Michael Waltrip, the two-time Daytona 500 winner turned brewer, has steered a new NASCAR-themed signature bar straight into Eleven Lakes Brewing's Cornelius taproom, bringing his branded beers and racing memorabilia to the Lake Norman crowd. The Michael Waltrip Signature Bar sits inside Eleven Lakes' Bailey Road location and is set up for race-watch parties, limited-release beers and branded merchandise. Instead of opening a standalone restaurant, the concept folds Waltrip's racing collection into an existing neighborhood brewery, giving locals another spot to catch races and sample MWB pours.
What's on tap and where to find it
Michael Waltrip Brewing Company said in a news release that the Michael Waltrip Signature Bar is located at 10228 Bailey Rd #201 inside Eleven Lakes Brewing and will pour flagship beers including Talladega Light lager, Bristol Sunshine Tangerine Ale and The Big One double lager, along with rotating specialty options. The release also notes that the bar will sell exclusive MWB merchandise and display authentic items from Waltrip's personal collection. Carry-out and event programming are built into the concept, according to the company.
Local partner and push for race fans
Eleven Lakes owner and general manager Teri Lippy told Cornelius Today that the partnership is meant to turn the taproom into a gathering spot for NASCAR fans and visitors headed into the Charlotte area. Cornelius Today also reports that the Cornelius bar is the fourth Michael Waltrip Signature Bar, continuing the MWB model of integrating into existing local taprooms instead of building new standalone venues.
Already plugged into race week and local events
The Lake Norman Chamber's event calendar lists a Race Week Business After Hours that took place at the new signature bar on May 20, an early sign that the spot is part of the race-week circuit. The Chamber listing says the event featured live music, local food and branded racing programming aimed at race-week crowds around Charlotte Motor Speedway.
What this means for Michael Waltrip Brewing
Michael Waltrip Brewing's website now lists Cornelius alongside MWB locations in Clarksville, Bristol and Nashville, and notes that the brand's beers are distributed in six states. That footprint helps the company push limited releases and themed programming into regional taprooms like Eleven Lakes.
The opening was also covered by the Charlotte Observer, which reported on the new signature bar and its plans for watch parties and specialty brews. For Lake Norman residents, the Michael Waltrip Signature Bar offers another place to catch races, try MWB beers and get a close-up look at a slice of NASCAR history.
