By Steve Waid
In the 1970s Darrell Waltrip hit the NASCAR Winston Cup circuit like a cyclone.
Competitors and fans had never seen anything like him. He was riveting – not so much for his driving skills, which were certainly admirable, but for his gift of gab.
Darrell wasn’t afraid to speak his mind. He never backed off from the media. In fact, he cultivated them.
He was witty and sassy. When he spoke, he always attracted attention. Not all of it was favorable. Far from it.
To many, Darrell came off as arrogant and cocky. He showed disdain and disrespect for his fellow competitors. And to top it all off, when he started talking, he didn’t seem to know when to stop.
However, there was method to his madness.
Darrell figured that the quickest way to get everyone to know him was to court the media. Through them fans could get familiar with him and – most important – pay him more attention.
So he talked about virtually anyone and anything.
He admits that expressing his opinions got him in trouble from time to time. And he adds that he wouldn’t be surprised if “someone wanted to whip my ass.”
Even now, many years later, Darrell admits he wouldn’t change a thing. “That’s just who I was back then.”
For more than 32 years, Grand National/Winston Cup/NASCAR Scene writers and photographers were there to record NASCAR history as it was being made. Join hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid each week on The Scene Vault Podcast Presented by Q Ware as they take a look back at the extraordinary people, places and events woven into the rich tapestry that is our sport.
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