In athletics, there is always a fine line between “what has been” and “what could have been.” This one small line has been the scene of human history throughout time. The “What ifs” of the world are nothing new to the motorsport industry. Darrell Waltrip, the great driver in NASCAR, was the subject of one such tale.
In the 1980s, Waltrip was highly sought-after and had caught the eye of Roger Penske, a man whose name is often associated with success. As NASCAR veterans who have witnessed the sport’s evolution from grassroots to mainstream, Waltrip and Penske’s collaboration was once a real possibility. However, a small entity known as “Destiny” made a different decision for them both.
Roger Penske’s abrupt withdrawal from the NASCAR comeback: “Tear that deal up”
Roger Penske has excelled in a number of motorsport series. One could argue that anything the man touches turns to gold given his five NASCAR championships and eighteen IndyCar titles, but that wasn’t always the case.
Penske fielded his cars in NASCAR during the 1970s, but he left the sport in 1977 due to unfulfilled aspirations. His early setbacks were exacerbated by a botched attempt at Formula One. He then gave IndyCar his whole attention. The chance to win it all with NASCAR icon Darrell Waltrip, however, presented Penske with a chance to make a return.
Waltrip was a young, upstart rookie in the early 1970s, and Penske’s homecoming was nearly made possible by his strategic and tactical driving. As disclosed to Dale Jr. by NASCAR great Darrell Waltrip during a visit on the Dale Jr. Roger Penske was planning to have me drive him.
I then travel to Roger’s home in New York. struck a deal,” Waltrip revealed. All appeared well. The transaction was on the verge of being finalized when Penske received a call. Roger phones me the following day and says, ‘Hey, tear that thing up. thing’s off. The cause? “If I sign you to a contract,” stated Bill Gardner over the phone.
As part of the intriguing tale of the possible agreement that changed the course of his career and NASCAR history, Waltrip said, “Neither of us will be in racing anymore.” Gardner prevented Waltrip from quitting his team on more than one occasion. As they say, Waltrip and DiGard Racing had a great time on the track when everything went well.
They did, after all, win 25 races over five years. Gardner didn’t want Waltrip to go, though. At a period when Darrell Waltrip’s team was in dire need of funding, he offered Waltrip the position of driver for DiGard. Off the track, however, the two appeared to be engaged in a never-ending battle. When Ranier Racing called, this was clear.
Waltrip was much sought after by the squad, which made an offer for him to join Ranier in 1978. Gardner, however, did not move. Once more, Waltrip’s fantasy came crashing down. Waltrip’s goal might have been lost when Bill Gardner, his former DiGard Racing team owner, stepped in and ruined the agreement.
However, “when one door closes, another opens,” as the saying goes. From Junior Johnson to Penske: A move that defines a career Waltrip’s life may not have gone as planned thus far, but fate had decided otherwise. Waltrip finished the season with DiGard Racing even though the Penske agreement fell through. However, one day Cale Yarborough, the embodiment of fate, arrived on his door.
Yarborough, who was a three-time champion at the time and drove for Junior Johnson, went up to Waltrip to sit at Junior Johnson’s. “I’m going to tell you something, Darrell,” Cale replied, putting his arm around me. “I hadn’t told anybody,” he replied, “but I’m leaving Junior’s.”
What I want to tell you, though, is that Junior Johnson wants you to drive his vehicle. Waltrip remembered the moment Yarborough told him. The disclosure was startling given Yarborough’s power at the time. Above all, Yarborough informed Waltrip that Junior Johnson wanted him to take over the famous vehicle.
The chance to drive for Johnson was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for Waltrip. “Is Junior Johnson asking me to operate his vehicle? I was blown away by that,” Waltrip said. He then began riding for Junior Johnson for the 1981 season. It turned out to be the best choice ever to join Junior Johnson’s team.
Together with Junior Johnson, Waltrip won three titles and became one of NASCAR’s most renowned drivers. Although Waltrip’s career may have changed with Johnson, the Penske deal tale is still somewhat of a “what if” enigma in NASCAR history. Penske’s return to NASCAR with a proven IndyCar pedigree was likely for the best.
Still, one can’t help but wonder how a Penske-Waltrip partnership in 1980 might have changed the sport’s landscape. For Waltrip, it was a reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in life.
