NAPA and Michael Waltrip Racing announced today the extension of one of the longest sponsor/driver relationships in NASCAR history. Michael Waltrip will carry the blue and gold colors of NAPA AUTO PARTS for the ninth-consecutive season starting at the 2009 Daytona 500. It marks one of the longest running relationships in Sprint Cup Series competition.
“I have celebrated my greatest racing moments wearing NAPA colors and we have enjoyed some wonderful on-track and commercial success,” said Waltrip, the driver of the #55 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota. “Both of my Daytona 500 wins were with NAPA. The launch of my own race team was with NAPA. We have been together so long. It’s hard to think of one without the other.”
“Michael Waltrip is a terrific spokesman and brand ambassador for NAPA,” said Bob Susor, president of NAPA AUTO PARTS. “In fact, our research indicates that Michael Waltrip and NAPA AUTO PARTS have become synonymous to many race fans. The bond we have forged has helped us sell a lot of auto parts through the years and we are pleased to have Michael represent us again in 2009.”
Waltrip won the 2001 Daytona 500 in his first Sprint Cup race with NAPA. In total, Waltrip has put NAPA in victory lane six times [2 Gatorade Duels races and 4 Cup points wins] and has posted 21 top-five and 43 top-10 finishes along with scoring two pole positions. In 2007, Waltrip launched his own team as part of Toyota’s inaugural season in Sprint Cup competition and currently fields three Cup teams and one Nationwide Series team.
Bookmark to:
- Kennedy becomes crew chief of MWR No 55 team
- Waltrip testing at Nashville
- Michael Waltrip announces new crew chief
- Injured MWR crewman back on the job at Kansas
- NAPA to drop Waltrip?
I am glad to see this, this sponsorship deal just goes to show that some companies are just not in it for the money and glory of a win. I’m glad I support NAPA and there stores
Howie Motorsports Photography wrote:
I agree napa is the only auto parts store I go to,Im not really a michael fan but it is good to see that some sponsors are loyal and dont jump ship.
we always use napa parts and most of their store empolyees know their business about cars, trucks boats, cycles and more. we are a loyal micky fan and loyal napa customer.
Just wish he’d get a haircut and start running better
you gotta give it to napa they know mikey probably isnt the greatest driver out there but i love the way they spun the commercials from being a good winning driver to a not so good you can do better platform and some of the jokes in those commercials are funny but will definatley leave napa in peoples head, maybe napa is going for the sympathy factor hoping people will by stuff from them, cause they feel bad they are supporting mikey, or think maybe mikey needs more money to do better