NASCAR legend Darrell Waltrip stepping away from public life due to FTD diagnosis
NASCAR legend Darrell Waltrip has been diagnosed Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD), with his family announcing that he will be stepping further away from public life. He is 79 years old, and the family noted that the disease was likely complicated by CTE-related injuries from his racing career. "We wanted to share a health update with all of Darrell's friends and fans who have supported him ...…
NASCAR legend Darrell Waltrip has been diagnosed with Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD), a degenerative brain disorder, complicated by possible Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) from his racing career. The 79-year-old Waltrip, known for his three NASCAR Cup Series championships in 1981, 1982, and 1985, will be stepping further away from public life due to the disease.
The family announced that while the symptoms are currently minimal, the condition is expected to progress. Waltrip, who was elected to the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2012, spent his time post-racing as a beloved broadcaster for FOX Sports from 2001 to 2019. He is survived by his wife Stevie, two daughters, and three young grandchildren. The family appreciates the ongoing support from fans and friends.
Written by urgent.news from Motorsport.com's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
