Darrell Waltrip
Fox Sports analyst and former Daytona 500 winner Darrell Waltrip talks with The Post’s Justin Terranova about Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s return and Danica Patrick’s big year ahead of Sunday’s big race.
Q: What are your expectations for Earnhardt Jr. in his return?
A: I expect him to win. Dale loves Daytona, he has a fast car and it wouldn’t surprise me one bit for him to dominate this thing and win it. I think he’ll be better than ever. I went through a similar situation and getting that perspective while away, when I got back into that car I was on fire. I couldn’t wait to get back in the car and back on the track. I was more competitive than I had ever been, I was more involved than ever and I think it’ll be the same way with Dale Jr.
Q: Was there a concern last year that he might not return to the track ever?
A: It’s hard to quantify the severity of concussions. I probably had three major concussions in my career, and raced the next week. I raced two weeks in a row with one concussion, and I don’t even remember being there. We are way past that now, but I think what Dale did was so smart. A lot of guys would have jumped back in three weeks, but taking all that time, now that he’s back he looks sharper and more focused. Q: How important is his return? A: Dale Jr. may be the most beloved driver I’ve ever seen in this sport. Dale Sr. was very popular, he had a blue-collar fan base. Dale Jr. transcends all that. He has that kind of personality. He is a very likeable guy, he can’t tell a lie. People respect that and admire him about it. ... He carries a lot on his shoulders and I don’t even know if he is aware of it or not. But his influence inside or outside the garage is immeasurable. Q: Why has Danica Patrick seemingly been stuck in the middle of the sport? A: Danica has to have everything just right, the right car, the right setup. But when it is, I’ve seen her drive and I know she can get the job done, and I know she can get the job done on Sunday. I know she is more committed, more focused and has more drive to get something done this year — Stewart-Haas switching to Fords, she likes Fords. This is an important year for her to make a statement. Q: Why is this year more important? A: She’s done a great job growing her brand and she’s world famous. But there’s a point and time in every career where you have to put up some numbers to be more than just a splash in the pan. It’s a sink-orswim year for her.