Darrell Waltrip has been diagnosed with Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD) complicated with possible Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), his family revealed on Wednesday. The three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion’s family believes the diagnosis is “likely” from injuries sustained during his racing career.
After retiring from NASCAR competition, Waltrip became a color commentator for NASCAR on FOX and was a prominent member of the TV booth from 2001-2019. Since then, the 79-year-old has made sporadic appearances at NASCAR races.
Waltrip’s latest showing was at the Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway last March. At the start of the race, Waltrip delivered his famous “Boogity, Boogity, Boogity” line in the TV booth.
Circumstances of Darrell Waltrip’s cognitive disease diagnosis
FOX motorsports reporter Bob Pockrass was the first to share the unfortunate news of Waltrip’s cognitive disease diagnosis. In a statement from the Waltrip family, “DW” remains in positive spirits but that the disease will “inevitably progress.”
Here is the full statement from the Waltrip family:
“We wanted to share a health update with all of Darrell’s friends and fans who have supported him throughout his racing career. Recently, Darrell has been diagnosed with Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD) complicated by possible Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) – likely from injuries incurred during his racing career.”
“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.”
FTD is a number of progressive brain disorders that damage the frontal and temporal lobes, which affects areas of the brain that control behavior, personality, language and movement.
CTE is a degenerative brain disease caused by repeated blows to the head and repetitive brain trauma. The disease has been found over the years in football players, boxers, MMA fighters and professional wrestlers.
A look at Darrell Waltrip’s NASCAR career
Over the course of his nearly 30-year racing career, Darrell Waltrip established himself as one of the greatest NASCAR drivers of all-time. The Tennessee native won three NASCAR Cup Series titles, coming in 1981, 1982 and 1985.
Waltrip’s 84 career Cup Series victories ranks fifth on NASCAR’s all-time wins list. He holds the record for the most wins in the Coca-Cola 600, one of the sport’s crown jewel races, with five victories.
In his 17th attempt, Waltrip won his first and only Daytona 500 in 1989 piloting the No. 17 Hendrick Motorsports Tide Chevrolet. Waltrip’s final Cup Series win came at Darlington Raceway in 1992.
After his racing career, Waltrip became one of the most recognizable personalities in the TV booth. He coined the “Boogity, Boogity, Boogity” phrase, which he would say at the start of every NASCAR Cup race he was in the booth for.
Waltrip was a color commentator for NASCAR on FOX from the beginning in 2001 until his retirement in 2019.
In 2012, Waltrip was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, the third induction class in the HOF’s history.
NASCAR Legend Darrell Waltrip Diagnosed With Cognitive Disease