Michael Waltrip Racing seeking sponsorship for eight Nationwide events
CORNELIUS, N.C. – Owner Michael Waltrip says his goal is to run the No. 99 Michael Waltrip Racing NASCAR Nationwide Series team in all 35 races, but there’s a chance the team could run only 27 events this season.
Waltrip said the team has sponsorship for 26 races – 14 for himself and 12 for Red Bull Racing’s Scott Speed. Waltrip will also run the April standalone race at Nashville Superspeedway, with or without a sponsor.
If sponsorship isn’t found for the remaining eight events, the No. 99 won’t run.
“We’re in the business to race these [Sprint] Cup cars,” Waltrip said. “[The Nationwide team] just supports that business. If there isn’t a sponsor on it, then it won’t go anywhere because it costs us money, and we don’t gain anything on it.”
The June 13 race at Kentucky Speedway is the first race the team could skip.
“I’ve talked them into letting me go to Nashville in April without a sponsor,” Waltrip said. “We’re working on getting me one. I’m going to go there without a sponsor for sure because I just love that city. The last time I was there, I won, so I want to try again.”
If sponsorship is found for the remaining races, MWR Sprint Cup driver David Reutimann or development driver Josh Wise would be entered, Waltrip said.
“We’re working on it,” he said. “It’s a work in progress.”
