Photo – Charlotte Motor Speedway

Up to the 1989 season, Darrell Waltrip was not liked by many fans. Nicknamed “Jaws”, the talkative Waltrip finally grabbed his elusive Daytona 500 win to start the season. Many may remember him doing the “Ickey Shuffle” in victory lane. The No. 17 Hendrick team, led by crew chief Jeff Hammond, had three wins up to the All-Star race.

The 1989 edition of the All-Star Race was all Waltrip and Rusty Wallace, driving the No. 27 for car owner Raymond Beadle. The two drivers together led 123 of the 135 laps. In the end, it was setting up as a classic duel between Waltrip and Wallace.

The No. 17 was starting to fade, as Wallace slowly reeled him in. The No. 27 car got to the bumper of Waltrip, and all hell broke loose. Rusty clipped the left rear of Waltrip, sending the No. 17 car through the front stretch grass. All of a sudden, Darrell Waltrip went from being the bad guy to NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver. Rusty otherwise became the newest villain.

After the end of the race, Todd Parrott, a crew member on the No. 27 team, pushed one of Waltrip’s crew guys and the fight was on. It became necessary to restrain crew members on both teams, and the incident got to the point where track president Humpy Wheeler made two security guards stay at Rusty’s home that night because of death threats.
Waltrip’s quote summed up his perspective.

“I hope he (Rusty) chokes on that $200,000.” 

After being disliked by the fans, Waltrip went on to win NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver Award in 1989 and 1990, and Wallace claimed his first and only Winston Cup championship in 1989.

1989 Winston Top Ten

#27 Rusty Wallace
#25 Ken Schrader
#3 Dale Earnhardt
#9 Bill Elliott
#7 Alan Kulwicki
#94 Sterling Marlin
#17 Darrell Waltrip
#26 Ricky Rudd
#5 Geoffrey Bodine
#88 Greg Sacks