Darrell Waltrip, the Hall of Fame NASCAR driver and former broadcaster, is stepping away from public life according to a statement released by his family on Wednesday afternoon.
In the statement, the family of the 79-year-old says he has been diagnosed with frontotemporal degeneration (FTD) complicated by possible Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) due to injuries he suffered from a racing career that spanned from 1972 to 2000.
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CTE is a brain disease likely caused by repeated head injuries that gets worse over time, according to the Mayo Clinic. Currently, it can only be definitively diagnosed after death during an autopsy of the brain. It is most often found in people who participated in contact sports or served in military combat. A study released last month led by researchers at Boston University and Harvard Medical School found that roughly 1-in-4 former NFL players who died between 2016 and 2021 had CTE.
After his death in 2024, NASCAR Hall of Famer Fred Lorenzen was diagnosed with CTE by researchers at Boston University. In 2016, fellow NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. publicly pledged to donate his brain to research after his death.
In their statement, Waltrip’s family didn’t say whether or not the three-time Winston Cup Series champion would be donating his brain to research.
“We wanted to share a health update with all of Darrell’s friends and fans who have supported him throughout his racing career. Recently, Darrell has been diagnosed with Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD) complicated by possible Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) — likely from injuries incurred during his racing career,” the statement read. “While this disease will inevitably progress, thankfully it is currently limited to some minor noticeable symptoms. As a result, he will be stepping further away from the public limelight.
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“Be assured, Darrell is happy and otherwise healthy — spending his time with his wife, Stevie, two daughters and his three young grandchildren. We are all grateful for your continued prayer, love and support!”
One of the greatest wheelmen ever, Waltrip won 84 races in NASCAR’s top-level Cup Series, a mark which still ranks fifth all-time. Waltrip won the 1989 Daytona 500, the 1992 Southern 500, and took five checkered flags at 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 Popular Driver, in 1989 and 1990, and won all three of his championships in the 1980s while driving the No. 11 for Junior Johnson, carrying iconic sponsorships with Mountain Dew and Budweiser. Waltrip didn’t shy away from contact on the track 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.
Always good for a spicy quote, Waltrip’s personality was perfect for a career in broadcasting. From 2001 to 2019, he was the lead analyst for NASCAR races on FOX. Every time the green flag dropped, Waltrip would say, “Boogity, boogity, boogity, let’s go racing boys!” In 2007 he was nominated for an Emmy. He also appeared in racing films such as “Talladega Nights,” “Logan Lucky,” and Pixar’s “Cars” franchise.
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Waltrip was on the call for FOX during the 2001 Daytona 500. The race marked the first victory for his brother Michael, but also saw Earnhardt tragically die in a crash on the final lap. Waltrip’s mood quickly changed from exuberantly celebrating his brother in one moment to worrying about his former rival-turned-friend in the very next: “I just hope Dale’s OK. I guess he’s all right, isn’t he?” Waltrip delivered the pre-race invocation the next week in Earnhardt’s honor and often used his platform to advocate for innovations in safety in motorsports.
Waltrip was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2012 and was named one of the sport’s 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998, and one of the 75 Greatest Drivers in 2023.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Darrell Waltrip diagnosed with frontotemporal degeneration, stepping away from limelight
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