In the first parts of this exclusive series with NASCAR’s Michael Waltrip, the racer/broadcaster discussed the death of Dale Earnhardt, Sr., his big wrecks at Bristol and Talladega, what it’s like to have this reporter take him on some 170-mph hot laps around Daytona International Speedway and more. In Part 3 here, Waltrip discusses his 2019 documentary, “In the Blink of an Eye,” how his brother, Darrell, helped his racing career, how being a TV commentator compares to racing cars on the track, his upcoming participation in Tony Stewart’s new Superstar Racing Experience (SRX) series, and how he thinks Jimmie Johnson will do in IndyCar. Below are edited excerpts from a longer conversation.
Jim Clash: Your 2019 documentary, "In the Blink of an Eye,” is based on your book of the same name. But, in the book, you tell your own story. In the documentary, you have people interviewed that corroborate your stories. How do you feel about the way the film turned out?
Michael Waltrip: When they began the documentary, they said they had to talk to everyone in my book: Dale Earnardt, Jr., Mike Helton, my brother Darrell, Richard Petty. I had that moment where I thought, 'I hope what I said in the book is true' [laughs]. I wasn't around to hear those interviews. I chose not to be. Later, when I listened to the interviews, it was amazing that everybody involved completed each other's stories. Every story was confirmed! It was special to know that I did remember it right [when I wrote the book]. Just to hear Richard Petty say I was living with him when trying to make it in NASCAR, Dale, Jr., talking about how me and his dad became such good buddies. Everything about how the documentary turned out is the way I wanted it to be. People say they have been inspired by the book and documentary for helping them through their own tough times. It happened, it's life, and if I can help somebody else by the way I handled it, then that's all I can hope to do.
Clash: Did your brother, Darrell, help you much with your racing career?
Waltrip: He gave me an important last name, and that's all I really got from him as a kid. That being said, I was smart enough to take what he gave me and make it work. You know, get rides, get sponsors here and there. If I didn't win for a long time, and if I had been handed a bunch of stuff early, I don't know if I would have been tough enough to persevere. So Darrell gave me exactly what I needed. As a 12-year-old, it was exactly what I didn't think I needed [laughs]. But, as a young adult and a kid that fought through a lot, I look back and I'm thankful.
Clash: You do a lot of TV broadcasting. Compare and contrast that to being in a race car on the track.
Waltrip: I'm really good at ad lib, but not so good at rehearsed stuff. So I try to miss rehearsal [laughs]. I think I have a good enough relationship with the drivers in the garage area to where I don't have to guess much. I can text, call, play golf with them, ask questions. That makes you current, relevant - and I do okay at that. So my homework consists basically of hanging out with the drivers, talking with crew chiefs, and then taking that information and sharing it with the audience. I had a rule as a racer: one, the reason there are grandstands up there is because it's entertainment; and two, the reason we race is for competition. Those two tracks don't intersect. You can be as entertaining as you want, and you can be as competitive as you want. Anybody that doesn't get that doesn't understand why the grandstands are there. When you're on the track, you're out there to win. But when you're in the broadcast booth, you're telling stories, entertaining. Let's make this fun as well as educational.
Clash: What are you afraid of, and how do you handle fear?
Waltrip: I wouldn't have been able to answer that question a year ago, because I hadn't really raced for awhile. But now I'm getting ready to do Tony Stewart's SRX series, and I'm afraid of not winning. It takes me back to when I suited up on Sundays. I see Helio Castroneves, Tony Kanaan, Marco Andretti, Bill Elliot, Bobby Labonte. It's so cool to be able to stand around and talk to Bobby, Tony and Bill. Damn, we did this 20 years ago, and here we are again. But, as psyched as I am, I don't want to suck. I want to go out and win. So I guess losing is a fear. I don't have any others I can think of. I don't like snakes. I thought I wasn't afraid of them, but when I saw one on the ground the other day, I about crapped myself. But they are not a normal part of my life [laughs].
Clash: How do you think seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson will do in the IndyCar series?
Waltrip: It’s a steep learning curve. I’ve talked to him a little bit, and there are certain goals he has, and they are conservative. I just want him to have fun, do something that’s been on his bucket list. For me, it won’t be where he finishes. The success will be if he enjoys it. He’s done it all over the years, he doesn’t need to prove anything to anybody. But getting the opportunity to get behind the wheel of one of those beasts, that’s special.
