Waltrip tries another team in his bid to get a Winston Cup victory after being shutout in his first 394 career starts. The team is switching from Fords to Chevrolets as part of an alliance with Team SABCO, but building two new sets of Monte Carlos in one season sounds like a big hill to climb.
Career
In 1997, Waltrip finished seventh four times in first 12 races and hung around top 10 in points until
midpoint of season. Faded to 18th in points and only had three top-20
finishes in final 17 races. Late-season rumors that Wood Brothers were
ready to try their luck with younger driver never came true, but team
remains thirsty for real success.
In 1996, finished 14th in Winston Cup standings, posting 11 top-10 finishes. Won The Winston in Charlotte. Now in second season with the Wood Brothers.
Started racing in 1981, Kentucky Motor Speedway track champion in mini-modified
division. NASCAR Dash Series champion in '83, that series' Most Popular Driver in
'83 and '84. First pole came in 160th attempt, 1991 Budweiser 500 at Dover. Made
Winston Cup debut in 1985 with Dick Bahre in World 600 at Charlotte. Best career
finish is second, 1988 Miller 500 at Pocono. Seven Busch Grand National victories.
Won Winston Open in 1991 and '92.
Career-best 12th in 1994 Winston Cup point
standings, winning $706,426. Best finish of '94 was third place at spring
Talladega event. From May 1995 until Rockingham race in October was in eigth and
nineth place. With poor finishes at Rockingham and Phoenix he dropped to 14th but
came back to finish 12th in standings after placing 12th at Atlanta. Had eight
top-10 finishes, including a third at the Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte, his best
finish of the season.
Sources: NASCAR Press Guides, Star and News staff reports.
