NASCAR legend Darrell Waltrip has released a statement announcing that he is stepping away from public life due to health concerns. He has been diagnosed with Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD).
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Waltrip and his family announced the news on Wednesday with a statement released to media members.
"We wanted to share a health update with all of Darrell's friends and fans who have supported him throughout his racing career," the statement said. "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! Boogity! Boogity! Boogity!"
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."
The Mayo Clinic says that these lobes shrink and that FTD symptoms can depend on which ones are affected. Symptoms could include losing the ability to use or understand language, acting in ways that are socially inappropriate, being more impulsive, apathy, or trouble making decisions.
A NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee in 2012, Waltrip achieved considerable success in the Cup Series while driving for multiple teams.
Waltrip scored his first win in 1975 at the Nashville Speedway. He went on to win 84 total races at NASCAR's top level, putting him in a tie with Bobby Allison for the fourth-most in Cup Series history. This string of wins includes the Daytona 500, the Southern 500, and the Coca-Cola 600.
Waltrip scored his first championship in 1981 after posting 12 wins. He added another title to his resume in 1982 as he won 12 more races. He won his third title in 1985.
The three-time champion stopped competing in the Cup Series after the 2000 season. He joined the Fox Sports family in 2001. His first race in the booth was the 2001 Daytona 500, a race that claimed the life of Dale Earnhardt. Waltrip's younger brother, Michael won this race.
Waltrip remained in the Fox Sports booth through the 2019 season, and he kicked off dozens of races with his signature "Boogity, boogity, boogity" call. He has made occasional appearances in the booth since on special occasions.
