| Darrell Waltrip began his NASCAR racing career in | | | | race at Darlington. His aggressive driving maneuvers |
| 1972 and has since left quite a mark on the world of | | | | on the track occasionally gained some scolding by |
| racing. He's a Winston Cup Champion and with his 809 | | | | Richard Petty. A new generation driver in the 1980's, |
| starts is tied for third with Bobby Allison on the | | | | Waltrip helped bring NASCAR racing to new heights |
| NASCAR all time win list. His 59 pole positions are | | | | of popularity and the sport began to gain national |
| fourth best in Winston Cup history. "My grandmother, | | | | visibility. After 17 attempts, he won Daytona in 1989 |
| Odie, a little feisty woman, she got me going to the | | | | on a fuel mileage gamble and holds the record for |
| races when I was a little guy. She loved racing. I | | | | winning the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte five times. |
| always told her, 'Granny, someday I'm going to race | | | | During the 1989 and 1990 seasons, Waltrip was |
| a car like that.' Lo and behold, I did. When Darrell was | | | | voted Most Popular Driver by the fans. Waltrip soon |
| 12 years old, he started racing go-karts. | | | | gained the reputation of a very skilled driver, but |
| As soon as he turned 16, he knew he wanted to | | | | somebody who ruffled plenty of feathers. He wasn't |
| race cars. He and his dad built a car and started | | | | afraid to speak his mind and disagree openly with |
| racing little tracks in his hometown, Owensboro, | | | | NASCAR. |
| Kentucky. In the 1970's, the established veterans of | | | | His flashy driving and brash emotional attitude won |
| NASCAR were David Pearson, Richard Petty, Cale | | | | him plenty of fans and enemies. Darrell and his |
| Yarborough and the Allison brothers. Waltrip was | | | | brother Michael are the only pair of brothers to both |
| determined to become a member of this elite group | | | | win the Daytona 500 and Darrell openly cried when |
| and he barged in, with his engine and his mouth | | | | his brother won it in 2001. Today Waltrip resides in |
| running full speed. | | | | Franklin, Tennessee and is a television race |
| With his aggressive driving and outspoken personality | | | | commentator for Fox Broadcasting Company and a |
| he soon gained the nickname "Jaws" by rival Cale | | | | columnist at His colorful and entertaining ways are |
| Yarborough after he crashed Yarborough out of a | | | | much like they were on the racetrack. |