NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Two-time Daytona 500 champion Michael Waltrip is entering the arena football world as part of the ownership group of the Nashville Kats, a founding franchise in the newly rebranded Arena Football 1 (AF1) league.
The announcement, made Friday, adds yet another high-profile name to a growing list of recognizable football and sports figures backing the Kats. Waltrip, a longtime NASCAR favorite and TV analyst, joins a group that already features former NFL head coaches Jeff Fisher and Jon Gruden. Fisher, who spent years leading the Tennessee Titans and Los Angeles Rams, serves as the Kats’ majority owner.
“We now have three living legends attached to the Nashville Kats — Jeff Fisher, Jon Gruden, and Michael Waltrip — all with the ultimate goal to win championships and raise the AF1 to its ultimate potential along with any team associated with the AF1,” said Bobby DeVoursney, Kats CEO and managing partner.
In addition to his ownership stake, Waltrip’s Michael Waltrip Brewing becomes the team’s official craft beer partner. The organization will debut a “Waltrip Winner’s Circle” fan zone as part of an enhanced game-day experience this upcoming season.
Waltrip’s entry into football ownership aligns with his growing presence in the business and entertainment sectors since retiring from full-time racing. His involvement aims to bridge fan communities across motorsports and arena football, two sports deeply rooted in Southern culture.
The Kats (a revival of the original franchise that played in both the AFL and af2) continue their postseason push this Sunday when they face the Southwest Kansas Storm in the AF1 semifinals in Clarksville, Tennessee.
As AF1 looks to gain traction in the spring sports landscape, the combination of championship-caliber ownership and fan-driven entertainment could be a winning formula — both on and off the turf.
