Michael Waltrip Racing to Lay Off 217 Employees

CORNELIUS, NC — More than 200 employees at Michael Waltrip Racing will lose their jobs as early as November 1.  The race shop filed a notice Tuesday, stating its plans to permanently lay off 217 people.

Company co-owner Rob Kauffman announced last month the team will go out of business at the end of this season.  He said it wasn’t possible to maintain a top-10 racing budget without winning more on the track.

Residents living near the race shop aren’t happy about the decision.

“When you reduce the amount of money in the community, it affects the other places like restaurants, retail outlets, and they’re going to have to make up the money by cutting payroll,” said Cornelius resident Steven Going.

The team’s race shop is now for sale.  Its current drivers, Clint Bowyer and David Ragan, remain unsigned for next season.