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Michael Waltrip owner of Michael Waltrip Racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will be running in this years Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona for the second consecutive season.
Waltrip, who participated in the 24 hour, 3.56 mile endurance race in 2012 will have NSCS driver Clint Bowyer, along with co-owner and co-driver, Rob Kauffman and Endurance veteran Rui Aguas share seat time in the AF-Waltrip Ferrari 458 Italia that starts on January 26th at 3:30 p.m and ends January 27th, 24 hours later.
Waltrip said that the transition from NASCAR stock car to Ferrari sports car is “dramatic”. “The Cup cars have so much horsepower. That’s their main commodity is all the power that it has. ”
He went on to say that the cars do not stop well nor do they handle well and that the Ferrari is the opposite.
“It has a significant amount of power, but nothing like a Cup car. But when you go to hop on the brakes, that baby comes to a stop, and you can really whip it through the infield. So that’s what’s so fun about getting to drive the Ferrari.”
When asked during the conference about the 30 days in between the Rolex 24 and the start of the 2013 NASCAR season, Waltrip just said, “its different” and that it is “not really a big deal.” He said he will just have to leave Daytona, find something else to do and then come back to Daytona again.
“I’m glad I’m racing in the Rolex this year. It helps me get my season kicked off. It gives me some racing to do here before the NASCAR season starts up.” Waltrip said.
Last season Michael Shank Racing won the 24 Hour race completing 761 laps with A. J. Allmendinger, Oswaldo Negri, John Pew and Justin Wilson.
