-time Cup season. He knows how shops should be run, understands the logistics, the need to be ready and knows who is doing their job well and who isn't. Those are primary ownership responsibilities, and if he paid attention to them, his team would get better.

It's hard to imagine how Waltrip finds the time to do everything. He has to deal with sponsors, work with the team in the shop and then drive the car on weekends, which typically is a full-time job in itself.

With such a full plate, details undoubtedly are slipping through the cracks, and details are vital in racing. How many times have you heard about a $20 part putting somebody out of a race?

Waltrip, to his credit, was candid about why he and Reutimann missed the show at Bristol.

"When we went up to Bristol for the test, we weren't prepared," Waltrip said. "It is sad to say, but it was true. We just didn't have it together like we needed it to be. When we went back, we were prepared. We were in position to be competitive enough to make the race. Unfortunately, we came up a little short. I am OK with that. I am not OK with what happened with what happened at the test because we didn't have a chance to learn anything.