Darrell Waltrip
A brash, three-time NASCAR champion whose victory lane crowing and later folksy commentary made him a defining voice in stock car racing for decades.
Born 1947 (age 79)·American racing driver and commentator·Birthday: February 5·Baby Boomers
Biography
Darrell Waltrip arrived in NASCAR’s top series with a mouth as fast as his car. Hailing from Owensboro, Kentucky, the self-proclaimed 'Jaws' backed up his taunts and boasts with sheer talent, becoming the dominant driver of the late 1970s and early 80s. His fierce rivalry with the stoic King, Richard Petty, was a classic clash of personalities that fueled the sport's growth. Driving the iconic #11 Mountain Dew Chevrolet for Junior Johnson, Waltrip captured three Cup Series championships. After retiring, he seamlessly transitioned to the broadcast booth, where his Southern drawl, insider knowledge, and signature "Boogity, boogity, boogity!" race call became beloved institutions for a new generation of fans. His career arc traces NASCAR’s own journey from regional spectacle to national phenomenon.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Darrell was born in 1947, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Darrell Was Born
The biggest hits of 1947
#1 Movie
The Egg and I
Best Picture
Gentleman's Agreement
Darrell's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1947Born
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1952Started school
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
1960Became a teenager
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1963Could drive
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1965Could vote
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1968Turned 21
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1977Turned 30
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1987Turned 40
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1997Turned 50
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2007Turned 60
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 70
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 79 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the NASCAR Cup Series championship in 1981, 1982, and 1985.
- Captured 84 career NASCAR Cup Series victories, tying him for fourth on the all-time list.
- Won the prestigious Daytona 500 in 1989 after 17 previous attempts.
- Inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2012, part of its third class.
Did You Know?
His younger brother Michael Waltrip is also a former NASCAR driver and two-time Daytona 500 winner.
He provided the voice for the character Darrell Cartrip in the Pixar film 'Cars.'
He famously feuded with driver Dale Earnhardt for years before they developed a deep friendship later in their careers.
“I’ve always said, if you’re not a race driver, stay the hell home. Don’t come here and grumble about going too fast.”
