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DARRELL WALTRIPĖS BUDWEISER MONTE CARLO NEW CENTERPIECE OF RACING GALLERY
May 1, 2006
For Immediate Release
Saratoga Springs, NY
A 1985 Chevrolet Monte Carlo driven by NASCAR legend Darrell Waltrip during his third Winston Cup championship season is the new feature car in the Saratoga Automobile MuseumĖs Racing in New York gallery.
On loan from Charlotte, NC collector and long-time NASCAR marketing and public relations specialist Tom Cotter, the recently restored # 11 Monte Carlo sports the familiar red and white Budweiser livery and comes to Saratoga directly from WaltripĖs shop. It was one of the cars fielded for Waltrip by legendary NASCAR driver and car-owner Junior Johnson of Ronda, NC during a Ïdown to the wireÓ championship battle that saw Waltrip score seven wins and 21 top-ten finishes to edge 11 race winner Bill Elliot by a mere 101 points. Harry Gant, Neil Bonnett and New Yorker Geoff Bodine trailed Waltrip and Winston Million winner Elliot with another NASCAR legend, Dale Earnhardt, eighth in the final standings.
The Budweiser car replaces the 1951 Indianapolis 500 winning Belanger #99, driven by Capital District resident Lee Wallard, as the centerpiece of the Racing in New York gallery. It joins cars piloted by perennial NASCAR National Modified champion Richie Evans and dirt track superstar Pete Corey, among others, as well as the New York State Stock Car Association Hall of Fame display. It is the third Winston Cup car to be featured, with previous exhibits including a 1958 Chevrolet convertible that ran in the first Daytona 500 and Richard PettyĖs championship winning Dodge Charger.
NASCAR fans are familiar with Waltrip as both a great competitor who won some 84 Winston Cup races and nearly $20 million during his 29 year career and as the color commentator for the Fox TV broadcasts of NASCR Nextel Cup events. He is also the owner of one of the top Craftsman Truck Series teams with David Reutimann as driver.
Race fans can view the Budweiser #11 daily from 10 am to 5 pm at the museum, located on the Avenue of the Pines in the Saratoga Spa State Park. On Saturday, May 13, during the annual Saratoga Automobile MuseumĖs Spring Auto Show presented by Keeler Motor Car Company, the racing display will be supplemented by a lawn exhibit featuring the open cockpit cars of the Atlantic Coast Old Timers, sports cars from the Mo-Hud Region of the SCCA and vintage stock cars. Auto Show admission of $8.00 will enable visitors to tour the auto museum and lawn show exhibits on the grounds of SPAC as well.
The mission of the Saratoga Automobile Museum is to display significant cars, trucks, and vehicles that not only represent the automotive heritage of New York State but the entire world of motorized transportation. The Museum is chartered by the Board of Regents of the State of New York Department of Education and in addition to organizing permanent and temporary exhibits, the Museum hosts a variety of workshops, interactive displays, lectures, and outdoor shows.
The Saratoga Automobile Museum is located on the grounds of Saratoga Spa State Park at 110 Avenue of the Pines. For more information, guests can also visit the MuseumĖs website at www.saratogaautomuseum.org or call (518) 587-1935.
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