Michael Waltrip is a former stock car racing championship winner and also the younger brother of three times NASCAR championship winner Darrell Waltrip. Machel is also a racing commentator and an author. Machel was actively involved in his career from 1986 to 2014.
Waltrip is involved with the sports broadcasting team for Fox Sports as a panelist in 1996. Waltrip raced for the Toyota Racing team winning many accolades to his disposal.
Michael Waltrip has an estimated net worth of $35 million in 2019. The two-time Daytona 500 winner made around $50 million during his racing career. Moreover, as a commentator, Michael has been earning a good figure.
During his career peak, the No. 15 Toyota Camry for Premium Motorsports reportedly earned $5 million in a year. The most portion of his career earnings came from his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series winnings where he earned more than $47 million.
Waltrip Event Appearances and Earnings:
Events | Earnings |
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series | $47,082,416 |
NASCAR Xfinity Series | $4,451,589 |
NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series | $156,452 |
NASCAR K&N Pro Series West | $38,825 |
NASCAR Northwest Series | $1,040 |
ARCA Menards Series | $10,700 |
The typical driver makes over $1.5 million a year Being a NASCAR racer. Drivers also make money from winnings, endorsements and merchandise money. NASCAR’s top moneymaker is Dale Earnhardt Jr. In 2015 Dale made nearly $15 million in salary and winnings, plus another $9 million from endorsement deals for a total of $24 million.
The drivers who create most of the TV ratings naturally get more sponsor dollars, where Waltrip was one of the most celebrated drivers.
Michael can be seen holidaying in beaches these days, he is spending his retirement in a luxurious way with his co-partners. Michael also likes playing golf in his pass-time.
Waltrip owns a house in Sherrills Ford, North Carolina where he currently resides. Further details about his properties is not available.
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Michael dated some of the finest women in his life. He had many girlfriends in the past. Waltrip dated Buffy Frank for some a while and got married in 1993. After four long years of marriage, the husband-wife welcomed their first child Margaret in 1997.
Michael got a divorce from his marriage with Buffy in 2010, ending a long time relationship. Buffy Waltrip was previously married to Adam Hawthrone.
Michael has been alleged to be in a relationship with professional dancer Emma Slater since 2012. The rumored couple was partners in the Season 19 of Dancing With The Stars.
The news was first broke out by Star Magazine on November 3, 2018. The Magazine wrote:
“Dancing With The Stars partners Emma Slater and Michael Waltrip have fallen for each other since being paired up for the show in September. And while the Nascar driver, 51 and blonde beauty, 25 raised eyebrows when their relationship became official, friends say the 26 year age has never been an issue.”
Michael's affair with other women is out of the limelight.
On April 11, 2007, Michael was charged with reckless driving and leaving the scene of the accident after crashing his car into a telephone pole.
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Michael Waltrip was born on April 30, 1963, in Owensboro, Kentucky. He currently resides in Huntersville North Carolina, U.S.A.
Michael started his career when he was only 15, his brother was already a professional racer then. His parents were unsupportive towards his career and wanted him to complete his school.
Though he was not allowed to join the racing team, he got into a go-kart and other forms of race in his home town. During his early days, Waldrip was called as Mike Waltrip or sometimes Darell Waltrip's brother.
Waltrip earned a sponsorship from Pennzoil which help him win Winston Open. Waltrip won the first three NASCAR races at Daytona with his brother Darrell in the broadcast booth. Michael's Talladega win was also his only win at a NASCAR race.
When not racing, he is a pre-race commentator alongside his older brother Darell for NASCAR. Michael also worked as a commentator for both the Xfinity series since 2015 and the Truck Series since 2004.