 |
 When
Darrel Waltrip rolled onto the track in 1972 for his first-ever NASCAR Winston
Cup Series race, fans in the stands at Talladega Superspeedway that afternoon
witnessed the start f a glorious history.That's because for the last 29 years, Waltrip has accomplished nearly everything a NASCAR Winston Cup driver can. He has won 84 races, three championships, numerous driver-of-the-year awards and has sat behind the wheel of racecars owned by some of the greatest owners in the sport - including himself. Not bad for a Tennessean who gave up terrorizing the short tracks around the southeast to give NASCAR a try, and thought "it was difficult for me to step into the big leagues and be just another fish in a big pond. It took some time for me to make up my mind that i needed to get in there, give it 100 percent and make my mark." 
AS Waltrip makes his final lap on the circuit with his "Victory Tour
2000," it could be said that he has made more than his mark since joining
the circuit full-time in 1975. In his first full season, Waltrip won two
events - one at his home track, Nashville raceway, and the other at Richmond.Over the next 17 seasons, Waltrip won 82 more races, including a pair of 12-win seasons for legendary car owner Junior Johnson. In 1981 and 1982, he won his first of three championships, and backed it up with a third championship in 1985 while diving for Johnson. In 1977, 1981 and again in 1982 he was voted the National Motorsports Press Association's Driver of the year, as well as the Auto racing Digest Driver of the Year in 1981 and 19821. He also won the 1979, 1981, and 1982 American Driver of the Year and in 1979 was voted Tennessee's Professional Athlete of the Year. After a four year stint with car owner Rick Hendrick, Waltrip drove his own cars on the Winston Cup circuit, and won five races in his first two seasons. During his illustrations career, he has finished in the top ten in the Winston Cup standings 18 times, including 15 Straight season. In addition to his three championships, he was the series runner-up three times. As Waltrip makes his final lap around the Winston Cup circuit this season, plans are already in place for him to take his racing knowledge and talent into the television booth for the Fox Network.
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