NASCAR Icon Darrell Waltrip Retires From Public Life Due to Brain Disease

Whether you’ve enjoyed NASCAR for a long time or a little bit—heck, even if you’ve only watched Disney Pixar’s Cars—you know Darrell Waltrip. He was a decorated driver who later coined the iconic “Boogity! Boogity! Boogity!” catchphrase that rang throughout America’s homes for nearly two decades, thanks to his constant presence in the Fox Sports broadcast booth. Waltrip has accomplished a lot in his career, although that’s only part of what makes this week’s announcement so hard to hear: He’s stepping away from public life due to a progressive brain disease.

Waltrip and his family explained in a statement that he “has been diagnosed with Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD) complicated by possible Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)—likely from injuries incurred during his racing career.” Speaking of which, he raced from 1972 until 2000, during what many call stock car racing’s heyday. He surely had his fair share of crashes during that time on his way to three NASCAR Cup championships.

“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. 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!”

Waltrip is 79 years old now. He spent 18 years with Fox Sports, as he was the network’s first hire when it began showing NASCAR races in 2001. It’s not easy to find a more knowledgeable source than D.W., given his rank in the history books as the fifth-most-winning Cup driver ever—84 total victories, the official count reads, including the 1989 Daytona 500.

Of course, focusing on racing only scratches the surface of Waltrip’s life. He co-wrote a New York Times bestselling autobiography, DW: A Lifetime Going Around in Circles, with motorsports historian Jade Gurss. Waltrip is also known to enjoy country and gospel music, so you can pretty much bet he’ll spend more time listening to those now.

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