'Bigger than big?' Earnhardt Jr.'s move recalls a big one two decades ago

By Tom Higgins

A colorful, retired Charlotte telvision sports anchorman, Harold Johnson, was fond of describing a story as "Bigger than big."

Problem was, Ol' Harold often said it several times a week, sometimes when the news was relatively ordinary.

"Bigger than big" certainly describes the recent decision of Dale Earnhardt, Jr., to leave the team founded by his late father, the legendary Dale Earnhardt, to drive in NASCAR's Nextel Cup Series next year for an organization owned by someone other than his stepmother, Teresa Earnhardt.

Modern-day motorsports pundits are calling it the biggest move by a driver in stock car racing history.

Uhh, I'm not so sure.

   At least a co-equal is Darrell Waltrip's departure in 1987 from the team owned and operated by NASCAR pioneer Junior Johnson.

Let's check the records:

   Earnhardt the junior has won 17 races at NASCAR's top level.  And no championships.

   Driving for Junior Johnson, Waltrip scored 43 of his 84 victories, tied for third on the alltime list with Bobby Allison behind Richard Petty and David Pearson. And each of Waltrip's three Winston Cup Series championships came in Johnson's cars.

   So, just as the younger Earnhardt turned the NASCAR world upside down a few days ago, so did Darrell Waltrip two decades back.

   The Charlotte Observer broke the Waltrip story on June 27, 1986.

   It read: "All-time motorsports money-winning leader Darrell Waltrip, renowned crew chief and engine builder Waddell Wilson and auto-racing magnate Rick Hendrick have formed  new team that will debut in NASCAR's Winston Cup Series in 1987.  The Observer learned that the three completed their plans this week...Neither Waltrip nor Hendrick could be reached for comment, and Wilson was non-committal...

  "However, a source who asked not to be named verified that Wilson, who presently leads the Ranier Racing team for driver Cale Yarborough, had informed crew members of his plans and submitted a resignation to team owner Harry Ranier, effective at the end of the '86 season."

The Genesis of the Waltrip-Wilson pairing possibly dated to 1983.  During a November race week at the now long-defunct Riverside road course in California, the two were spotted in serious conversation, along with their wives, at a French restaurant in San Bernardino.

"Don't read any conspiracy into it," Wilson said the next day.  "The thing is me and Darrell are good friends, and so are our wives.  Because we're close, naturally we've said 'what if' about getting together someday.  We said it again last night.  I hope it happens sometime.  I'd like to go racing with Darrell.  But if it ever works out, it'll be well down the road."

Their road merged in mid-1986 for the start of the the '87 season.

   Junior Johnson was not pleased.

   He had helped Waltrip buy out of a contract with DiGard Racing at the end of the '81 season at the then-enormous sum of $300,000.

And now the driver Junior almost viewed as a son was leaving.

   Said Johnson in June of '86 when the major story broke, "I'm not commenting on it beyond saying this:  That's their business and not any of mine.  They can have at it.  That's fine with me.  I will say that I don't think any of the three of them is magic."

   The Waltrip-Wilson pairing did not work out, and Hendrick eventually moved Wilson over to become crew chief for driver Ricky Rudd.  Waltrip brought in his former chief at Junior Johnson Associates, Jeff Hammond, to lead his team, which he later owned himself for a few years.

   Waltrip was to win only 14 more times during the remaining seasons of his driving career, which ended in 1999 and led to his current star spot in the TV booth for the Fox Network's racing telecasts.   He claimed no more championships.

   Just as with the junior Earnhardt’s departure from Dale Earnhardt Incorporated’s team, the Waltrip-Johnson rupture was tinged with bitterness.

   Waltrip, ever trying to be witty, triggered it when his pairing with Hendrick was announced officially at a posh party in an Atlanta hotel in November of ’86 during the Atlanta Journal 500 race week. 

   Through a cloud of fake smoke, Waltrip came rolling onto a stage in a Hendrick Chevrolet.
   He climbed from the car, kissed the hood and said, to the astonishment of most in a crowded ballroom, “I’ve gotten off an old nag and onto a nice, new thoroughbred.”

   Told of the comment the next day, Junior Johnson thought for only a moment and then shot back with a hard, flashing look in his eyes, “I’ve had a horse’s ass driving for me, and now I’m rid of him.”

   Just like “Bigger than big,” the saying “Time heals all wounds” is a cliché.

   In the case of Darrell Waltrip and Junior Johnson the latter is true.

   What will happen between Dale Jr. and DEI in this regard is probably far in the future.