Hall-bound Waltrip never silent about his talents

[TRPColtrane95]

hi guys,

hope not Garrett will like that about this guy check out;

http://www.nascar.com/news/120105/dwaltrip-hof-bio/index.html

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- You always knew Darrell Waltrip was there from his racing beginnings at the Nashville Fairgrounds through three championships, 84 victories and a broadcasting career with FOX Sports and SPEED.

He was never silent about his talents and had the ability to back them up with results.

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Fellow NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Cale Yarborough famously called Waltrip "Jaws" as the pair jockeyed for NASCAR's top rung.

"We knocked each other out of a lot of races," Owensboro, Ky., native Waltrip remembers of the competition with his rival who, ironically, recommended Junior Johnson hire Waltrip. "So for all the bad things [i've said] about Cale, I forgive him."

Waltrip, along with Yarborough, Richie Evans, Dale Inman and Glen Wood, will be inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame on Jan. 20. They comprise the third class to gain membership into the Hall.

Waltrip, 64, made his NASCAR premier series debut in 1972 at Talladega, driving the updated Ford that had carried Mario Andretti to victory in the 1967 Daytona 500. He finished 38th after the car's engine failed.

Waltrip drove a self-owned Chevrolet to his first victory in 1975 in Nashville. He won 28 times between 1975 and '80 -- on short tracks, road courses and speedways -- at the wheel of a DiGard Racing-prepared car.

Driving for NASCAR Hall of Fame member Johnson -- succeeding rival Yarborough, who stepped away to compete on a part-time basis -- Waltrip's first series title came in 1981. He finished with 12 wins and 21 top-fives in 31 races. He won the title by 53 points over NASCAR Hall of Fame member Bobby Allison.

In his second championship season, 1982, he finished with 12 wins and 20 top-10s in 30 races, sweeping both races at four tracks (Nashville, Bristol, Talladega and North Wilkesboro).

In his third championship season, 1985, Waltrip finished with three wins and 21 top-10s in 28 races.

Between 1977 and '87, Waltrip never finished worse than fifth in the championship standings.

"This sport would be nowhere near where it is today without people like him," Waltrip said of Johnson in his autobiography, DW. A Lifetime Going Around in Circles, co-authored by Jade Gurss. "Junior taught me how to win more than just races. He taught me how to win championships."

He finally won the Daytona 500 in 1989 driving for Rick Hendrick and later scored five victories with his own team, which he operated from 1991-98. Waltrip retired following the 2000 season.

Waltrip grew up in Owensboro, Ky., where his father, Leroy, was a truck driver. As a youngster, Waltrip would help his father on a Dr. Pepper route loading and unloading soft drink cases. His grandmother, Oda Palestein, took him to races at several area dirt tracks.

At age 12, Waltrip and his father bought a go-kart which they raced for several years. The elder Waltrip bought his son his first race car -- a 1936 Chevrolet -- when Darrell was 16. He towed the car to a track called Ellis Speedway in Newman, Kan., but spun out on his first lap of practice and hit the wall, knocking out the radiator and tearing up the car's right-front suspension.

"I never made even one lap," Waltrip said. "I was crushed."

Fortunately, one of Owensboro's dirt tracks switched to asphalt and Waltrip quickly became a winner, talking his way into driving faster cars for others. "If I won the feature at Whiteville, my share of the winnings would be $150 and two cases of beer," he said. "In Owensboro, 150 bucks and two cases of beer were big time."

He and wife, Stevie, moved to Nashville where Waltrip won the 1970 Fairgrounds Speedway championship. With sponsorship from the company for which his father-in-law was employed, Waltrip started his first Cup Series race in 1972.

Third class gets it due

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Waltrip: Something to say

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Waltrip felt, from the beginning, the racing's stars were aligned in his favor. There were few new faces in NASCAR and he was 10 to 15 years younger than the established stars Yarborough, Richard Petty and David Pearson.

"You know, time was on my side," he said. "I guarantee I can wear 'em out."

He came close to winning his first championship in 1979, entering the season finale at the old Ontario Motor Speedway near the present Auto Club Speedway in Southern California, leading Petty by two points. He spun early in the race, lost a lap -- and the championship.

"There's no question in my mind: Petty didn't win it -- I lost the championship," Waltrip said. "It was a lesson that was seared in my brain: Never beat yourself."

Yarborough suggested Johnson hire Waltrip, who bought his way out what had been a tempestuous relationship with Bill Gardner, one of the three DiGard principles. It paved the way for Waltrip's road to the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

Since retirement, Waltrip has been FOX Sports' lead motorsports analyst. Those who listened to Waltrip's many interviews during the 1970s and '80s -- the "Jaws" era -- wouldn't have been surprised. Early in his career, Waltrip forged a friendship with Nashville radio personality Ralph Emery and frequently subbed for Emery on his The Nashville Network interview show.

"Show me the mic; I was ready to talk," Waltrip would say.

"When I look back at my life on and off the track, the same thought keeps coming back to me -- timing. It defined what I did as a race car driver but I've also been blessed with great timing all my life," he said in the forward to his autobiography. "So many things outside of my control fell into place at just the right moment. Some say it was luck but I've always been told luck is when your hard work and effort successfully collide. So in the end, you make your own luck."

Emmy Award-winning NASCAR Media Group produced a biography series of all five 2012 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductees that are currently airing on SPEED. The series started on Dec. 9 with back-to-back shows featuring Cale Yarborough and Dale Inman, followed by the feature on Richie Evans on Dec. 16. The remaining biographies will air on SPEED this month. Darrell Waltrip at 8 p.m. ET Friday and Glen Wood at 8 p.m. ET Jan. 13.

Darrell Waltrip: Career highlights

• Waltrip was three-time Cup Series champion (1981-82, '85); he won all three with legendary driver/owner Junior Johnson.

• Waltrip ranks in the top five in wins with 84.

• His 59 poles rank fifth all time in Cup Series history.

• He competed from 1972-2000, which included a 1989 Daytona 500 victory in a Rick Hendrick-owned Chevrolet.

• He was named one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998.

• He currently is a commentator on FOX's NASCAR broadcasts.

hope Garrett would like it.. what you think of this his story are?

thanks enjoy

[Garrett Duke]

TRP Coltrane, thank-you for posting that! I loved that article and reading more on Darrell Waltrip. As y ou can see by my signature, I really like him. Though sadly didn't really get to watch him race at all . Though have seen clips and do love listening and watching him on FOX during the FOX races - he is just so fun and you can tell he just lives for NASCAR! Though, I sure wish I could have watched him and Richard Petty race as well as Cale Yarborough since he was on the Dukes. That was a great article TRP Coltrane - thank-you for sharing it. Ironically, Darrell won his first championship the year I was born. Musta brought him some good luck. HA!

Have also read a few stories on him...like how Darrell and Dale Sr were the best of friends off the track and the worst of enemies on the track. Can't remember what year it was but it was the All Star race and they both were fighting for the lead on the last lap. Well they ended up wrecking each other - Darrell broke a rib or two in the process...and none other than Jeff Gordon went on for the win.

As I said, I really enjoyed that article and am so grateful you posted this one and the one about Jeff Gordon. I didn't even see any of them online as of yet, so thank-you.

[TRPColtrane95]

yeah thanks so if you want more inform bio on Darrell's check out wiki's and Dale Sr's has lot inform check out

Darrell Waltrip:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darrell_Waltrip

http://msn.foxsports.com/nascar/page/AllWaltrip-Darrell-Waltrip-NASCAR-on-FOX

Dale Earnhardt Sr:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dale_Earnhardt

http://www.daleearnhardt.net/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Dale_Earnhardt

Jeff Gordon:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Gordon

that way more inform about how much they race in past to now. wow for them. and yeah I miss Darrell's last race before I start watching on after 1989 was oh well.. I not sure remember myself to watching that oh well. oh boy. lucky I watch short time for Dale Sr's drive. I have some collections of him as well.

[Garrett Duke]

Thanks for ALL the great info!

Did't watch DW, but did get to watch some of Dale Sr...though mostly remember him being a rival to Jeff Gordon. LOL. In 2001, the only race I watched was the Daytona 500 where Dale sadly passed away. What a horrible day in racing and remember not believing he could pass away in a n accident that looked like any other accident you see in every race. Though he was NOT wearing the HANS (Head and Neck Support) device that was only an option at the time and now is mandatory for them to wear. Guess it was meant to be.

Don't know why that was the only race I really watched in full other than that at the atime I really didn't know many drivers and didn't really understand it all as I do now. Was not addicted to it as I am now. Could definately not do that now - only watch a race or two. HA HA.

Thanks again!

[TRPColtrane95]

yeah true about safety on nascar's like that as barrier, head/shoulder belt, side of foam protect inside of cars, etc that lot change from past happening that why drivers feeling to be safety for future to be that will lot much better for them drivers. I wonder are you plan watching on Feb like shoot out on Feb 18 on fox but not know time exactly is and also Duel 1 and 2 on Feb 23 on Speed not know time exactly too hope after lunch time around it. Then Feb 26th will be first day of Daytona 500 2012 on Fox. Duel and shoot out like regular fun who are best win for.. only best drivers to drive that. check out list for:

http://www.nascar.com/news/111214/2012-daytona-shootout-speedweeks/index.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budweiser_Shootout

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gatorade_Duel

Duel bit different from Shoot Out is.

http://nascar.speedtv.com/article/cup-nascar-gatorade-duels-ready-to-roll-at-daytona/

that way both are different between for only best drivers to get who best win that for just fun than Daytona 500 were for seriously to get win.

that I plan watch this both for. are you going or not?

thanks enjoy