NASCAR Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip is stepping back further from public appearances following a recent diagnosis of frontotemporal degeneration (FTD), his family announced Sept. 23.
“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!” the family’s statement added. Frontotemporal degeneration is a type of dementia that affects the frontal and temporal regions of the brain. Waltrip first built his reputation at Fairgrounds Speedway in Nashville before moving on to a distinguished Cup Series career.
The 79-year-old former driver has been diagnosed with FTD, which his family said is complicated by possible chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) that may be linked to injuries sustained during his racing career. Waltrip competed from 1972 through 2000. He finished with 84 Cup Series victories, a total that remains fifth on NASCAR’s all-time wins list.
“As a result, he will be stepping further away from the public limelight.
“While this disease will inevitably progress, thankfully, it is currently limited to some minor noticeable symptoms,” the Waltrip family statement said. Those areas are involved in functions including personality, behavior and language, according to the Mayo Clinic.
