Racing faithful brave rain to meet Waltrip

BENTON, Mo. -- Not even a downpour could keep Southeast Missouri NASCAR fans from meeting one of the sport's top drivers.

Michael Waltrip, 2001 Daytona 500 winner, took time off from his race schedule to sign autographs for fans at Auto Tire and Parts Racepark Tuesday night. The autograph signing session was a part of fan appreciation night at the track.

Even with the track under water, fans lined up for hours to meet Waltrip. Waltrip signed everything from t-shirts and hats, to a leg cast.

"Everyone has a plan as to what they want to get signed no matter how unusual, and you don't want to say no," Waltrip said.

Mark Foster of Cape Girardeau had Waltrip sign a plastic penguin.

Foster said that his wife is a big penguin fan and would really get a kick out of it.

"My wife promised me that we'd go to Talladega if I got a penguin signed," Foster said.

For Tresa Meisenheimer of Cape Girardeau, having the chance to meet Waltrip was well worth standing in the rain for two hours.

"I would have stood in a hellstorm," she said.

Meisenheimer said that Waltrip's personality is what first got her attention.