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Waltrip makes the right move
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Martin is a good race car driver. He has shown and proven it, but it's simply time for a change. I feel bad for Michael Waltrip that he is deciding to stop racing full-time. I know he is beside himself as to why David Reutimann and Marcos Ambrose can have the runs they are having and he isn't. But that's the reason why he chose to step aside and picked Truex to take over.
It isn't for me to say, but I think Michael is doing a great thing by choosing to run only a limited schedule in 2010. There are some racetracks where Waltrip runs great. We all know how good he runs at Daytona and Talladega. We all know he runs well at Phoenix and Loudon. I think it's good that he isn't hanging his helmet up completely. I think in the right circumstances at the right racetracks, he can get the job done. To me, there is really only one old-school, crusty veteran that has gotten a feel for this new car and that's Mark Martin. The rest have simply struggled with it and unfortunately, Michael is one of the guys that has fallen victim to it.
I don't know that Michael Waltrip Racing is up there yet in the ranks of Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing or Roush Fenway Racing. But you have to applaud what they have accomplished after starting with nothing. What Michael Waltrip has accomplished with his company in only three years is phenomenal. Three years ago, it wasn't much more than a vision. They started 2007 with a brand new manufacturer. They had to race two different cars: the old car and this new COT. They were doing all that with three teams too. I don't know that anyone could have climbed a more vertical mountain.
Now they are sitting here only 2½ seasons later with two pretty darn competitive teams. They have won a race with David Reutimann. They are the only Toyota team other than Joe Gibbs Racing with win a race this year. Marco Ambrose is also having some spectacular runs for MWR. So Michael Waltrip has to be very proud in what he has built, done and accomplished.
I think that's what Martin Truex Jr. saw in the organization and the reason he has come on board for 2010. He has to be thinking if MWR has come this far in only 2½ years, then what's it going to be like in 2½ more years.
I think some how, some way if they can get David Reutimann in this year's Chase, it would do so much for MWR moving forward in the future. As they keep adding the right people into the right places over at MWR, it's not beyond the realm of possibility to think they could be in contention for a championship in 2010.
FOX race analyst Larry McReynolds has more than 25 years of NASCAR experience as a mechanic, crew chief and broadcaster. He and his fellow Crew Chief Club members take you behind the wall at www.crewchiefclub.com.
"How to Become a Winning Crew Chief" is on bookstore shelves, or you may order your own autographed copy from www.DWStore.com.
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