NASCAR’s Cup Series has visited Bristol Motor Speedway twice a year since the track began hosting stock car racing in 1961. The high‑banked Tennessee short track rewarded drivers who could manage traffic and tires while staying ahead of constant danger. Darrell Waltrip and team owner Junior Johnson became masters of Bristol. Between March 1981 and April 1984 Waltrip won seven straight Cup races at the track, a record that still stands. Each victory had its own twist, and together they tell the story of a driver and team that blended speed with strategy.
1. Valleydale 500 – March 29, 1981
Waltrip joined Junior Johnson’s team at the start of the 1981 season after leaving DiGard Racing. In his first Bristol race with Johnson Waltrip qualified on the pole for the Valleydale 500 and led 323 of 500 laps . Bristol’s small oval requires drivers to navigate traffic almost continuously; Waltrip used the high line to keep clear of slower cars and built a big lead. Only Ricky Rudd and Bobby Allison were able to challenge him, but neither could stay close. Waltrip held command for most of the afternoon, took the lead for the final time on lap 287 and drove away to win by nearly half a lap. The victory began his seven‑race streak and proved that his move to Johnson’s team was the right one.
2. Busch 500 – August 22, 1981
The summer race in 1981 at Bristol, then called the Busch 500, was run at night. Waltrip again started from the pole and showed similar dominance. NASCAR’s gallery notes that he “led all but three of the final 200 laps” and was the only driver on the lead lap at the end of the race . With just under 200 laps to go rival Ricky Rudd briefly took the lead during a sequence of pit stops. Also serving as crew chief, Johnson, made quick adjustments and sent his driver back out on fresh tires. Waltrip retook the top spot and never relinquished it. His second straight Bristol win also moved him within 50 points of season‑long leader Bobby Allison , putting him squarely in the championship hunt.
3. Valleydale 500 – March 14, 1982
The spring of 1982 brought another pole position for Waltrip at Bristol. He led from the start of the Valleydale 500, holding the top spot through much of the race. According to the Stock Car Racing Wiki, he led 222 laps and pulled away from Dale Earnhardt, winning by 13.2 seconds . NASCAR’s gallery also notes that the win marked Waltrip’s 40th Cup victory . The performance underlined how well he and Junior Johnson read Bristol’s changing track surface; they adjusted tyre pressures during pit stops and kept the car balanced. The win gave Waltrip and the No. 11 team momentum heading into summer.
4. Busch 500 – August 28, 1982
Waltrip’s fourth win in the streak was his most dramatic. The Busch 500 of August 1982 had only three cautions, and long green‑flag runs kept the field spread out. Waltrip did not dominate early; Bobby Allison led much of the race. The race report from Wikipedia explains that Waltrip led only 38 laps and did not take the lead until lap 481 . With 20 laps remaining he passed Allison on the inside, and despite pressure from Allison he held on to win by 0.70 seconds . NASCAR’s gallery highlights that he surged late and led the final 20 laps . The close finish showed that Waltrip could out‑think his rival when his car was not the fastest. It also gave him a sweep of Bristol for the second consecutive year.
5. Valleydale 500 – May 21, 1983
Bristol’s spring race moved from March to May in 1983, but the change in schedule did not slow Waltrip. He started 13th yet carved through the field, leading 288 laps . A race summary notes that he beat Bobby Allison by two seconds. Waltrip and crew chief Tim Brewer (working under Junior Johnson) used a softer right‑rear spring to help the car rotate through the corners, and Waltrip consistently passed cars on the outside. The victory extended his Bristol streak to five races and kept him in contention for the 1983 championship.
6. Busch 500 – August 27, 1983 (Rain‑shortened)
The sixth race in the streak came amid unsettled weather. During the Busch 500 in August 1983, Waltrip and Dale Earnhardt traded the lead several times. A caution on lap 390 allowed both drivers to pit, and Waltrip’s crew performed a faster stop that got him back on track ahead of Earnhardt . Rain began to fall soon after; NASCAR officials stopped the race after 419 laps. Waltrip was declared the winner because he was in front when the race was halted. NASCAR records indicate that he led 215 laps and that the rain‑shortened win marked his sixth straight victory . Although the race ended early, it demonstrated how pit‑stop execution and track position mattered just as much as speed.
7. Valleydale 500 – April 1, 1984
Waltrip returned to Bristol in spring 1984 aiming for a seventh win. The Valleydale 500 (run on April 1) saw more competition; a mechanical problem in qualifying left him starting deep in the field. During the race he methodically moved forward and took the lead after 258 laps. He led 205 laps in total , using a balanced set‑up to keep traction on Bristol’s worn surface. According to the Stock Car Racing Wiki, he beat Terry Labonte by about two seconds and took over the championship points lead by five markers . NASCAR record books notes the win was also Junior Johnson’s eighth straight Bristol victory , underscoring the team’s dominance.
Why the Streak Matters
Waltrip’s seven‑race streak at Bristol did not happen by accident. Over those four seasons he led 1,542 of the 3,500 laps contested —about 44 percent of all laps. In many races he was unchallenged; the 1981 night race saw him lap the entire field . Yet the streak also included close finishes and changing conditions: he had to pass Bobby Allison with 19 laps left in 1982 and survive rain in 1983. His ability to adapt to different situations, communicate with his crew about set‑up changes and stay focused through long green‑flag runs was central to his success.
The streak elevated Waltrip’s status in NASCAR. It helped him win the 1981 championship and reinforced his reputation as a short‑track specialist. Bristol Motor Speedway later named a section of the track’s grandstands in his honor. To this day, only The King, Richard Petty, has matched seven consecutive Cup wins at the same track. Petty won seven straight at Richmond from 1970-1973. Waltrip’s run from 1981‑84 at Bristol remains one of the sport’s most remarkable achievements and a testament to the synergy between driver and team.
And who put an end to Waltrip's streak? Terry Labonte emerged the victor in the 1984 Night Race. Despite tying Labonte for most laps led at 144, Waltrip had a tough day and posted a 21st place finish. Dale Earnhardt and Geoff Bodine were in the mix that day, but Labonte led the final 124 laps and never looked back.
