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Birthday Wishes Overwhelm 77YO NASCAR Icon Darrell Waltrip as Mike Joy Pens Heartfelt Message

Published 02/05/2024, 9:55 PM EST

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Back in the day when drivers like “The Intimidator” were wreaking havoc in the world of Stock Car racing, one man stood out, exuding charisma and confidence, captivating the fandom with his racing persona. Even after his retirement from the sport he continued to catch the attention with his iconic catchphrase – “Boogity, Boogity, Boogity” – as an active presence in the commentary booth.

On February 5th, 3-time Cup Series champion, Darrell Waltrip turned 77-year-old. The Owensboro, Kentucky native had a career to remember behind the wheel. He racked up 84 stellar wins and raced for some of the sport’s biggest names, including Junior Johnson, Bud Moore, Rick Hendrick, and Dale Earnhardt in the golden age of the sport.

The community exploded into a celebration with their champion turning 77 on Monday. Popular voice of NASCAR, Fox Sports announcer Mike Joy shared his wish on social media to get fans into a frenzy – “Happy Birthday to a great racing champion, and the best entertainer ever,” he said for Waltrip.

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Mike Joy’s special birthday wish for the NASCAR icon, Darrell Waltrip as turns 77

Old-school fans still remember his swagger as a fierce driver with a record of 84 wins including one Daytona 500 victory, and five World Series triumphs in  1978, 1979, 1985, 1988, and 1989 respectively. Others might still know him as NASCAR’s voice for multiple decades. Former NASCAR driver and Fox Sports presenter, Darrell Waltrip is a class apart, always capturing the attention with his charming personality making him stand out while his accolades and achievements are still relevant and momentous in the sport even in the modern era.

With the veteran turning 77 years old, Mike Joy, Fox Sports’ veteran commentator, Mike Joy conveyed his wishes, tagging Waltrip in his post. He wrote, “Happy Birthday to a great racing champion, and the best entertainer ever to wear a Nascar TV headset. It’s your day Darrell @AllWaltrip, hope it’s a great one!

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Responding to the wishes, the veteran Darrell Waltrip noted, “I’m overwhelmed with all the birthday wishes, thanks to everyone for sending them, makes me feel important!” 

“Happy birthday DW!” –  Netizens wish the “overwhelmed” veteran best wishes 

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Nearly for two decades, his charm, passion, and extensive knowledge of the sport amplified more than 300 Cup telecasts until he stepped down for good four years ago in 2019. His expert opinion was certainly a thing of beauty as the veteran called the shots from the booth, giving the fandom deeper insights into the world of NASCAR.

Happy birthday DW! I’ll turn 73 this year. I’ve followed most of your career. You are IMPORTANT to all American racing fans!” Wishing the champion, another user wrote, “Happy birthday DW! I miss seeing you on Sundays, but I’m glad I was able to watch you and your career. Here is to another year! Boogity Boogity Boogity AMEN!”

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Soon others joined the party, wishing their favorite driver happy birthday – Happy Birthday to my childhood hero!” Another, ardent fan went down memory lane, reminiscing the moment he shared with the driver in Charlotte, “Happy Birthday to my favorite driver of all time! I’m the guy that camped by your house in Charlotte! I owned the Mt Dew Car that I bought from your used car lot in Franklin! I have a Western Auto Car that I want you to sign the dash! I can come by your dealership any time! Thank.” 

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Written by:

Kishore R

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Kishore is a NASCAR Writer at EssentiallySports. He actively covers live events and does detailed race analyses, helping fans understand the very nitty gritties of the sport. Using the right mix of storytelling and game expertise, Kishore can take his readers on a journey to see how a particular race was for some of their most loved drivers, like Kyle Busch and Chase Elliott.
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Edited by:

Aakash Nair