Running 462 NASCAR Cup Series races without getting a victory. Then, finally soaring to stardom with two Daytona 500 victories, that spells the immense patience and dedication that Michael Waltrip had towards his racing career. And later, he became an echo in every NASCAR fan’s ears when the race starts, “Boogity, boogity, boogity, let’s go racing, you bunch of hotdogs!” Still missing those days? Well, he undertook a similar approach of perfection toward another chapter of his professional life. That involved mixing beer formulas instead of racing stock cars close to 200 MPH, as Waltrip recently divulged in an exclusive interview with EssentiallySports.
Being a former NASCAR driver and current FOX TV analyst, Waltrip’s presence in motorsports is far-reaching. That is how he and his associates envisaged the ‘Michael Waltrip Taproom’. But according to Waltrip, the endeavor is not just his name, but a noble effort by a group of dedicated people. Read on to learn more!
Michael Waltrip shares his inspiration behind brewing
The NASCAR veteran already had a penchant for establishing something from scratch. Michael Waltrip Racing rose in 2007, hosting the likes of star drivers like Clint Bowyer and Martin Truex Jr. Although MWR shut down following the 2013 Cup Series season, Michael Waltrip’s entrepreneurial itch never went away. In 2018, three buddies took a trip to Napa Valley, debating about why they do not like beer as they used to. That was the root of the idea to craft their own beer, and ultimately led to the inception of Michael Waltrip Brewing Company.
In an exclusive interview with EssentiallySports, Michael Waltrip revealed what ultimately motivated him to pursue this passion for some cold beer. A fateful meeting with his friends Bryan R. Sperber (former President of NASCAR tracks) and J. Glynn Gross (former Financial Consultant) led to this endeavor. Waltrip said, “Well, a couple of buddies said let’s go play golf. ‘What kind of beer do you want?’ I said, ‘I don’t really like many beers. I like wine.’ Then it was like, ‘We should make some beers, give it a try!’ And that’s how it all started – that was probably 10 years ago. We started making a few beers, having a little bit of fun. And it’s just grown.”
Currently, the trio has entirely dedicated itself to its beer brand. Michael Waltrip is the Chief Fun Officer, Sperber is the CEO, and Gross is the Executive Chairman/Secretary/Treasurer. Although initial plans centered around opening a brewery in Phoenix in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic got in their way. Undeterred, they found a better opportunity at Bristol, Virginia, where they opened their first taproom on Labor Day, 2021.
In 2023, Michael Waltrip proclaimed his goal to open 100 taprooms in the next five years. The most recent opening was in May 2024, when Waltrip opened a Taproom in Concord, close to Charlotte Motor Speedway. According to the veteran, all this has been a result of immense hard work: “We have awesome beers in distribution, we have great distributors that were adding every day across the Southeast and post to all the country…We have a stout team that helps us do those things. And I’m just really proud to be a part of it. It’s not my name written on the building – I’m a partner. I’m the guy that helps make the decisions, pick what beers go where, I name some of the beers, I’m involved in every aspect.”
What is more, Michael Waltrip finds his liquid endeavor similar to high-octane racing. From brainstorming little details to thinking big, everything resonates: “It’s a whole lot like my racing career. You start out…you’re naive, you’re inquisitive, you’re curious, you want to do more. The more you learn, the more immersed you get. And that’s what it’s been with the beer business.”
Speaking of racing, Michael Waltrip Brewery and Company has already been on a race car!
When Waltrip’s brand found its way to the racetrack
Well, that was inevitable, right? After all, Michael Waltrip basks in glory with two victories in the most prestigious NASCAR Cup race. However, his beer brewery found its way into another motorsport – the National Hot Rod Association or NHRA. Last year in June, Tony Schumacher was preparing for the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals. But what stood out on his Top Fuel was the livery of a local brewery – Michael Waltrip Brewery and Company! The 300-inch wheelbase car featured the MWB logo. There were images of the brand’s Talladega Light and Bristol Sunshine tangerine ale cans on the front half of the machine. The arrangement was a business decision for Schumacher’s car owner, Joe Maynard of Clarksville, who invested in Waltrip’s brand.
MWB CEO Bryan Sperber was very enthusiastic about this racetrack venture. He said, “Michael and I, when we started the company, it was all about making really great beer, having great food, and — like in Talladega Nights — we want to go fast. I don’t think you can go faster than Tony Schumacher’s Top Fuel car.” What is more, NHRA star Schumacher was also pumped to have the NASCAR legend’s name on his dragster. Schumacher said, “Michael Waltrip is a legend in my mind. The guy is riot…Joe Maynard, our team owner, partnering up with him has been awesome for us to unveil a really cool-looking car here in Bristol. I look up to him [Waltrip]. He’s a really cool guy.”
Evidently, Michael Waltrip Brewery and Company is making waves not just among beer enthusiasts but also among motorsports veterans. The sky is the limit for a veteran like Waltrip, who believes in giving his all to an endeavor!
The post EXCLUSIVE: How a Game of Golf & Love for Wine Sparked Michael Waltrip’s $20.31 Million Brewery Dream appeared first on EssentiallySports.
