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What Is Darrell Waltrip’s Net Worth?
Darrell Waltrip, a prominent figure in American motorsports as an analyst, author, national television broadcaster, and former race car driver, has accumulated a substantial net worth of $25 million. This wealth reflects his successful career in NASCAR and his subsequent endeavors in broadcasting and media.
Darrell Waltrip’s Career Earnings and NASCAR Success
Darrell Waltrip’s career earnings from race winnings amounted to $19.9 million. This figure underscores his achievements on the track, where he competed in the NASCAR Cup Series from 1972 to 2000. During his time as a racer, Waltrip secured 84 Cup Series races, 13 Busch Grand National Series races, and seven American Speed Association races. His consistent performance and numerous victories solidified his reputation as one of the greatest racing drivers of all time, earning him recognition and induction into various halls of fame.
Waltrip’s early success was evident as he raced and owned cars in 1972, winning five races. He rapidly increased his victories in the following years, with 14 wins in 1973, 16 in 1974, and 17 in 1975, which included his first Winston Cup win. This early momentum set the stage for his future accomplishments in NASCAR. From mid-1975, Waltrip signed a multi-year contract with DiGard Chevrolet. He competed in 11 races, and he posted three top-five finishes and secured his second career NASCAR Winston Cup race. Waltrip also dominated NASCAR short track venues such as the Bristol International Speedway, Martinsville Speedway, and the Music City Motorplex. He won six races in both 1977 and 1978, including victories at the Talladega Superspeedway and in the Coca-Cola 600. The 1979 Daytona 500 was a memorable race for Waltrip, although he finished as runner-up to Richard Petty, who became his rival for the 1979 NASCAR Championship, with Petty winning the Cup over Waltrip by just 11 points.
Joining the Junior Johnson & Associates team in 1981 marked a period of significant success for Waltrip. He achieved 12 race wins in each of his first two years with the team, and secured his first two Winston Cup Championships. In 1983, Waltrip set a modern NASCAR series record with 22 top-five finishes. Continuing with Junior Johnson through the 1986 season, he won his third Winston Cup. During his time with Johnson, Waltrip won three national championships and 43 Winston Cup races.
In 1987, Waltrip signed with Hendrick Motorsports. Despite a slow start with only one race win in his first year, he improved in his second year with two wins, including his fourth Coca-Cola 600. 1989 marked a significant victory as Waltrip won six races, including his first Daytona 500 on his 17th attempt. He also achieved an unprecedented fifth Coca-Cola 600 victory. Following his time with Hendrick Motorsports, Waltrip formed his own team for the 1991 season and finished his first year at eighth in the overall points championship. In 1992, he added three more wins, including the Mountain Dew Southern 500, marking his 84th and final NASCAR victory. Two years later, Waltrip made his last appearance in the top ten of the points championship, finishing ninth. After facing financial struggles, Waltrip sold his team to Tim Beverly in 1997. In 1998, he signed with Dale Earnhardt, Inc., achieving a fifth-place finish at the California 500. Later, he drove the No. 66 Big K Ford Taurus for Haas-Carter Motorsports. In the summer of 1999, Waltrip announced his retirement from NASCAR at the end of the 2000 season. His final race was in November 2000 in the NAPA 500, where he finished 34th.
Darrell Waltrip’s Broadcasting Career and Media Presence
Following his retirement from racing, Waltrip transitioned to broadcasting, becoming the lead NASCAR analyst and race commentator for Fox. He became known for his distinctive commentary style, including unique vocabulary and catchphrases. Most notably, Waltrip’s trademark phrase “Boogity, boogity, boogity, let’s go racing boys and girls!” became a signature part of his broadcasts. In 2019, Waltrip retired from broadcasting, with his final race being the 2019 Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Darrell Waltrip was born in 1947 in Owensboro, Kentucky. At the age of 12, he began driving go-karts, and just four years later, he entered his first stock car racing competition. He graduated from Daviess County High School in 1965. Waltrip’s early racing at the Kentucky Motor Speedway and Ellis Raceway eventually attracted the attention of Nashville driver P. B. Crowell, who encouraged Waltrip to move to Tennessee to race at the Fairgrounds Speedway. His successes at the Music City Motorplex and television appearances in Nashville served as springboards into his NASCAR career. At the age of 25 in 1972, Waltrip began racing in the NASCAR Winston Cup at Winston 500 in Talladega.
Awards and Honors
Darrell Waltrip has received numerous awards throughout his career, including NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver Award, American Driver of the Year, NASCAR’s Driver of the Decade for the 1980s, and National Motorsports Press Association Driver of the Year. He was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2003 and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2005. His consistent performance and contributions to the sport have solidified his legacy as one of NASCAR’s most celebrated figures.
