Up to date Sept. 23, 2026, 8:47 p.m. ET
Darrell Waltrip, the Corridor of Fame NASCAR driver and former broadcaster, is stepping away from public life in line with an announcement launched by his household on Wednesday afternoon.
Within the assertion, the household of the 79-year-old says he has been recognized with frontotemporal degeneration (FTD) sophisticated by attainable Continual Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) resulting from accidents he suffered from a racing profession that spanned from 1972 to 2000.
CTE is a mind illness probably attributable to repeated head accidents that will get worse over time, in line with the Mayo Clinic. At the moment, it could possibly solely be definitively recognized after dying throughout an post-mortem of the mind. It’s most frequently present in individuals who participated in touch sports activities or served in army fight. A research launched final month led by researchers at Boston College and Harvard Medical Faculty discovered that roughly 1-in-4 former NFL gamers who died between 2016 and 2021 had CTE.
After his dying in 2024, NASCAR Corridor of Famer Fred Lorenzen was recognized with CTE by researchers at Boston College. In 2016, fellow NASCAR Corridor of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. publicly pledged to donate his mind to analysis after his dying.
In their assertion, Waltrip’s household didn’t say whether or not or not the three-time Winston Cup Sequence champion can be donating his mind to analysis.
“We wished to share a well being replace with all of Darrell’s pals and followers who’ve supported him all through his racing profession. Just lately, Darrell has been recognized with Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD) sophisticated by attainable Continual Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) — probably from accidents incurred throughout his racing profession,” the assertion learn. “Whereas this illness will inevitably progress, fortunately it’s at the moment restricted to some minor noticeable signs. In consequence, he shall be stepping additional away from the general public limelight.
“Be assured, Darrell is blissful and in any other case wholesome — spending his time along with his spouse, Stevie, two daughters and his three younger grandchildren. We’re all grateful to your continued prayer, love and assist!”
One of many best wheelmen ever, Waltrip gained 84 races in NASCAR’s top-level Cup Sequence, a mark which nonetheless ranks fifth all-time. Waltrip gained the 1989 Daytona 500, the 1992 Southern 500, and took 5 checkered flags on the Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte, making him the winningest driver of NASCAR’s longest crown jewel race.
Waltrip was twice voted NASCAR’s Most Common Driver, in 1989 and 1990, and gained all three of his championships within the Nineteen Eighties whereas driving the No. 11 for Junior Johnson, carrying iconic sponsorships with Mountain Dew and Budweiser. Waltrip didn’t shrink back from contact on the observe and had on-and-off rivalries with the likes of Cale Yarborough, Dale Earnhardt, Richard Petty, Bobby Allison and Rusty Wallace. It was Yarborough who gave Waltrip the nickname “Jaws” for his affinity for trash-talking.
All the time good for a spicy quote, Waltrip’s persona was good for a profession in broadcasting. From 2001 to 2019, he was the lead analyst for NASCAR races on FOX. Each time the inexperienced flag dropped, Waltrip would say, “Boogity, boogity, boogity, let’s go racing boys!” In 2007 he was nominated for an Emmy. He additionally appeared in racing movies resembling “Talladega Nights,” “Logan Fortunate,” and Pixar’s “Vehicles” franchise.
Waltrip was on the decision for FOX through the 2001 Daytona 500. The race marked the primary victory for his brother Michael, but additionally noticed Earnhardt tragically die in a crash on the ultimate lap. Waltrip’s temper rapidly modified from exuberantly celebrating his brother in a single second to worrying about his former rival-turned-friend within the very subsequent: “I simply hope Dale’s OK. I suppose he’s all proper, isn’t he?” Waltrip delivered the pre-race invocation the subsequent week in Earnhardt’s honor and sometimes used his platform to advocate for improvements in security in motorsports.
Waltrip was inducted into the NASCAR Corridor of Fame in 2012 and was named one of many sport’s 50 Biggest Drivers in 1998, and one of many 75 Biggest Drivers in 2023.
