FRANKLIN, Tenn. (AP) — Darrell Waltrip, who parlayed a Hall of Fame driving career in NASCAR into a long-time broadcasting stint at Fox Sports, has stepped away from public life due to a progressive brain disease.
Waltrip and his family shared a statement on Wednesday that noted the former driver, “has been diagnosed with Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD) complicated by possible Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) – likely from injuries incurred during his racing career.”
The 79-year-old Waltrip was one of NASCAR’s storied characters, one of the first to build a brand around his supersized personality, and he served for decades as one of the sport’s strongest ambassadors.
Waltrip won 84 races and Cup Series championships in 1981, 1982 and 1985 before moving straight into the broadcast booth. He was inducted into the third class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame in January 2012.
Waltrip was Fox Sports’ first hire when the network launched its NASCAR coverage in 2001 and became widely known for his signature “Boogity! Boogity! Boogity! Let’s go racing, boys” call.
A fearless Kentucky boy who first showed up on the NASCAR scene in 1972 at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama, Waltrip aggravated his competitors by beating them on the track and then running his mouth out of the car.
Rivals nicknamed him “Jaws” and Waltrip was at the forefront of parlaying his personality and fame into a lucrative side hustle of appearances, celebrity endorsing and, finally, the broadcast booth.
“While this disease will inevitably progress, thankfully it is currently limited to some minor noticeable symptoms,” the family said in a statement. "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!
Boogity! Boogity! Boogity!"
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FILE - Darrell Waltrip discusses the repairs needed at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, June 23, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV, File)
NEW YORK (AP) — Ben Rice hit his 40th and 41st home runs, Ryan McMahon added a grand slam while matching his career high with five RBIs and the New York Yankees beat the Tampa Bay Rays 9-2 on Wednesday night.
Gerrit Cole (10-9) allowed two runs and three hits in 5 2/3 innings with eight strikeouts and three walks. The 2023 AL Cy Young Award winner had a 3.61 ERA and 131 strikeouts over 22 starts and 127 innings following his return in May from Tommy John surgery.
A day after Tampa Bay clinched the AL East title, Rice hit the first pitch of the first inning from Mason Englert (0-4) into the right-field second deck for his fourth career leadoff homer and second this season.
Rice added a solo drive in the fourth for his fifth career multihomer game and finished with three hits. He is tied for the AL home run lead with Baltimore's Pete Alonso, the Rays' Junior Caminero and Houston's Yordan Alvarez.
George Lombard Jr. also homered for the Yankees and Cedric Mullins went deep for the Rays.
New York is assured of hosting a best-of-three AL Wild Card Series starting Tuesday, likely against Boston. The winner will face the Rays in a best-of-five Division Series.
McMahon had an RBI single in the second and boosted the lead to 7-0 in the third with his third career slam.
Englert, brought up to allow Rays starters extra rest ahead of the playoffs, allowed eight runs and nine hits in 4 2/3 innings.
Rays manager Kevin Cash said left-hander Shane McClanahan won't recover in time for the Division Series but left-hander Garrett Cleavinger and right-hander Tyler Wells are possibilities. All three have forearm tightness.
Yankees RHP Cam Schlittler (14-6, 1.94 ERA) and Rays RHP Freddy Peralta (9-11, 4.56) start Thursday night's series finale.
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New York Yankees' Ryan McMahon watches his grand slam during the third inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Mason Englert watches a solo home run by New York Yankees' Ben Rice during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Yankees' Ben Rice reacts after hitting a solo home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Yankees' Ben Rice reacts after hitting a solo home run in front of Tampa Bay Rays catcher Liam Hicks during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
