Michael Waltrip Talks On Dancing And Racing, What Dale Earnhardt Jr. Thinks
Michael Waltrip talked with Auto Racing Daily about Dancing With The Stars and his first couple of weeks of training. While dancing he’s hoping to bring new fans to racing. Below is more including thoughts from Dale Earnhardt Jr…..
“Well, it’s been amazing,” Waltrip said of his first couple weeks of training for the show. “I agreed — we got together about two weeks ago and were able to finalize the details of being on the show. It was kind of challenging because obviously owning a team is first always for me, it’s my main focus to me, it’s what means the most to me. Having partners like Janssen and Aaron’s and 5-hour ENERGY and taking care of their needs is really important.
“We looked at this at Michael Waltrip Racing as a way to expand our brand and talk about NASCAR to millions of people that might not know as much about our sport as we would like them to. The opportunity to go to LA and dance is something that I’m very serious about and I can’t wait for my opportunity to get on the dance floor with Emma (Slater), my partner. To me it’s bigger than just that, it’s more about this sport and continuing to try to grow our team at MWR to the millions of people that will be watching ‘Dancing With the Stars.’
“It’s interesting, when I walk into the coffee shop near my apartment in North Carolina, everyday there’s people in there sitting and I figure a few of them know who I am because I’m kind of tall and am a race car driver and I’m in North Carolina. Everybody just smiles and I get my coffee, but now when I go there, those people that I thought knew who I was are all like, ‘Golly, can’t wait to watch you dance.’ Those are things I never thought I’d hear — those words.
It’s like Dale (Earnhardt) Jr. said on Jimmy Kimmel the other night. They said, ‘What do you think about Michael dancing on ‘Dancing With the Stars?’ He said, ‘Could you repeat that back to me one more time? I still haven’t gotten my arms all the way around that.’ And, that’s fair. I never have been a dancer and got into it that much, but over the last two weeks I’ve taken a crash course and it’s a good thing for my partner Emma is that the sheet was blank. The thing that I know for sure, when the music starts and it’s time for me to start dancing, I can’t take three or four steps and say, ‘Hold on a minute.’ It’s live and real, it’s just like a NASCAR race — when they throw the green, you’ve gotta go.”
Will this goofy guy — and as a fellow-Kentucky native, I mean that in the best possible way — draw more fans to NASCAR? I’m not sure. I mean, I watch the show, and I didn’t magically become a figure skating fan after watching Meryl Davis and Charlie White last season. But I don’t guess it could hurt.
Will NASCAR fans who didn’t previously watch Dancing with the Stars watch this season, because Michael’s on the show? Maybe, maybe not.
Whether NASCAR or DWTS benefits from this cross-pollenation is unknown, but one thing’s for sure, I’m betting Waltrip will be entertaining to watch. He does look rather goofy (in an entertaining way) in the promos, and I distinctly remember him saying something about skid marks during the big cast reveal on Good Morning America. Just hope he wasn’t talking about THAT kind of skid marks, and I think most of you know what kind of skid marks I’m talking about.
To read the full interview, see Auto Racing Daily. Also, Amy Purdy sent Michael and Emma some advice. See below! So cute! Here’s to Michael and Emma tonight!
Sorry Faylyn, it’s been corrected. Though next time you want a correction, ask nicely. You don’t need to be so demanding and snotty about it. Not all of us are knowledgeable on racing as YOU ARE!!
Thank you, Vogue! 🙂 Sorry you had some know-it-all giving you crap. First impressions are key, and these folks might want to consider that’s no way to “represent” for NASCAR. After all, they’re *guests* in your house.
Anyway, no matter how well or poorly Michael dances, I know he’ll have fun and charm the audience.
What a fun, sweet and encouraging message from Amy. So good to see her, and looking beautiful as always.
Michael has a great attitude. I hope he and Emma have fun and get a few weeks . Loved Amy’s video.
Thanks so much Cidra! Hugssss
@Cidra
#2…..I agree that Michael has a great attitude and great sense of humor. I remember the first time he drove on the Nascar track and won. My ex loved Nascar racing, I can’t sit still that long to watch it, and every time I would get up to do something, that’s when the action happened. LOL! He may not be the best dancer on the floor; but he will entertain us well.
@Vogue
Good job on the “tough” love. 🙂
Oh gosh, forgot to mention that I just loved seeing and hearing Amy again. She’s such an uplifting soul. Such a model of a true human being.
Love and blessings for her always!
Thanks so much Kat! 😉 And couldn’t agree more with you all on this couple! Adding: and Amy too!
I adore Mikey (as some NASCAR fans affectionately call him), I do. I do think that if they couldn’t get a current driver (for obvious reasons), that a former driver who is funny, articulate and as well-liked as Michael is was a good move. It’s just like Junior said though: …wait what?
The only problem I see, and this is just from my personal standpoint, is that if Michael tries to invoke the memory of Dale Earnhardt, or at least does it too much/too heavy-handed, he runs the risk of ticking off the very people that he wants to vote for him. People still LOVE Dale, even 13 years after we lost him, and they are so protective of his memory and legacy. There’s sure to be a Memorable Year/Moment week, because of course there will be, and surely I don’t begrudge Michael (if he makes it that far) using 2001 for that (breaking an O-for-463 winless streak in the biggest race of the year is kind of a big deal), but I hope he treads lightly with the whole “And then my friend and team owner was killed on the last lap” deal. Celebrate the win, not the tragedy.
Do I think Mikey’ll bring DWTS fans to NASCAR? Erm, no. I don’t. He’s funny and smart and all, but no. I don’t think he’ll bring NASCAR fans who weren’t already here over to DWTS fandom either.
Voguerista, my intent was not to be demanding and I am sorry you took it that way. I am by no means a know-it-all or rude person. Being 75 years young I try my best to have proper internet etiquette but I may be too old after all if my previous comment offended you or anyone. You have a very nice website and up-to-the minute info that I’ve enjoyed for several years. Keep up the good work.