Countless people have reacted after NASCAR Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip revealed a Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD) diagnosis complicated by possible Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).
Videos by FanBuzz
This group of supporters includes members of the racing industry, fans, and fellow residents of Middle Tennessee.
Steve Spencer, a longtime competitor and friend, provided his comments to The Chronicle of Mt. Juliet. He spoke about the impact that Waltrip had on his life and the lens through which Tennessee residents viewed the three-time Cup Series champion.
"It's awful," Spencer told the outlet after hearing the news of the diagnosis. "I met Darrell at Fairgrounds Speedway in 1964 and he set the standard for all of us, on and off the track.
"We all wanted to be the next Darrell Waltrip. He was not only the greatest driver ever to come through here, he befriended the young guys who looked up to him."
According to the Mayo Clinic, FTD is a blanket term for "a group of brain diseases that mainly affect the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. These areas of the brain are associated with personality, behavior and language."
Waltrip and his family said in a statement that the disease will progress. At the moment, however, it is currently limited to minor, noticeable symptoms.
Spencer continued and said that he hopes that Waltrip realizes how much people love and respect him. He also hopes that the Hall of Famer realizes the impact that he made on so many racers while capturing 55 races and three track championships at the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway.
Spencer is someone who had experience racing against Waltrip in multiple arenas. The Tennessee native made eight Cup Series starts between 1979-81. Five of his starts took place at the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, two took place at nearby Bristol Motor Speedway, and one took place at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Spencer finished 12th in his Cup Series debut, besting Waltrip by nine spots. However, Waltrip won two of Spencer's next four starts at the short track. Waltrip also won a Bristol race in which Spencer finished 20th.
