Michael Waltrip paint scheme to honor Kentucky Wildcats at Kentucky Cup race

Michael Waltrip is a Kentucky native. The Kentucky Wildcats recently captured the 2012 men's NCAA basketball championship, the eighth basketball title in school history. Next week, the Sprint Cup Series races at Kentucky Speedway.

So in a perfect marriage of all things Kentucky, Waltrip will run the race in the No. 55 car featuring a paint scheme honoring the champion Wildcats.

“We're proud Michael will be representing his home commonwealth and the Wildcats' achievements when he competes for our ‘Quaker State 400' title and look forward to welcoming UK's loyal Big Blue Nation to a signature Kentucky event,” Kentucky Speedway General Manager Mark Simendinger said.

It will mark Waltrip's second race this season. He finished 19th at Talladega in May.

Waltrip missed last year's inaugural Sprint Cup race at Kentucky after qualifying was rained out. He has made two Nationwide Series starts at Kentucky, finishing 14th in 2004 and 42nd in 2005.