Darrell Waltrip back at Daytona after gall bladder surgery - MotorSportsTalk

Like the swallows returning to Capistrano and Major League Baseball players reporting to training camp, yet another harbinger that spring will soon be here has returned to Daytona.

Can you say, “Boogity, boogity, boogity”?

Fox Sports announcer and NASCAR Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip is back at Daytona International Speedway after, shall we say, a little detour through a hospital emergency room.

Waltrip underwent emergency gall bladder surgery last Thursday, Feb. 13 in Nashville, forcing him to miss the Sprint Unlimited last Saturday and pole qualifying Sunday while he recuperated.

But make no mistake about it, whether you love him or hate him, Waltrip is back, just in time to celebrate the 25th anniversary of his 1989 Daytona 500 win.

Who can forget Waltrip’s hilarious celebratory “Ickey Shuffle” in victory lane (see video below)?

(For those of you too young to know who Ickey Woods, creater of the Ickey Shuffle was, Google it.)

Sure, Waltrip may be a little lighter weight-wise after removal of the gall bladder, but he’s ready to get back to boogity-boogity-boogitying for this Sunday’s telecast of the 56th Daytona 500.

“I feel great,” Waltrip told the Motor Racing Network. “I had no idea I had anything wrong. I just got sick all of a sudden. I was getting ready to leave to come down here. Next thing you know I was rushed into the emergency room and they took out my gallbladder.

“I should be good for Thursday (Budweiser Twin 150 Duels) and Sunday, no problem. Being at home, watching the guys, watching somebody else (brother Michael filled in for him, as did driver Clint Bowyer) do your job is like watching somebody else run your racecar. It wasn’t any fun.”

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With three multiple winners now vying for the championship, the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series heads to Round 11 at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington.

Chase Sexton earned his second victory of the season in Detroit when Aaron Plessinger fell on the final lap. Though he was penalized seven points for disobeying a flag, Sexton is third in the championship race. The Honda rider trails leader Cooper Webb (two victories) by 17 points, and defending series champion Eli Tomac (five wins) is three points behind Webb in second with seven races remaining.

Tomac won last year in Seattle on the way to his second season title.

Honda riders have a Supercross-leading 20 victories in the Seattle event but none at Lumen Field since Justin Barcia in 2013. Tomac and Barcia are the only past 450 Seattke winners entered in Saturday’s event.

Here are the pertinent details for watching Round 11 of the 2023 Supercross season in Seattle:

(All times are ET)

BROADCAST/STREAMING SCHEDULE: TV coverage of Round 11 will begin Saturday at 10 p.m. ET streaming on Peacock with a re-air Monday at 1 a.m. ET on CNBC. The Race Day Live show (including qualifying) will begin on Peacock at 4:30 p.m. ET Saturday.

NBC Sports will have exclusive live coverage of races, qualifiers and heats for the record 31 events in SuperMotocross. The main events will be presented on Peacock, NBC, USA Network, CNBC, and NBC Sports digital platforms.

Peacock will become the home of the SuperMotocross World Championship series in 2023 with live coverage of all races, qualifying, and heats from January to October. There will be 23 races livestreamed exclusively on Peacock, including a SuperMotocross World Championship Playoff event. The platform also will provide on-demand replays of every race. Click here for the full schedule.

POINTS STANDINGS: 450 division l 250 division

ENTRY LISTS: 450 division l 250 division

EVENT SCHEDULE (all times ET):

Here are the start times for Saturday’s Supercross Round 11 in Seattle, according to the Monster Energy Supercross schedule from the AMA:

4:50 p.m.: 250SX Group B Qualifying 1
5:05 p.m.: 250SX Group A Qualifying 1
5:20 p.m.: 450SX Group A Qualifying 1
5:35 p.m.: 450SX Group B Qualifying 1
6:25 p.m.: 250SX Group B Qualifying 2
6:40 p.m.: 250SX Group A Qualifying 2
7:55 p.m.: 450SX Group A Qualifying 2
8:10 p.m.: 450SX Group B Qualifying 2
10:06 p.m.: 250SX Heat 1
10:20 p.m.: 250SX Heat 2
10:34 p.m.: 450SX Heat 1
10:48 p.m.: 450SX Heat 2
11:22 p.m.: 250SX Last Chance Qualifier
11:34 p.m.: 450SX Last Chance Qualifier
11:54 p.m.: 250SX Main Event
12:28 a.m.: 450SX Main Event