NASCAR Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip, 79, has been diagnosed with frontotemporal degeneration, or FTD, complicated by possible chronic traumatic encephalopathy, his family announced Wednesday, Sept. 23. The family said the possible CTE was likely tied to injuries from his racing career, and the three-time Cup Series champion will step further away from public life, ESPN reported.
The word possible carries real weight. CTE can be confirmed only by examining brain tissue after death, so no living person can receive a definitive CTE diagnosis. The family did not say which doctors made the diagnosis, what tests were used, or how specific injuries were linked to his condition.
