I understand the relationships between the crew chiefs and the engineering or between fabrication and the body shop.
— Michael Waltrip
The thing that warms my heart is people. I have just met so many kind folks that want to just pat you on the back and say, 'We love you.'
I love to give people chances that otherwise wouldn't have them.
People are obviously capable of handling the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. But I don't know how many people have had to experience them within seconds of each other.
The one feeling that settled in and stayed there for a long while, and I still deal with, is guilt. I was there. I was a part of it. Why does it have to be like this? Was I responsible? Was I the reason Dale was in that position? I'd ask myself that question and look around at people and wonder if they were thinking that, too.
I love my job. It doesn't feel like a job, and I don't look at it as work.
I built my team with Dale in mind. He lives with me. He's part of who I am because I just appreciated who he was and how he went about things. People worked on his cars at Dale Earnhardt Incorporated before I got there. When Dale would walk by you could just tell people were thinking, 'these are Dale Earnhardt's cars.'
And Dale Jr., Dale's son, and Dale and I all raced to the checkered - were racing toward the checkered, which would have been the greatest race in NASCAR history, I'm convinced of it, had we have made it that last quarter of a mile. But instead it became the worst race in NASCAR history when Dale crashed and died on turn four.
I just don't think human beings are designed to have that big of a swing of emotions. I mean, I'm standing in Victory Lane literally seconds after Dale Earnhardt died. Dale Earnhardt was not only my car owner that day, my first victory in 463 tries, but he was my dear friend, too.
Physically helping me with advice and direction and a job was Richard Petty. He did a lot for me at a young age, when I needed help and direction.
People that know me know I take stuff personally.
I love when architects build a golf course that compliments the landscape rather than intrudes upon it.
I would probably build somewhere between a half-mile and three-quarter-mile track. It would be sort of like Indianapolis Raceway Park. When I was a kid, that was my favorite track.
I'm a Christian guy. I believe that we're going to heaven, and I believe when Dale Jr. and I drove off from Turn 4 at Daytona, I think that Dale Sr. had a smile on his face.
I love the sport, I love getting other drivers' helmets and collecting some of the things that are special to me.
I'm a Christian and I believe in angels and God.
You've got to understand, I'd been trying to get to Victory Lane my whole career.
When you have turnover, somebody not work out, they'd leave, it really affects a young organization because you don't have your process down pat. You got people coming and going who are affecting your direction. It's just really hard to start from scratch and quickly put your direction in place and be able to stick to it.
I'm a sensitive person.
It's real important to me to do what I say I'm going to do.
I'll always wear NAPA blue. I'm thankful they were a part of my life.
I was always one who thought that if something is painful, you just ignore it and it will go away. That's not true.
I like to tell my own story using my personality and my insight, the way I see things.
I try to motivate and inspire people by showing them how much I love this sport and love this organization.
Well, my favorite memory of a president was in 1984. I was in the grandstands at Daytona, and maybe I was 20 years old. So just sort of down in Daytona, having a good time for the 500 - or for the 400 in July. And Air Force One lands on the back straightaway. It was President Reagan.
I love Daytona and Talladega. I'd like to think maybe I could quit one day running all the races and just run a few that I like.
I don't know anyone who's started more consecutive Daytona 500s than me.
I really love the camaraderie you can share amongst some buddies, and the ability to laugh, enjoy the afternoon, enjoy the day. Golf brings all of that together and that's something I really enjoy.
They say some people are born with the ability to play golf. I wasn't.
It's my opinion tracks got too wide. You put 43 cars on the track, and if the turns are too wide like they are at some tracks, you sort of lose perspective of what's going on.
There's a Bible verse that says if you believe, you will be in the presence of the Lord in the blink of an eye. And I know Dale was a believer, and that means that he saw his son and his friend going to win the Daytona 500, and he was in heaven all within the blink of an eye.
You know, it's funny: Over my career, I didn't win as much as I hoped, but I can look like Flavor Flav if I want to put on all my rings that I've won for different reasons.
Nobody had ever lost 462 races and then just won. But Dale Earnhardt Sr. had told me I had the ability, and that day, I knew I would.
I was confident that I not only could win races, but I could win the championship.
I love NASCAR. I love the sport. I love the people. I believe I love it more than I ever have because of the people that have gone out of their way to tell me that they appreciate who I am and who MWR is.
This is racing. There is going to be twists and turns. You're going to be dealt setbacks.
Predominantly everything I have and everything I do revolves around my commitment to NASCAR on the team ownership side.
It's easy to get bogged down in all the negativity that when you see people smile and pat you on the back and say, 'We're going to get through this,' it means a lot.
It's sort of like baseball - the more you know about baseball, the more you get into a baseball game. NASCAR is the same way.
I've got my hands in every aspect of the NASCAR world, not only as the part time race car driver but as the full time TV guy and race team owner.
The drivability of an engine is a big part of the setup on a road course. If you can't squeeze the gas down you can't go anywhere.
Well, when you think of Dale Earnhardt, you think of determination. You think of grit. Just a blue-collar, working-class guy that got out there and fought for the checkered flag and fought hard for it. And I got so much out of him. He inspired me.
Some people might say I'm two different people, but I think it's more like seven or eight.
I act like I'm always in a good mood when I'm not, but it's my job.
I love being outdoors.
As I've gotten older, I know I race less, but I as an owner I have the same anxiety and the same frustration and energy for it.
I think people - especially folks who haven't seen a lot of NASCAR - they get this idea that we're just going around in circles. And that's so far from the truth. You're running as hard as you can to get all you can every lap.
It takes a good car for anybody to be good, but it takes a good car and a special driver to achieve greatness.
I liked unique setups. Like when we started coil-binding springs or running soft springs, those things really felt good to me.
Lying in bed, I determined that since I'm a Christian, I believe we all have our days - our days are numbered. I figured it was Dale's day to die, and I was the best person to win the race and be able to honor him in the victory.
