By By Rick Houston
When things went well for Darrell Waltrip and DiGard Racing on the track, they went really, really well. It was off the track where the wheels seemed to always come off.
In 1978, Waltrip was this close to moving to another team, Ranier Racing. A headline and story in Grand National Scene so much as confirmed it. DiGard owner Bill Gardner, however, thought differently and held Waltrip to his contract.
Two years later, Waltrip was again looking to leave, this time in favor of the legendary Junior Johnson & Associates. This time, he’d just signed a three-year extension with DiGard. Rather than hold his driver to the agreement, Gardner allowed Waltrip to leave … but only after the contract was bought out.
Waltrip went on to win the 1981 and 1982 Winston Cup championships, while DiGard made it to the top of the mountain in 1983 with Bobby Allison.
This is Gardner’s story.
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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