Darrell and Michael Waltrip, one of NASCAR‘s most well-known brother duo, hosted The Waltrip Brothers’ Checkered Flag Champions Dinner on Wednesday night at The Pinnacle in Nashville, Tennessee. With the beneficiary being Motor Racing Outreach (MRO), the dinner raised $750,000 for charity.
Both Darrell and Michael Waltrip were in attendance for the dinner and spoke on-stage in front of the guests in attendance. Also featured at the dinner was three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Joey Logano, who was gifted a car by Darrell, another three-time Cup champion.
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Darrell’s appearance on Wednesday night was his first since the announcement that he was diagnosed with a cognitive disease. Announced by the Waltrip family last month, the statement said that “DW” would step out of the spotlight in the wake of the diagnosis.
From one three-time Cup Series champion to another, “DW” surprised Joey Logano quite the gift. The retired NASCAR Hall of Famer gifted the current Team Penske star his No. 95 Mercury Cyclone, the former’s first-ever Cup Series car driven in 1971.
Unfortunately for Logano, he will have to wait to fire up his new gift.
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“Darrell Waltrip and Joey Logano play around with DW’s gift to Joey, his first ever Cup car. The battery was dead so Joey will have to wait to let it roar,” via Braking Bob on X.
At one point in the evening, Darrell Waltrip, longtime play-by-play Mike Joy, and color commentator Larry McReynolds were all on-stage together, an homage to the original NASCAR on FOX booth team.
Following the Waltrip Brothers’ dinner, younger brother Michael Waltrip took to Instagram to express his appreciation. The two-time Daytona 500 winner shared photos of himself together with Darrell, car owner Rick Hendrick, former play-by-play announcer Rick Allen, and others who were in attendance on Wednesday night.
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“Oh what a night! My heart is so full of love and happiness. DW and I are so thankful for the generosity of so many that make our Waltrip Brothers event a success. From smiling with my big bro, being with our family, enjoying the company of great friends and colleagues, to knowing this night will make a difference in the lives of so many. And man did we have so much fun! Except the part where DW, Joey, Bobby and I added up our 7 @nascar Championships
Thank you Billy, Julie and the entire MRO team for all you do. Awesome job singing and playing SixWire, TGB, and Carly!
,” he wrote.
Darrell Waltrip is a three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and his 84 career Cup wins ranks fifth all-time. Michael Waltrip was a four-time Cup Series winner, with two of his victories coming in the Daytona 500 in 2001 and 2003.
