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In 2001, after his final 2000 season as a NASCAR driver, Waltrip signed with Fox, to be lead NASCAR Winston Cup Series (Winston Cup) analyst and race commentator on the network's NASCAR telecasts, teaming with Mike Joy and Larry McReynolds.
Apr 1, 2021 · 9 Minute Read. Since retiring nearly two years ago, Darrell Waltrip remains as popular as ever — but he’s also developed somewhat of an identity crisis. “You should see my desk, I get more...
Jun 7, 2019 · Waltrip was already a 16-time winner when he beat Richard Petty in the 1979 Rebel 500 at Darlington. Even today, Waltrip thinks that was the best drive of his career.
- Al Pearce
- Contributing Editor
- 10 He Earned The Nickname ‘Jaws’
- 9 He Was The First Driver to Make $10 Million
- 8 He Was Involved in The 1976 NASCAR Cheating Scandal
- 7 He’S Fourth on The Wins List
- 6 He’S The Best at NASCAR’s Longest Race
- 5 He’S NASCAR’s Driver of The Decade
- 4 He Was An Owner-Driver
- 3 He Commentated His Brother’S First Win
- 2 He Was A Major Voice For Safety Advancement
- 1 He’S appeared in Big Movies
Waltrip might be beloved by fans today, but that certainly wasn’t always the case. Bursting onto the scene, he was never shy about his talent, but he did back it up. During an early rivalry with Cale Yarborough, a veteran and champion when Waltrip was a rookie, Yarborough termed him “Jaws” for his aggressive and outspoken manner. The nickname stuck...
Waltrip won plenty of big races in his career, and made big paydays. Record-big, in fact, in his day. He collected $10 million from race rewards alone, the first driver to top that figure, which is over $26 million in today’s money. Indeed, by the end of his career, Darrell had posted $19,886,666 in prize money earned from his 809 Cup Series starts...
Cheating and NASCAR are inexorably linked, so being part of one of the greatest cheating scandals in the sport’s history is an accomplishment. At the 1976 Daytona 500, the Chevrolets of AJ Foyt and Waltrip found an extra second drop that they hadn’t seen in practice. Following an investigation, NASCAR determined the cars were using nitrous oxide, o...
In a career that resulted in three championships, Waltrip took the checkered flag first 84 times. That record ties him with fellow great Bobby Allison for fourth on the all-time wins list, only behind Petty, Pearson, and Earnhardt. He’s also fifth in all-time poles with 59. During his best season, 1982, Waltrip scored the championship as well as th...
Waltrip loved racing on Memorial Day, and the race often went in his favor: he has the most Coca-Cola 600, then World 600, victories of any driver in the sport’s history at five. NASCAR’s longest race is a unique challenge that Waltrip managed to master throughout his career. That mastery has earned him plaudits, not least from Charlotte Motor Spee...
Besides an induction into both the NASCAR Hall of Fame and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame, Darrell Waltrip earned a plethora of awards for his success in the sport. He’s been called one of NASCAR’s 50 greatest drivers, the state of Tennessee’s Athlete of the Year, and three-time American Driver of the Year. He’s also been recognized for...
Beginning in 1991, Waltrip decided to cement his legacy as an owner and began fielding his own cars in the Cup Series. With friend and fellow great Jeff Hammond at the helm, the team scored two wins in its first year. As the years went on, though, wins declined and Waltrip started to fail to even qualify for events, and he sold the team in 1997. At...
Moving up to the FOX Sports commentary booth following the end of his career, the first race Darrell called was a huge one for the sport as a whole. The 2001 Daytona 500 was the first win for his brother, who set a record on that day for the most Cup starts before a first win. The emotion was clear in Waltrip’s voice as he encouraged his brother on...
Following the tragedy in 2001, Waltrip crusaded for safety, successfully. Interviewing Mike Helton at the next race, his tough interview style and relentless pursuit of an investigation earned him praise. Believing that the number of deaths caused by head injuries, a number that was steadily growing at that point, was unacceptable, Waltrip campaign...
Darrell has never shied away from a camera. Even in the early days of his career, he was a regular guest on The Nashville Network’s talk shows, two of which he would later go on to host. He worked on Days of Thunder through his Hendrick connections and has supported several documentaries about the life of Dale Earnhardt. His most memorable appearan...
May 23, 2024 · Darrell Waltrip, with three Cup championships and 84 Cup wins to his name, is one of the greatest NASCAR drivers of all time. And he was at his best during Charlotte’s biggest race.
Feb 5, 2012 · NASCAR Hall Of Fame driver Darrell Waltrip has a new book, Sundays Will Never Be the Same. Waltrip discusses his long and successful career as a driver and his time afterward in the...
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Apr 1, 2021 · Darrell Waltrip, who brought his folksy, outsized personality from the driver's seat to a prodigious second career as a broadcaster, retired after the Toyota/ Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway...
