Yeah, we've all seen the Iggy (icky?) Shuffle for years on the clips. 'Ole 'Dee Dubya' dancing around... yelling, "I won the Daytona 500... I WON THE DAYTONA 500... this is the Daytona 500, isn't it?"
Mike Joy trying desperately to hold his composure as Darrel Waltrip basked in his day. It brings a smile to the faces of many NASCAR fans, certainly.
And, truth be told, we may just see him do it again at the induction. Perhaps he'll get all that out of his system before the actual induction ceremonies. But again, who knows... this is DW after all.
However, I have to wonder... maybe this is too soon. I am not arguing the wisdom behind Waltrip being qualified for the NASCAR Hall of Fame. NOT AT ALL. I think his qualifications in just racing alone should have qualified him for the 2nd class induction actually. That's an argument many have had. And I for one could have easily accepted his induction in the second class.
But... there are a whole slew of new NASCAR fans whose images of Waltrip are so much more solidified in his role as a FOX Sports Television commentator / analyst. And, let's be honest here, rightfully so.
For my money (which is little, as I don't pay to watch NASCAR races... I just put up with the commercials) The team assembled by FOX Sports for NASCAR is far superior than any other previous or present NASCAR broadcast team. They simple exceed anything anyone else does. From the first fateful day this crew stepped into the spotlight for the 2001 Daytona 500 they have been magical. And Darrell Waltrip is and has always been a KEY FACTOR in that magic.
On that day in February 2001 DW uttered three phrases that will live on forever in the hearts of most NASCAR fans.
1. Boogity, Boogity, Boogity... Let's go Racin' Boys!
This catch phrase has BECOME a part of NASCAR and a part of FOX Sports. Not one single other Sports Commentator has any phrase more closely tied to them. Perhaps Marv Albert has a couple tied him. I know the "Let's get ready to rumble" is Michael Buffers from now until the end of time. But Buffer isn't exactly anything other than a ring side announcer. Had Waltrip not succeeded in the booth this phrase would not have survived. But Waltrip is (as I already said) a key ingredient in the magic that is the FOX NASCAR team. He, along with that entire crew, has not only survived.. they have thrived. And "Boogity, Boogity, Boogity... let's go racin' boys" is a sprinkling of the salt that brings the flavor.
2. "Go Mikey.... you got it... YOU GOT IIIIIIIIT!!!!!"
It's just not that often in our sport that things line up the way they did for the Waltrips on this day. (An understatement if ever one was stated... but we'll get to that.) Darrell's brother Michael racing for the win in the Daytona 500 while his brother was in the broadcaster's booth. We were given Ned Jarrett urging on his son for the Daytona 500 win several years prior. But there were some real differences between the careers of the drivers in these two instances. And Michael's struggles in the NASCAR world were well known and recognized. And here is his brother, a former Champion... Legend actually, in the Booth calling on his brother as he ran to his FIRST EVER points win in the series. The joy heard in Darrell's voice was about his love for his brother... for KNOWING the impact his life had always had on his little brother... and seeing his brother accomplish the ultimate win in their shared sport. Darrell knew the pain and frustration of all the years of Michael's struggles. Darrell knew those pains were compounded by the fact that he had been ever so successful while his brother faced his struggles. Darrell and Michael each know and share these things, because after all... they are brothers. Brothers simply know... they know even what they do not speak.
Darrell calling his brother to the line... that all came out in that moment. So many unspoken words.
3. "I hope Dale's O.K."
But as well all know, he wasn't. I simply do not want to go into the depths of this or I won't be able to finish writing this post.
We all hoped he was O.K., Darrel. We prayed for him to be O.K. But he wasn't. And I dare say that for perhaps 10 full years, neither was NASCAR. Yeah... seeing the success that JR. & Mikey went on to have in those DEI cars sure healed some of the wounds. But the very visible scars remained.
The point of all of this is to say... that simply in one single day... one day... DW had a huge impact on this sport. Not as a driver, but as a Commentator. On his first day on the job.
Darrell Waltrip WAS a Racing Legend. Fine. Darrell Waltrip IS a Sport Broadcasting legend... NOW. He still is. Every time he steps behind the mic with Mike Joy and Larry McReynolds the three of them make magic. The key ingredients are there to make fire happen... fuel, heat & oxygen. The three of them could produce the magic at ANY instant. And knowing that exists makes their impact on this sport a continuous factor every time they call a race.
I congratulate Darrell Waltrip on his induction to the NASCAR Hall of Fame. He deserves it.
But it's simply too soon.
Because if you induct the man now, you will not give him a proper induction for the contributions he will have made to this sport. Because he has not stopped. He is STILL making contributions. His words and the reactions of this broadcast crew have no end to their potential. They react as we the fans react, and voice it so well.
20 years from now, a guy in his mid-40's will wonder the halls at the NASCAR Hall of Fame. He will gaze with wonder at the statues, the pictures, the cars. He'll remember his childhood... his love for this sport. He'll remember the moments that had the GREATEST impact on his life while watching this sport. The echoes of the words of Waltrip will still hang in his heart... something Darrell said in the midst of some key moment in NASCAR.
And that moment will not be a single part of Darrell's induction into the Hall of Fame. Because he is being inducted BEFORE it has happened.
Waltrip is not done establishing himself and his impact on this sport. His induction to the Hall of Fame is too soon. Simply too soon.
-Named withheld, no kitchen pass issued.
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