Michael Waltrip is anxiously watching as a decade of planning and preparation for turning Michael Waltrip Racing (MWR) into a full-time NASCAR Nextel Cup Series and Busch Series multi-team operation comes to fruition.

Earlier this year it was announced Michael Waltrip Racing will make its debut as a full-time team in next February's season-opening Daytona 500, fielding a pair of Toyota Camrys.

"Everything is really starting to take shape," says Waltrip, a two-time Daytona 500 winner. "We've already secured sponsorship for two teams for next season. Of course NAPA will be back and we'll have an announcement on the other sponsor soon. We have our organizational chart put together, along with a plan to fill the chart."

Burger King Corporation will sponsor a No. 00 Michael Waltrip Racing entry in five Nextel Cup races this season in preparation for next year's effort. Bill Elliott, the 1988 NASCAR Cup Series champion and winner of 44 Cup races, will drive the Burger King car.

"Bill's going to run the No. 00 Burger King car at Chicagoland, New Hampshire, Indianapolis, California and Miami," says Waltrip. "The combination of a great sponsor and an awesome driver like Bill Elliott will give everyone at Burger King -- their franchisees, store owners, employees and customers -- somebody to cheer for and get behind. It will also help us move forward in building our team to field Toyota Camrys in 2007."

"We want to get our feet wet this year because it would be difficult to jump out there next season cold turkey," explains Larry Carter, MWR crew chief who will lead the 00 team. "One of our objectives is to run these races to make sure we have all the pieces in place, so when we show up in Daytona with our Toyota Camrys next year we'll be prepared."

"For the five races this year with Bill, we're going to have an 'All-Star' crew," adds Carter. "We're taking the best guys from both Waltrip organizations, whether it's a 'Busch guy,' a 'Truck guy,' or a 'Cup guy,' -- and we're going to put them together to work as a team and run these races."

Elliott's first on track activity for MWR took place during a test session at Lowe's Motor Speedway, where the Dawsonville, Ga.-native registered Cup victories in 1984 and 1987.

"The main focus of the test at Lowe's was to assess where we're at and what areas we need to work on," says Elliott. "It's also was a chance to get used to working with the guys. When this deal was first proposed to me, I thought it was a neat opportunity. Michael has a really good program coming together. I'm trying to help him out a little bit and at least get them pointed in the right direction. The critical thing is trying to get everything sorted out."