Name: Mike
City, State: Louisville, KY
Question: It seems the Toyota teams are off to a slow start in 2007. Has the start of the season gone worse than expected? Are the problems because of the new Toyota cars or is it a combination of new cars and new teams?

ANSWER: It's a combination of both. We knew going into this that it was going to be a challenge. Anytime you start a new race team it's a challenge and we have three brand new teams at Michael Waltrip Racing. That's probably the bigger challenge rather than Toyota being a new manufacturer, although that is a big enough challenge in its own right. Would I expect that we could do a little more than what we have? Sure, you always like to think that, but I took this because of the challenge and it certainly has been every bit of that. I know that I'll get through this and, from a competitive standpoint, I don't like running where we are. None of us do. The situation is going to take some time and I believe we will get through.

Name: Matt
City, State: Greenville, SC
Question: I know all tracks are different, but of the tracks you have run in your career, what is your favorite?

ANSWER: When I am doing an appearance or talking with a group of people I usually say the last track I won at but that was at Talladega and I have a hard time saying Talladega is my favorite track. My favorite track is Michigan. It is the track where I got my first win in the Cup Series, but more than that it's just a great track for racing. There are multiple grooves and it is on the driver to figure out which of those grooves will work best and that changes throughout the course of a 400-mile race. There's plenty of room for side-by-side racing and it's just a great track that lends itself to close racing, great races and finishes.

Name: Kristi
City, State: Garland, TX
Question: I know that this is the second team that you have started from scratch. Is this team a more difficult challenge with Toyota being new as well? How do you feel that the team is handling the entire situation?

ANSWER: It has been a bigger challenge than when I was with Joe Gibbs Racing in 1992 and helping to start that organization. Toyota being new to Cup racing has been part of the challenge, but probably more than anything is the state of NASCAR today. Competition in our sport is so close today and more so than it was 10-15 years ago. You used to have maybe 10 teams that you looked at as being threats to win on a weekly basis and now that number is something more like 20 to 25 teams capable of winning any given week. So, the level of competition has also been part of that challenge for us this year. As far as how the team is handling everything, that's probably been my biggest concern. I know about all the hard work and effort and the hours the team is spending trying to make this thing work. I'm afraid of the energy they're putting forth and not getting any reward for it right now. So my biggest thing is trying to keep those guys up because everyone is working really hard to get this thing going.

Name: Jeff
City, State: Richmond, Virginia
Question: Dale, what is your favorite paint scheme that you have ever run?

ANSWER: I've been pretty fortunate to run a number of paint schemes in my career but the one that probably sticks out in my mind the most in recent memory is the Arnold Palmer car we ran a few years ago. Arnold Palmer has always been a hero of mine when I was growing up and it was a tremendous honor for me to be able to pay tribute to him and his 50th Masters tournament. That was a very special program for me and my family and the one that probably sticks out in my mind the most of any that we've done, and we've done a lot.

Name: Mary
City, State: Sylvania, OH
Question: Dale, I want to say first of all that your fans love you and hope your year turns around soon. Do you know of any tracks this year where you will be doing anything for UPS's 100th anniversary, like drive the big brown truck or anything at all?

ANSWER: Actually, we do have plans to run a special paint scheme in honor of UPS's 100th anniversary. I don't know if I'm giving too much away because UPS will be making an announcement about that program in a few weeks. They had an internal contest for their employees where they could submit paint schemes and I believe one has or will be selected and then we'll be racing it later this season, probably during August.

Name: Joel
City, State: Jacksonville, AL
Question: I know it's early, but in your opinion what kind of long-term impact will Toyota make in NASCAR? We are behind you and MWR 110%.

ANSWER: Toyota's going to be very good for the sport, both from a marketing and competition standpoint. Anything that is going to improve the competition is good. They're another manufacturer that is putting money into their teams to make them competitive so that will eventually just enhance the competitiveness of our sport. From a marketing standpoint, they're going to put a lot of dollars in the sport representing their products and services, and in doing so representing NASCAR.

Name: Patti
City, State: Clarks Summit, Pa
Question: Do you feel the COT will even the playing field since this is a new car to race?

ANSWER: From the outside looking in I can see where people would think that is the case. The difference is that teams such as RCR, Hendrick and Joe Gibbs Racing has been working on this car since at least the middle part of last year. So they've had more time to dedicate to this project. The other thing is that being a new team, we're having to create from scratch programs for all of the racing we do - Car of Tomorrow, down force tracks and superspeedways. So while those teams are starting from scratch on the Car of Tomorrow they have established down force and speedway programs so they aren't having to allot as many of their resources toward those areas and therefore have more time to work on the COT cars. But, we'll all be competing in the COT cars for the first time together and what we learn from that first race does help to even up the playing field to an extent.

Name: Amanda
City, State: North Wilkesboro, NC
Question: It seems many younger drivers such as Elliott Sadler and Dale Jr. go to you for advice. Who were some of the drivers you went to with questions, starting out and even now?

ANSWER: Yeah, I had a few people I used to go and talk to but my dad was probably the first person I always went to for advice just because he's done this and has been around the sport for so many years. He's the one person I still go to on a regular basis when there's something I need a little help in figuring out. But I would also talk to Darrell Waltrip, Richard Petty and Benny Parsons - guys that are champions of our sport and knew what it was to first get into the sport and then build a successful career.

Name: Tony
City, State: Florence, KY
Question: Why do you think the Chevrolets seem to be so dominant as of late and do you think the Car of Tomorrow will even the playing field when it comes to manufacturer dominance?

ANSWER: I think you have to look at the teams that are racing Chevrolets. You have Hendrick Motorsports with four cars, Richard Childress Racing with three cars, Joe Gibbs Racing with three cars and if you just count those organizations up that's 10 teams right there and those three organizations, other than Roush, are the ones that are really leading the field right now. Now whether that's a manufacturer thing or what, I can't say simply because I'm not part of those organizations, but they obviously have really good, smart people working on those cars and they are organizations that have been around a long time and have had a lot of success. While the Car of Tomorrow may level the playing field to an extent, I don't think that all the sudden those 10 teams are going to start running 20th. I still think you'll see those organizations at the top of the practice charts and race results just because they are solid organizations with experience and depth, but maybe the separation won't be as extreme.

Name: Malcom
City, State: Alexander, AR
Question: Is the handling problem with the cars the body or is it chassis setup? Also, if the team gets running in the top ten each week would you run longer than the 2008 season?

ANSWER: I think right now the area where we're concentrating our efforts is with the aero program. We know the biggest thing we have to do is go back and work on our bodies. We've got to get some more down force in these cars. We are just not capable of doing the things that these other guys are doing with their cars. Once we get that to where it needs to be then we can go back and fine tune the chassis in any area where we feel that they may need work. I think right now though, the down force will help us more than anything. Then we can show how good the pit crew is and that we've got smart guys, but down force will make a lot of difference. As far as beyond 2008, that would possibly be an option but I feel quite certain that 2008 will be my last year. I'll be 52 years old at the end of that season and I feel like I'll be ready to start slowing down with the travel and everything that goes along with being a Nextel Cup driver.

Name: John
City, State: Louisville, KY
Question: Dale - I heard on the telecast at AMS that the Toyotas cannot use the same engine that is in the Truck series. What is the difference between the Toyota engine used in the Cup series and the Truck series?

ANSWER: Yes, the engines we race in the Nextel Cup Series are not the same ones raced by the Toyota teams in the truck series or even in the Busch Series. I'm not exactly sure of the reasoning behind that decision but I believe there are some technical differences in what NASCAR allows the trucks to race verses the Nextel Cup cars.

Name: Eric
City, State: Hutchinson, MN
Question: Dale, I am a longtime fan of yours and am wondering if you have any intent of being a car owner after you retire from driving?

ANSWER: Actually, no, not at this point in my life. I had a Busch Series team that I owned along with my dad for a number of years and it was a lot of fun and something we had contemplated building into a Cup Series team. But it is such a tremendous undertaking to accomplish that, especially in the sport today. There's a lot of work, time and money that go into building that type of organization, so I don't see myself in that capacity down the road.

Name: Candace
City, State: Atlanta, GA
Question: Your commercials for UPS and NAPA are the highlight of the broadcasted coverage for me. I love all of them. Which one is your favorite? I love the one with you and your dad, Ned. Thanks and GO DALE GO!!!!!

ANSWER: The UPS commercials have certainly been a lot of fun. They make my part in them very easy - probably because they know what they have to work with. Probably my favorite commercials are the ones I've been able to do with my dad. He helped out with the commercials during the first year we did them and then he's in one of the ads we did for this year's campaigns. He's meant so much to me and my career that it's nice to be able to do something like that with him and to have that association.

Name: Whit
City, State: Midlothian, VA
Question: Hi Dale. After your driving career in the Cup series is over, will you stay involved in NASCAR and if so, in which ways?

ANSWER: That is the plan right now, but in what capacity I still don't know yet. I've been in discussions with ESPN about perhaps doing some broadcasting when I'm done with the driving part of my career and I'll actually be doing some Busch races this season for ESPN and ABC. I'm also in a position to still be in a role with Michael Waltrip Racing and Toyota when my contract is up at the end of 2008. So I have some options that we'll work through once that time arrives but I won't be completely gone from the sport.