Waltrip started slow that year but he whittled away at Bobby Allison's early lead. With six races to go Waltrip took over the lead in one of the best championship races ever. Waltrip would eventually defeat Allison by 53 points. Darrell won 12 races that year. Count them 12. The man can say boogity boogity boogity if he wants. He earned the right.
Although Buick had previously only won two NASCAR races (both in 1955), 1981 began a period of complete dominance. Twelve models were eligible for 1981, but aerodynamics and rules favored the Regal. Darrell and just about everyone were driving the newly designed Buick. Buick's roster also included Richard and Kyle Petty, Harry Gant, Bobby Allison, Terry Labonte, Tim Richmond and many others.
DW's 1981 Championship season is now recognized as one of the most impressive runs in NASCAR history, as he fought back from a 341-point deficit in the final 17 races to capture the Cup.
"The Darrell Waltrip years were some of the finest in Mountain Dew's racing history," said Ralph Santana, vice president of sports, media and interactive, Pepsi-Cola North America."
The 25 Greatest Daytona 500 Drivers Of All-Time by Ron Thornton
The countdown continues as we near the 49th edition of the Great American Race. With the anticipation building, combined with my (moparornocar) love for history, statistics, and possibly for causing trouble, I thought I would take a crack at coming up with a list to honor the 25 greatest Daytona 500 drivers of all-time.
How successful was I in coming up with a method of making such a determination that most, though understandably not all, might agree with? Well, the 25 best I came up with represent 38 Daytona 500 victories and include 20 of the 50 best drivers as decided during NASCAR's 50th anniversary celebrations nine years ago. As for the five not on that 1998 chart, they managed to combine for six wins and 38 Top Ten finishes when it came to competing in the February spectacle.
David Pearson
10. DAVID PEARSON - 110 Points 1 Win (1976) 3 Top Threes (1966, 70, 76) 6 Top Fives (1966, 68, 70-71, 75-76) 10 Top Tens (1962, 66, 68-71, 75-76, 83-84)
9. JEFF GORDON - 113 Points 3 Wins (1997, 99, 2005) 5 Top Fives (1993-94, 97, 99, 2005) 7 Top Tens (1993-94, 97, 99, 2002, 04-05)
8. TERRY LABONTE - 118 Points 4 Top Threes (1986, 90, 94, 97) 6 Top Fives (1982, 86, 88, 90, 94, 97) 12 Top Tens (1980, 82-83, 86, 88-90, 92, 94-95, 97, 2000)
7. BENNY PARSONS - 130 Points 1 Win (1975) 5 Top Threes (1975-78, 87) 8 Top Fives (1972, 75-78, 80, 86-87) 9 Top Tens (1969, 72, 75-78, 80, 86-87)
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David Pearson
Bill Elliott
