Posting a contemporary NASCAR series record of 22 top five finishes in 1983, 21 top five finishes, (both in 1981, and 1986), Waltrip is the victor of 84 NASCAR Cup Series races, including 12 wins at Bristol Motor Speedway, seven of which were “back-to-back” triumphs starting in 1981, and ending April 1, 1984, (a track and Chain’ record for just about any motorist, all time). Waltrip’s 84 wins puts him second only to Jeff Gordon, for the most wins in the current era of NASCAR, tying him with driver Bobby Allison, for fourth on the all time record of NASCAR Cup series victor. Waltrip won 59 NASCAR Cup Series pole positions, (second all time), including 35 on short tracks, and 8 on road courses, (both all time highs for just about any motorist, all time).
Waltrip additionally holds the all time track record with 67 triumphs in the Fairgrounds Speedway, in Nashville, Tennessee, including NASCAR, USAC, ASA, and local “Late Model Sportsman” NASCAR sanctioned series races.
Waltrip also became the very first NASCAR driver to be given $10 million, (February 18, 1990), (more than $26 million, in the current money), in race winnings. He’s a 2-time winner of NASCAR’s Most Famous Driver Award, (1989, 1990), was the “American Driver of the Year”, (1979, 1981, 1982), and was named “NASCAR’s Driver of the Decade”, (1980s). He’s a 2003 Motorsports Hall of Fame of America inductee as well as a 2005 International Motorsports Hall of Fame inductee, and was declared in July, 2009, as among the first 25 nominees for the inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame induction class. Waltrip was named one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers, in (1998), and was given the Bill France, “Award of Excellence”, in the year 2000. On July 1, 2010, Waltrip was again nominated for the 2011 induction group of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. On July 14, 2011, it had been declared that Waltrip, in just his third year of qualification, could be inducted as one of five members of the NASCAR Hall of Fame class of 2012, one of just nine premier show NASCAR drivers to be inducted to the NASCAR Hall of Fame, through 2012.
Waltrip now possesses Honda, Volvo, and Subaru automobile dealerships in Franklin, Tennessee, and is the lead television analyzer and race commentator with Fox Broadcasting Company, a columnist at Foxsports.com, and an writer. He could be the older brother of NASCAR driver and MWR team owner Michael Waltrip. He’s married, has two daughters, and resides in Franklin, Tennessee.
Race car driver, Actor, Voice Actor, Announcer, Commentator
Nationality
United States of America
Spouse
Stevie R. Waltrip (m. 1969)
Children
Jessica Waltrip, Sarah Kaitlyn Waltrip
Parents
Leroy Waltrip, Margaret Jean Evans Waltrip
Siblings
Michael Waltrip
Nicknames
Jaws , Ol' D.W. , D W
Awards
two NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver Award, three National Motorsports Press Association Driver of the Year,
Nominations
Sports Emmy Award for Outstanding Sports Personality - Sports Event Analyst
Movies
Cars 2, NASCAR: The Ride of Their Lives, Darrell Waltrip: His Passion Beyond the Wheel, 1979 Daytona 500
TV Shows
Fox NASCAR, NASCAR RaceDay, NASCAR Victory Lane, NASCAR Trackside
Star Sign
Aquarius
#
Fact
1
Now broadcasting for NASCAR races on Fox Network and competing part-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. [2004]
2
Darrell Waltrip and Michael Waltrip, combined, have won three Daytona 500 races. Darrell's victory was on Sunday, February 19th, 1989. Michael's two Daytona 500 victories were on Sunday, February 18th, 2001, just after Dale Earnhardt Senior's life ended, after Earnhardt's car was hit by Ken Schrader's car and Sunday, February 16th, 2003.
3
Inducted into the Nascar Hall of Fame [2011].
4
Owns a Volvo/Honda/Pre-Owned car dealership in Franklin, Tennessee
He and his brother, Michael Waltrip, are the only pair of brothers to both win the Daytona 500.
7
As a Fox Sports commentator of the Daytona 500, he openly cried when his brother, Michael Waltrip, won the 2001 Daytona 500, on Sunday, February 18, 2001, but he could be heard asking "Is Earnhardt okay?", shortly before the company, Fox Sports Network went to a commercial break. Dale Earnhardt, his good friend, had just crashed, after being hit by Ken Schrader as the race was concluding and died shortly, thereafter.
8
Is fourth on NASCAR's all-time win list with 84 wins.
9
Has won 84 Winston Cup races. Holds the record for most wins of Charlotte's World 600 with five - 1978-9, 1985, 1988-9.
10
Brother Michael Waltrip won the 2003 Daytona 500 and the 2003 EA Sports 500 at the Talladega (Alabama) Superspeedway.
11
Won the 1989 Daytona 500
12
Was one of the most hated drivers in motorsports durong the 1970s, but won the most popular driver award in 1989, and 1990.
13
Tied for third in NASCAR's all-time win list with Bobby Allison. Hoped to get at least one more win before he retired.
14
His last race as an owner/driver he drove an all white Chevrolet Monte Carlo called the 'Tim Flock Special'. He donated the prize money to racing legend Tim Flock who was sick at the time to help with medical expenses. Tim's car number in 1955, and 1956 was 300. Darrell wanted to use this number on the car, but NASCAR rules only allow two digit numbers on the cars. So he had to take 300 off of the car, and use his number 17. The next race, he drove for Dale Earnhardt Inc, car number 1, for most of the season until Steve Park recovered from injuries from a crash at Atlanta. The irony here is Darrell, and Dale never really got along with each other before this.
15
In his early days he was always booed by the fans. One day he said "Meet me at The Big K" and we can duke it out". K-Mart later became a sponsor.
16
As of now, he has won 84 Winston Cup races. Also tied with Bobby Allison for 3rd on the all-time win list.
17
Younger brother, Michael Waltrip, currently drives a Nextel Cup.
18
59 career pole positions. 4th on the all time list.
19
3 time Winston Cup champion. 1981, 1982 and 1985.
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Cars 3
2017
filming
Darrell Cartrip (voice)
Cars 2
2011
Darrell Cartrip (voice)
Cubed
2010
TV Series
Darrell Waltrip
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
2006
Darrell Waltrip
Cars
2006
Video Game
Darrell Cartrip (voice)
Cars
2006
Darrell Cartrip (voice)
Full Access NASCAR: Behind America's Favorite Sport
2001
Video
Miscellaneous
Title
Year
Status
Character
Cars
2006
special racing consultant
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Masters of the Clock: The Legend of Martinsville
2015
TV Movie documentary
Himself
I Am Dale Earnhardt
2015
Documentary
Darrell Waltrip
A Perfect Storm: 1979 Daytona 500
2015
Documentary
Himself
NASCAR on Fox
2008-2014
TV Series
Himself - Race Analyst / Himself - Broadcaster
Fox and Friends
2014
TV Series
Himself - Nascar Driver
Imus in the Morning
2014
TV Series
Himself - Fox Sports
Taming the Bull: The John Bramlett Story
2013
Documentary
Himself
Beyond 200
2012
TV Movie documentary
Himself
Charlie Rose
2012
TV Series
Himself - Guest
NASCAR Hall of Fame Biography: Richie Evans
2011
TV Movie
Himself
The 10
2011
TV Series
Himself
The Legend of Hallowdega
2010
Short
Himself
30 for 30
2010
TV Series documentary
Himself
The 24th Annual Midsouth Emmy Awards
2010
TV Special
Himself - Host
Together: The Hendrick Motorsports Story
2009
TV Movie documentary
Himself
Pardon the Interruption
2009
TV Series
Himself
Hot Rods & Reels
2009
TV Movie
Himself
NASCAR: The Ride of Their Lives
2008
TV Movie documentary
Himself
2008 NASCAR Subway 500
2008
TV Movie
Himself - Race Analyst
The Inspiration for 'Cars'
2006
Video documentary short
Himself - Fox Broadcaster, Racing Legend
ESPN SportsCentury
2001-2006
TV Series documentary
Himself
2006 Aaron's 499
2006
TV Movie
Himself - Announcer
NASCAR Drivers: 360
2005
TV Series documentary
Himself
NASCAR: The IMAX Experience
2004
Documentary short
Himself - On-Screen Announcer
ESPN 25: Who's #1?
2004
TV Series documentary
Himself
The Fifty
1998
TV Mini-Series documentary
Himself
ESPN Speedworld
1998
TV Series
Himself - Driver: #35 Tabasco Pontiac
1996 Daytona 500
1996
TV Movie
Himself - Driver: #17 Parts America Chevrolet
Hee Haw
1982
TV Series
Himself
Daytona 500
1979
TV Movie
Himself - Driver: #88 Oldsmobile
ABC's Wide World of Sports
1976-1978
TV Series
Himself - Driver / Himself - Driver: #88 Chevrolet