[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 135 (Wednesday, October 25, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1899-E1900]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     HONORING RACING LEGEND DARRELL WALTRIP ON THE OCCASION OF HIS 
                               RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BOB CLEMENT

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 24, 2000

  Mr. CLEMENT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor racing legend Darrell 
Waltrip of Franklin, Tennessee, on the occasion of his retirement after 
twenty-nine successful years at the top of the sport. Waltrip is 
concluding his monumental NASCAR career with a Victory 2000 tour across 
the nation.
  Darrell Waltrip was born February 5, 1947, in Owensboro, Kentucky. 
His love of racing began at the age of 12 when he first drove a go-
kart. Just four short years later, he was racing a stock car. 
Eventually, his father helped him build a 1936 Chevrolet Coupe that he 
could race on a dirt track in his hometown. Fortunately, his father was 
able to share almost his entire career with him until he passed away 
after an extended illness in early 2000. Today, Waltrip makes his home 
in Franklin, Tennessee, near Nashville, with his wife Stevie, and 
children Jessica and Sarah.
  Darrell Waltrip's first professional race was a Winston Cup race at 
the Talladega, Alabama, Superspeedway in 1972. Over the years, Waltrip 
sped to the top of his field, earning numerous accolades and winning 
many races including the coveted Winston Cup championship a total of 
three times. For example, he was voted Most Popular Driver two times by 
his peers and named American Driver of the Year three times. In 1977, 
1981, and 1982, he was named National Motorsports Press Association 
Driver of the Year. In

[[Page E1900]]

addition, the years 1981 and 1982 brought honors as Auto Racing Digest 
Driver of the Year. Today, he is considered one of the foremost race 
drivers to participate in the sport, and his influence can be seen 
among the new generation of NASCAR drivers.
  During the years 1981-1986, his partnership with car owner Junior 
Johnson yielded three series championships, 43 victories and 34 pole 
positions. The highlight of Waltrip's career came in 1989 when he won 
the Daytona 500 on February 17, in car No. 17, in his 17th attempt for 
one of racing's highest honors.
  Darrell Waltrip's statistics are phenomenal. With a career that 
includes 276 top-five finishes, 390 top-ten finishes, 37 Superspeedway 
wins, 47 short track wins, and winnings totaling nearly $18 million, 
there is no doubt that Waltrip is a true racing legend.
  He has broken many barriers in the sport by becoming both a driver 
and an owner, and is recognized as the first corporate spokesperson in 
racing. In Tennessee, he is known and loved for his numerous and 
continuous charitable contributions to the community. In 1979, he was 
named Tennessee's Professional Athlete of the Year.
  Currently, he owns and operates Darrell Waltrip Honda-Volvo Car 
Dealership, serving many of his fans. I consider Darrell Waltrip a 
personal friend. In fact, I was with him for the grand opening of his 
car dealership in Williamson County.
  Darrell Waltrip is to be commended and honored for his incredible 
racing career, which has entertained and enthralled thousands of fans 
for the past twenty-nine years. He is a true racing pioneer, taking the 
sport beyond the racetrack and into the hearts and homes of America.

                          ____________________