From  spring 1981 through spring 1984 nobody was better than NASCAR legend Darrell Waltrip at Bristol Motor Speedway. He won seven consecutive Cup Series races during that stretch, a mark that still stands today. Waltrip clearly had the mojo over his competitors when he rolled into the .533-mile high banked short track back then. He understood how to tame Bristol better than most.

As the Bass Pro Shops Night Race is quickly approaching, let's take a quick look at how Waltrip, who is the winningest driver in BMS history in the Cup Series with 12 victories, kept the streak going over such a stretch of time at a unique and challenging track like Bristol.

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.

DARRELL WALTRIP'S BRISTOL STREAK - THE BREAKDOWN

1. The headline: From spring 1981 through spring 1984, Darrell Waltrip won seven consecutive NASCAR Cup Series races at Bristol Motor Speedway, a track record that still stands.

2. A clean sweep: The streak covered four spring races and three Night Races. For more than three years, every Cup visit to Bristol ended with Waltrip in Victory Lane.

3. The numbers were staggering: Waltrip led 1,542 of the 3,500 laps run during the streak, nearly 44 percent. He averaged more than 220 laps led per victory.

4. It started with authority: In March 1981, Waltrip won from the pole and led 323 of 500 laps to begin the historic run

5. Not every win was a runaway: In the 1982 Night Race, Waltrip led only 38 laps, but he passed Bobby Allison late and controlled the final 20 circuits.

6. Seven became the standard: Waltrip secured victory No. 7 in April 1984. Terry Labonte finally ended the streak in that summer’s Night Race.

7. The larger legacy: Waltrip collected 12 Cup victories at Bristol, still the most by any driver in track history.

8. Unbeatable mix: Bristol’s high banks reward speed, patience and traffic management. For seven straight races, Waltrip put all three together better than anyone, creating one of the most remarkable streaks in NASCAR history.

9. Driver Quote: "For so many years we were just unstoppable there," Waltrip said. "With those seven wins in a row. It's a track that I felt so comfortable on and it fit my driving style perfectly. I just felt so at home there and felt confident we would win every time we rolled in for another race. It's a very special place for sure. All the wins there are certainly some of the very best chapters of my career. I just love the place and love the fans there. It's one of my most favorite race tracks. No doubt about that.""

10. The Media Says: "Waltrip was invincible, it seemed, on the high-banked half-mile, visiting victory lane time after time after time," longtime NASCAR journalist Kenny Bruce has said. "Fans were saying ‘Anybody but Waltrip!’ However, it was more like ‘Nobody but Waltrip.'"

Perhaps the next great Bristol streak will begin on Saturday night, Sept. 19 during the Bass Pro Shops Night Race. Get your tickets now by visiting the BMS website, or by calling the Bristol Motor Speedway Ticket Sales Center at (866) 415-4158.