Darrell Waltrip

Darrell Waltrip began racing in local tracks such as the Kentucky Motor Speedway and the likes, but he soon made his NASCAR debut in 1972 at the Cup level. Earning the nickname "Jaws" from his rival Cale Yarborough, Waltrip's aggressive driving style was soon becoming his trademark style. The three-time championship winner, for the years 1981, 1982 and 1985, Waltrip accumulated 84 wins, 59 pole positions and 390 top-10 finishes in his career. Waltrip was ranked third at the time due to his 809 starts, and his wins placed him with Bobby Allison at the third position on the all-time list.

In 1989, Waltrip won the Daytona 500, which was his 17th attempt, and he is the only driver to win Coca-Cola 600 five times, at Lowe's Motor Speedway. He further won the inaugural The Winston, in 1985. Waltrip still holds the records for most number of wins from the pole positions, numbering to eight in 1981. His list of records are endless, including the one wherein, Waltrip is the only driver to win $6 million up till $10 million in prize money, and he went on to form another record by crossing the $15 million mark.

Waltrip also won the NASCAR Most Popular Driver award in the years 1989 and 1990 and went on to win the National Motorsport Press Association Driver of the Year award in 1977, 1981 and 1982. Darrell Waltrip retired from NASCAR racing in 2000, but continued to be associated with the sport as a motorsports broadcast analyst for Fox.

To honor his achievements Waltrip was inducted into the Lowe's Motor Speedway Court of Legends as well as Bristol Motor Speedway's Heroes of Bristol Hall of Fame in 1997.