September 15, 2006 - During the recent NASCAR race weekend at New Hampshire International Speedway (Sept. 15-17), Michael Waltrip answered questions regarding the progress being made at Michael Waltrip Racing, the development of the Toyota Camry race car and the 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup season.

What are your impressions of the Toyota Camry Cup car?
 "We had a great test at Michigan (Aug. 21) with that car. It ran really well and it was competitive among the other guys. I think that when we rolled out there we showed that we had done a lot of work gearing up for that test, and I was real proud of my team."

Can you provide an update on the progress at Michael Waltrip Racing as you prepare for the 2007 season?
 "We did a count yesterday -- and including the Toyota truck team that Darrell owns which will become a part of our organization -- we have 140 employees already. That's a lot of people and I would say 75% of them are focused on the 2007 Camry. We are going to Rockingham (North Carolina Motor Speedway) September 20 to test both the 'Car of Tomorrow' and the current car."

When do you expect to announce the crew chiefs for your team?
 "The Fall is coming upon us and we really felt like it was more important to get guys that knew how to build winning race cars. The crew chiefs take the product that you hand them and tune on it and adjust it from there. So, we've been in the mode of hiring folks to build our cars and we've put together an impressive group. The crew chiefs will come later in the year."

What has been your biggest challenge in building Michael Waltrip Racing and preparing for 2007?
 "To me it's just simply the unknown. What are we doing that we need to be doing differently? What are we not doing that we need to be doing? We have such smart people that have won at this level before working for us -- I'm sure they're covering every base -- but for me, being sort of the shepard of it all watching over everything, I'm just curious how it's all going to turn out."

What has been most rewarding in building Michael Waltrip Racing and preparing for 2007?
 "There have been two things that have been really rewarding. On-track, what we did at the 'Car of Tomorrow' test at Michigan (August 21). Our car was competitive. We were really impressed with the way it drove. Dave (Blaney) drove it and I drove it and we both agreed that it was as close as anything we've driven before -- right off the truck. So, that's pretty big. Secondly, off-the-track, it's the sponsors that we've attracted. The people that believe in what we are doing and have partnered with us to go forward. Those two pieces are really fun for me to think about and it drives me to make sure that we do a great job for them."

When do you expect to announce a driver for your third Camry - the No. 00?
 "The No. 00 Burger King/Dominos car will have a driver in it -- a name driver in it -- within a week or two, I hope. I told people that before and it didn't come true -- and so I've been trying to bite my tongue and not say it. But, I think we are really close to deciding that we like where we are at with our driver and can't wait to announce it -- and add some crew chiefs and sort of finish things off."

 "I think that there is a pretty good chance that David Reutimann will be in it. He's just a really quality guy. He's won in a Toyota before and he understands the system and the process. He'll be a proud addition to our team."

Do you know when all three Michael Waltrip Racing drivers will test the Toyota Camry Cup car together?
 "Not at this point. I do know that David (Reutimann) and I are going to go to Rockingham (N.C.) September 20 and test. David's been doing a lot of the Cup testing for us throughout the season. He's geared up on that and I'm going to join him next Tuesday at Rockingham to test the current car and the 'Car of Tomorrow.' Dale races a Ford for the time being and we're really respectful of that -- we don't really want to mess with him until he's done racing that."

What are your initial impressions of working with Toyota and TRD?
 "My initial impressions go back to last summer when I went out there and decided that I wanted to join the Toyota team. I wanted to be a part of what they were doing going forward. I just love it. I love the attitude -- from thanking the fans for letting us race to just being humble and thinking we want to come race -- we don't want to beat our chest. We just want to play with you guys and hang out with you cats. That's kind of my attitude. Give me a chance to beat you and I will. Just the attitude, the technical support, the history -- I could go on forever."

What has been the reaction from race fans to you starting your own team and joining together with Toyota?
 "Everybody is happy for us that we're doing our own team. About 99% of the time the fans have been very supportive, as far as saying; 'I have a Camry. I have a Tundra. I love it. We appreciate you teaming up with Toyota.' If you think about it -- the Chevys and the Fords and the Dodges will have more eyeballs on them next year because Toyota's here. People are just going to be curious and say; 'How's Toyota going to stack up in NASCAR?' They are elevating the sport of NASCAR and I love the sport of NASCAR and anytime somebody can make it better, I'm all for it. I'm sure there are some people that are negative toward us, but they're very few and far between."

How are things progressing with your new race shop - 'Waltrip Racing World'?
 "Our manufacturing facility -- the fabrication shop -- has been up and running for about a month now. We've built four or five Camrys already. We have a system in place where we will start pumping out one or two Camrys every four or five days. We're doing a good job on building up from the race team side. The 'experience' itself -- which is what 'Waltrip Racing World' will be all about -- should open some time in mid-2007. It will be an interactive race shop where the fans can come -- it will be a destination for the fans -- to come and check out how we build our Camrys and what it's like to be behind the scenes at a race shop. We're really proud of that piece of it and we're right on schedule. We're supposed to take possession of our building -- on the other half of our building -- early '07. So, our goal is to leave for the Daytona race with our cars and come back home and be in our new shop -- be in all of our shop. Then, build it up to where we are ready to welcome the fans in the middle of the year."

What will you feel when you arrive in Daytona next February for the opening race of the 2007 season?
 "I'll just be nervous. There's no way around it. There are so many things that have to happen between now and then. I'm not even focused on it right now. I don't even know what it's going to feel like to drive through the tunnel (at Daytona). I haven't even really thought about it. I just know I want to make sure we do everything we can so when we do go through that tunnel the cars come out on the other side ready to roll. But, saying all that, I'll still be nervous -- I know that. I don't know what all other anxieties I'll have or what other issues there may be. Like, I said, my biggest fear is the fear of the unknown -- not knowing what we are missing or what we're are doing right or wrong. That's fun for me. I trust the people that I have put in place. We've got some smart people and they always pat me on the back and say; 'It will be alright Mike.'"