Darrell Waltrip is a three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, NASCAR Hall of Famer and former FOX Sports broadcaster. He won 84 Cup races, including the 1989 Daytona 500, during a driving career that ran from 1972 through 2000.
Quick Facts About Darrell Waltrip
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Darrell Waltrip |
| Born | February 5, 1947 |
| Birthplace | Owensboro, Kentucky |
| Age | 79 as of September 2026 |
| NASCAR Cup starts | 809 |
| Cup wins | 84 |
| Cup championships | 3 — 1981, 1982, 1985 |
| Daytona 500 wins | 1 — 1989 |
| NASCAR Hall of Fame | Class of 2012 |
| Wife | Stevie Waltrip |
| NASCAR career | 1972–2000 |
| FOX Sports | Broadcaster from 2001 until 2019 |
The statistics and career dates come from NASCAR’s published biography and historical coverage; his current age and latest family update were reported in September 2026.
Who Is Darrell Waltrip?
Darrell Waltrip is one of the most recognizable drivers in NASCAR history. Born in Owensboro, Kentucky, on February 5, 1947, he built his reputation during the 1970s and 1980s before becoming one of the defining stars of the NASCAR Cup Series. NASCAR inducted him into its Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2012.
Waltrip became known during his racing years by the nickname “Jaws,” a reference to his outspoken personality. His career also included major partnerships with figures such as Junior Johnson and Rick Hendrick, both of whom played important roles in different stages of his NASCAR career.
His influence eventually extended beyond driving. After his racing career ended, Waltrip became a prominent television analyst, helping make the move from driver to broadcaster one of the defining parts of his public career.
Darrell Waltrip’s NASCAR Career
Waltrip began making NASCAR Cup Series starts in 1972 and remained in the premier division through the 2000 season. Over 809 Cup starts, he recorded 84 victories and 59 poles. NASCAR currently lists his 84 Cup wins as fifth on its all-time winning list.
His strongest period came in the early and mid-1980s. Waltrip won his first Cup championship in 1981 after a season featuring 12 victories and 21 top-five finishes. He followed that with another championship in 1982, again winning 12 races. His third title arrived in 1985. All three championships came while driving for legendary owner Junior Johnson.
His career was not built only on championships. Waltrip became particularly successful at tracks such as Bristol and North Wilkesboro, where he established a remarkable record over multiple seasons. NASCAR records 12 victories for Waltrip at Bristol and 10 at North Wilkesboro.
How Many Races Did Darrell Waltrip Win?
Darrell Waltrip won 84 NASCAR Cup Series races. NASCAR’s current historical records place him fifth on the all-time Cup wins list. He also collected 59 poles during his premier-series career.
He also won 13 NASCAR Xfinity Series races in 95 starts, giving him another significant record outside the Cup Series.
Darrell Waltrip and the Daytona 500
One of the most important victories in Waltrip’s career came in the 1989 Daytona 500.
Driving a Chevrolet owned by Rick Hendrick, Waltrip finally captured NASCAR’s biggest race after years of trying. NASCAR identifies the 1989 Daytona 500 as one of the major highlights of his career.
The victory was especially notable because it came during a season when Waltrip returned to strong form. He also won at Bristol that year in Hendrick’s No. 17 Chevrolet.
For many fans, the Daytona 500 remains the clearest single-race marker of Waltrip’s career because it completed a major gap in an already decorated résumé.
When Did Darrell Waltrip Retire From NASCAR?
Waltrip retired from full-time NASCAR Cup Series competition after the 2000 season. His final driving career therefore spanned nearly three decades, from 1972 through 2000.
Retirement from driving did not mean leaving NASCAR behind. Waltrip moved directly into a second career in television and became part of FOX Sports’ original NASCAR broadcast team in 2001.
Darrell Waltrip’s Broadcasting Career
FOX Sports added Waltrip to its NASCAR coverage when the network became an official NASCAR broadcast partner in 2001. He worked alongside Mike Joy and Larry McReynolds as part of a highly recognizable broadcast team.
Waltrip remained with FOX for 19 seasons before announcing his retirement from the booth in 2019. His broadcasts became closely associated with his energetic commentary and his trademark “Boogity, boogity, boogity” introduction to races.
His television career also began before his driving career ended. NASCAR notes that he appeared on radio and television programs during his racing years and later worked as a racing analyst for outlets including TNN, TBS and ABC/ESPN.
Who Is Darrell Waltrip’s Wife?
Darrell Waltrip’s wife is Stevie Waltrip. NASCAR’s biography has identified the couple as residing in Franklin, Tennessee, and Waltrip’s family referred to Stevie in a September 2026 public statement about his health.
The family statement also said Waltrip spends his time with Stevie, their two daughters and three young grandchildren.
Because the family has generally kept its private life away from the spotlight, reliable public sources provide considerably more detail about Waltrip’s racing and broadcasting career than about his family’s day-to-day life.
What Is the Latest News About Darrell Waltrip?
As of September 24, 2026, the most significant update concerns Waltrip’s health and his decision to step further away from public life.
Waltrip and his family announced on September 23 that he had been diagnosed with Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD) complicated by possible Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). The family said the possible CTE was likely related to injuries sustained during his racing career.
The family statement said his symptoms are currently limited to minor noticeable changes and that he will be stepping further away from the public limelight. It also said he is spending time with his wife, two daughters and three grandchildren.
The CTE portion was described by the family as possible, rather than a definitively confirmed diagnosis. That distinction matters because current medical reporting notes that CTE cannot be definitively confirmed during a person’s lifetime.
For now, the latest public information is the family’s own statement released on September 23, 2026. Earlier assumptions about Waltrip’s public appearances or broadcasting activity should be understood in light of this new announcement.
Why Darrell Waltrip Still Matters in NASCAR
Waltrip’s significance goes beyond his three championships. His 84 Cup wins, 59 poles, Daytona 500 victory and long career across several generations of NASCAR established him as one of the sport’s major figures.
He also represents an unusual career path: successful driver, outspoken NASCAR personality, Hall of Famer and longtime television analyst. Few racing figures have remained visible across so many different eras of the sport.
His legacy is now preserved not only through the NASCAR Hall of Fame but also through the historical record of his 84 wins and three championships. The latest family announcement adds a new chapter to the public story of a driver who spent decades at the center of NASCAR.
FAQs
How old is Darrell Waltrip?
Darrell Waltrip is 79 years old as of September 2026. He was born on February 5, 1947, in Owensboro, Kentucky.
How many NASCAR championships did Darrell Waltrip win?
Darrell Waltrip won three NASCAR Cup Series championships, in 1981, 1982 and 1985.
How many NASCAR races did Darrell Waltrip win?
He won 84 NASCAR Cup Series races and currently ranks fifth on NASCAR’s all-time Cup victory list.
Did Darrell Waltrip win the Daytona 500?
Yes. Waltrip won the 1989 Daytona 500 driving a Rick Hendrick-owned Chevrolet.
Is Darrell Waltrip still broadcasting NASCAR?
No. Waltrip retired from FOX Sports’ NASCAR broadcast booth after the 2019 season following a 19-year run with the network.
What is the latest update on Darrell Waltrip?
On September 23, 2026, Waltrip and his family announced that he had been diagnosed with Frontotemporal Degeneration complicated by possible CTE and said he would step further away from public life.
Source list
- NASCAR: Darrell Waltrip | Class of 2012, Access Date: September 24, 2026
- NASCAR: Darrell Waltrip through the years, career highlights, Access Date: September 24, 2026
- NASCAR: NASCAR: All-time winningest Cup Series drivers, Access Date: September 24, 2026
- NASCAR: Darrell Waltrip to retire from FOX following 19-year run, Access Date: September 24, 2026
- NASCAR: Where are they now? Catching up with Darrell Waltrip, Access Date: September 24, 2026
- NASCAR: Darrell Waltrip’s success at Bristol Motor Speedway, Access Date: September 24, 2026
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