COMMENTARY: In Defense Of Darrell Waltrip

This is a tough time to be Darrell Waltrip.

The NASCAR Hall of Famer turned NASCAR On FOX analyst has been a target for naysayers and detractors throughout his storied career. But recently, the hatred has ramped-up to a level that far exceeds the limits of good taste.

Last week, unconfirmed reports surfaced that the 72-year old Waltrip is contemplating retirement at season’s end, closing out a career that has encompassed nearly half a century and has enriched our sport in ways too numerous to count.

From the day he first landed in the NASCAR garage in 1972, the Owensboro, KY native has been a rabble-rouser. He has consistently spoken his mind, straight from the heart and without a filter, calling things like he sees them with little regard for political correctness or social decorum. Virtually upon arrival, he called out the biggest stars of the day – Petty, Pearson and Allison – earning the nickname “Jaws” after getting under tough-guy Cale Yarborough’s skin just one time too many. He employed psychological warfare in an era when most competitors could not spell psychological warfare, and aroused the passions of NASCAR Nation like no one ever had before, and few (if any) have done since.

He pushed buttons – intentionally at times – and pushed this sport’s fan base to levels of passion it had never before experienced. He’s still doing that today, in his own unique and unapologetic style.

Nobody has heard more boos in his lifetime than Waltrip, and no one has embraced the heel’s role more willingly, or with more passion. Rather than cower from the catcalls, he once famously challenged his detractors to meet him in the Kmart parking lot after the race for a good old-fashioned punch out.

Who else can combine a sponsor plug with an invitation to fight?

Only DW.

Waltrip has been polarizing from Day One, and God bless him for that. In an era when people spend most of their time looking for reasons to be offended, Waltrip continues to bulldoze his way forward, stepping on toes when necessary and telling us exactly what he thinks, 100% of the time.

Based on his track record – on 40-plus years of being consistently and unfailingly himself -- what exactly do the haters expect from Waltrip today?

Do they really want a politically correct, Pollyanna Waltrip? A man devoid of opinions, who says wonderful things about everyone and never toes the line of controversy?

If that’s what you want, you’ve got the wrong guy, my friends.

Darrell is what Darrell is. He’s opinionated, outspoken and sometimes annoying; saying things that make you think (really THINK) about what’s going on in the sport of NASCAR. He compliments when compliments are due, and criticizes with equal passion. And if you don’t like it, you can take a page out of Rusty Wallace’s playbook and “go choke on that $200,000.”

Unfortunately, just as they did at the end of his competitive career, the haters and naysayers refuse to allow Waltrip to leave with the grace, dignity and respect he deserves. Social media is filled with hateful, “throw the bum out” commentary, authored by people who were still in diapers when Waltrip was laying waste to his on-track competition and raising the bar of expectation for what a NASCAR champion should be.

Many drivers walk away from the sport when their time behind the wheel is done. Waltrip never walked away, choosing instead to continue to contribute as a television analyst. His perspective is one-of-a-kind, combining the behind-the-wheel savvy of Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. with a “been there, done that” long view of the sport that no one else can offer.

Somewhere along the line, it became cool to be cruel.

Social media has made a cottage industry out of hurtfulness, insults and disrespect, to the point where now, even a respected institution like the Associated Press confuses character assassination with insightful commentary.

It’s a sad state of affairs, and Waltrip deserves better.

As a NASCAR Hall of Famer with three premier series championships and Daytona 500, Southern 500 and Coca-Cola 600 trophies among his 84 premier series wins, Waltrip has earned the right to choose his own exit strategy. He has earned the right to say goodbye at the time of his choosing and on his terms; without being hounded out the door by a pack of rabid wolves, hungry for their Hot Take Headline and their self-serving pound of flesh.

People who criticize Waltrip's "shtick" don't understand.  DW is not playing a character on television, he is being himself. That "Boogity Boogity Boogity" enthusiasm at the start of every race is neither contrived nor created. It is Darrell, being Darrell. 

You don’t have to like Darrell Waltrip. You don’t even have to agree with Darrell Waltrip. It’s OK if he gets under your skin from time to time. As a matter of fact, it’s part of his job. 

The philosopher Aristotle once said, "There is only one way to avoid criticism; do nothing, say nothing and be nothing." After spending every Sunday afternoon in our living rooms for the last 20-odd years -- delivering an unapologetic mix of opinion, commentary and analysis... doing, saying and being -- Mother Teresa would rub you the wrong way, every once in a while.

During the glory days of Monday Night Football, people disliked Howard Cosell; criticizing his shtick and bemoaning his sometimes self-possessed commentary. They lambasted Dandy Don Meredith for being unpolished and “too country;” eventually running both men out of the broadcast booth in the mid-80s.

Monday Night Football has never been the same since.  

Without Waltrip, NASCAR would long ago have been overrun by those who consider insightful Victory Lane commentary to be “thanking the boys back at the shop,” along with God, Gatorade and Goodyear. Without Waltrip, there would be no Kevin Harvick, no Brad Keselowski and no Kyle Busch; all of whom have built on his “call it like you see it” foundation to become outspoken, opinionated and insightful spokesmen for our sport.

Waltrip blazed trails and opened doors for those who came behind him – both on and off the race track – and for that, he deserves our thanks and our respect.

If DW is truly retiring at season’s end, he deserves to be embraced and applauded for his lifelong efforts to improve and add color to our sport.

The recent spate of “here’s your hat, what’s your hurry” character assassination says more about the assassins than it does about Waltrip.