Darrell Waltrip
Darrell Waltrip
Darrell Lee Waltripis an American motorsports analyst, author, national television broadcaster, and former racing driver. He is also a three-time NASCAR Cup Series championand a three-time NASCAR Cup Series runner-up. Posting a modern NASCAR series record of 22 top five finishes in 1983 and 21 top five finishes both in 1981 and 1986, Waltrip won 84 NASCAR Cup Series races, including the 1989 Daytona 500, a record five in the Coca-Cola 600, and a track and Series record for any...
ProfessionRace Car Driver
Date of Birth5 February 1947
CityOwensboro, KY
Since I'm in Seattle, I'm pulling for Seattle!
When we get to the track, we're basically turned loose to the masses. And you'd better be willing to deal with that politely, slightly, lightly, all nightly whatever it takes.
We usually couldn't do it on Sunday. We had to wait until Monday because were about ready to kill each other.
Physically, I have been working out since July -- really, really hard wanting to be sure that I was physically prepared for this race,
Just being out here and hanging out and working has been good. I hate starting that far back, but if the tires don't fall off, we'll be OK.
I think any older driver would find it different than it was five years ago.
We can't change the past. Those tracks have always been there and those races have always been there. What NASCAR has to look at is the future -- and this place is the future.
When you're that many points behind and they wipe the slate clean, that's what I don't like.
We could have had media day in a pup tent. You came down here to race and you went in the garage and worked on your car. They tried to hype it up and add TV. There wasn't the intensity that you have in the sport now. People are getting pulled in so many different directions; it's hard to have fun.
Understand that the sponsors are the people that are making this sport happen. It's not the purses; it's the sponsors. The sponsors want to be in Texas, they want to be in California, they want to be in Las Vegas.
It's hard to have a good time and do your job. We'd get our cars inspected; we'd cover the car up and go to the beach. We'd go to the liquor store and buy a case of beer and sit on the beach or go sit in the lounge at the hotel maybe until it was time to come back the next day.
It's way too early to pass judgment. It's still got flaws. They need to tweak it. Is it better than it ever was? I think the verdict is still out on that.
Boogity, boogity, boogity. Let's play some football, boys.
It's kind of appropriate that we're here at the Nashville Superspeedway today and he gets his first major win, ... ... He is not out of the championship hunt, and he's going to win some more races. I'm really excited for today, sure, but for what's going to happen down the road as well.