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NASCAR Legend Darrell Waltrip Steps Back Due to Brain Disease
Confirmed
In Short: NASCAR driver and broadcaster Darrell Waltrip is stepping back from public life due to a progressive brain disease.
NASCAR driver and broadcaster Darrell Waltrip is stepping back from public life due to a progressive brain disease, his family announced Wednesday. Waltrip, known for his signature call 'Boogity. Boogity. Boogity. Let's go racing, boys,' has been diagnosed with Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD), which may be complicated by possible Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).
Waltrip, who won three Cup Series championships in 1981, 1982, and 1985, was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2012. He began his racing career in 1972 and won 84 races over his career, ranking fifth all-time in Cup victories.
After retiring from racing in 2000, Waltrip transitioned to broadcasting, serving as Fox Sports' lead analyst for NASCAR coverage from 2001 to 2019. His family noted that the disease will inevitably progress but currently presents only minor noticeable symptoms.
CTE, a rare, progressive degenerative brain disease caused by repeated blows to the head, can only be definitively diagnosed after death during an autopsy of the brain. Waltrip's family did not specify whether he would donate his brain to research.
Waltrip's family released a statement saying, 'While this disease will inevitably progress, thankfully, it is currently limited to some minor noticeable symptoms.
Waltrip's career was marked by fierce rivalries with drivers like Cale Yarborough, Dale Earnhardt, and Richard Petty. He was twice voted NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver in 1989 and 1990 and won all three of his championships while driving the No. 11 for Junior Johnson, carrying iconic sponsorships with Mountain Dew and Budweiser.
Waltrip's transition to broadcasting was seamless, and he became a household name with his distinctive calls and commentary. He was on the call for FOX during the 2001 Daytona 500 and was a key figure in Fox Sports' NASCAR coverage.
Waltrip's diagnosis highlights the ongoing concerns about the long-term effects of head injuries in contact sports. Fred Lorenzen, another NASCAR Hall of Famer, was diagnosed with CTE after his death in 2024.
Waltrip's legacy in NASCAR is secure, with five checkered flags at the Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte and a win at the 1992 Southern 500, making him one of the winningest drivers in NASCAR history.
What this adds
Waltrip's diagnosis of FTD and possible CTE adds to the growing awareness of the long-term effects of head injuries in sports.
The family's statement did not specify whether Waltrip would donate his brain to research, leaving that decision open-ended.
Background
NASCAR legend Darrell Waltrip is stepping back from public life due to a progressive brain disease, his family announced Wednesday. Waltrip, known for his signature call 'Boogity. Boogity. Boogity.
What's confirmed
- Waltrip was Fox Sports' first hire when the network launched its NASCAR coverage in 2001 and became widely known for his signature "Boogity. Boogity. Boogity. Let's go racing, boys" call.
- A fearless racer from Kentucky who first showed up on the NASCAR scene in 1972 at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama, Waltrip aggravated his competitors by beating them on the track then running his mouth out of the car.
- -- Darrell Waltrip, who parlayed a Hall of Fame driving career in NASCAR into a longtime broadcasting stint at Fox Sports, has stepped away from public life due to a progressive brain disease.
- Waltrip won 84 races and Cup Series championships in 1981, 1982 and 1985, before moving straight into the broadcast booth.
- He was inducted into the third class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame in January 2012.
- Rivals nicknamed him "Jaws," and Waltrip was at the forefront of parlaying his personality and fame into a lucrative side hustle of appearances, celebrity endorsing and the broadcast booth.
- Waltrip's family released a statement on Wednesday that noted the former driver was diagnosed with Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD) which has been complicated by possible Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).
- The family stated the CTE likely developed from injuries Waltrip incurred during his racing career.
- As a result, he will be stepping further away from the public limelight.
- Waltrip, now 79 years old, won three Cup titles and ranks fifth all time in Cup victories with 84 during a career that spanned from 1972-2000.
- The fearless driver made his NASCAR debut in 1972 at the Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama.
- NASCAR driving and broadcasting legend Darrell Waltrip is battling a brain disease and is stepping further away from public life, his family announced Wednesday.
What's still developing
- He captured the pole at 59 races and registered 390 top-10 results.
- FTD is a progressive form of dementia causing the atrophy of the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, which control personality, behavior, and language, according to the Mayo Clinic.
- As part of its ongoing efforts to prevent disease, promote wellness, and protect the health of Chautauqua County residents, CCHD is taking proactive steps to respond to this case, reduce the risk of further spread, and ensure residents have access to the information, assistance, and support they need.
- The Source: Information for this article was taken from reporting by FOX Sports and The Associated Press.
- Waltrip, a three-time Cup Series champion and long-time television voice, is walking away from public life.