As the NASCAR Cup Series rolls into Dover, Delaware, for the Würth 400 at Dover Motor Speedway, two-time Daytona 500 champion and NASCAR on Fox analyst Michael Waltrip addressed the difficulties posed by the track known as the Monster Mile. Waltrip also shared where he stands on some of his current drivers in the Cup Series.
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Waltrip talked with Fox Sports' Erica Renee Davis about how daunting the track at Dover can be.
"If I wanted to take you on a ride around the racetrack and scare the you-know-what outta you, I'd take you to Dover," Waltrip said. "The banking is so high and the corners are really sharp, so everything that drivers have to endure is 10-fold. It's like a rollercoaster; the bottom drops out on you."
Waltrip was fortunate enough to win twice at Dover during his Busch Series days, in 1988 and 1990, and he called the track "the biggest thrill ride in NASCAR."
Waltrip's words are worth their weight in gold when it comes to racing, as he has experienced so much during his several decades in the sport. The driver-turned-owner-turned-broadcaster definitely knows a thing or two about what it takes to compete at NASCAR's highest level. While the Kentucky native cited his brother, Darrell, along with Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Richard Petty as his all-time heroes, he also dished on who his favorite drivers are at the moment.
"I love Kyle Larson. He's kind, caring, and funny," Waltrip said. "Most would put him in the top five of the most talented, pure race car drivers currently. Daniel Suarez is another talent I'm always happy to watch."
Larson and Suarez lead the NASCAR analyst's list, but he also puts Corey LaJoie as a driver every fan and spectator should respect.
"I think everyone is waiting for Corey to have his moment," Waltrip said. "Dover is a bit of a difficult track for an underdog like LaJoie because of the high banks. But he's definitely a driver who's on the verge of breaking through."
LaJoie, whose fourth-place finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway marks the only time that the Spire Motorsports driver has broken through the top 10 this season, made headlines earlier this week after Kyle Busch called him a "pain in the d**k" following a dust-up at Martinsville Speedway. LaJoie, who had recently admitted on his Stacking Pennies podcast that the contact at Martinsville was intentional, will need to avoid revenge from Busch if he hopes to turn his season around.
