Michael Waltrip likens 'Dancing With the Stars' to running a NASCAR race
With both of his Michael Waltrip Racing Toyotas eliminated from championship contention in NASCAR, MWR founder and co-owner Michael Waltrip is now readying himself for another competition: participating in "Dancing With The Stars" with Emma Slater as his dance partner.
"The opportunity to go to L.A. 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, my partner," said Waltrip. "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.' "
Waltrip said the television show does have something in common with his day job.
"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 that the sheet was blank," said Waltrip. "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."
The television show, while a fun diversion for Waltrip, is not his main priority.
"The racing team, like I said earlier, is the most important thing in the world to me," said Waltrip. "It's where all my eggs are totally in that basket. I go dancing and I go do TV to try to make that world more important for not only our team, but NASCAR in general."
And despite the disappointment of missing the Chase, Waltrip is feeling good.
"Mentally, I'm in a great place because I believe in what we're doing," he said. "I believe in our cars, our people and I believe in Toyota that we'll get all this better. Maybe we can be a lot like Brad (Keselowski) and miss the Chase this year and race for a championship next year."
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