***************Leading up to the DIVORCE****************

Digard made the splash into winston cup racing in 1973....fielding cars for Donnie Allison, then in 1975 there was a newcomer into the sport by the name of Darrell Waltrip, winning there 1st carrer at richmond<then a half mile>, things were looking so good for them from 1976 to 1980, winning no less than 5 races a year and a title contender in 1979 only to lose to richard petty by the slimest of margins, but everything was comming to the surface in 1980 but the contract disputes in 1978 was only the begining of what was to begin the divorce and ugly turn for the team later on in the mid 80s.....

in 1978 the news leaked out that waltrip intentions of getting out of a 5 year contract with digard headed by owner bill gardner and brother jim who was president of the company, waltrip felt that he was deserving of a better shake, his contract with digard was for 50% of the race winnings, plus some other incentives, but he would share no post season awards, Waltrip wanted out of his contract and freely admitted that he had eyes on the ranier racing olds, lennie pond was informed that he would not be asked to return in the 1979 season..... as said above waltrip 1st joined the digard stable in aug. 1975 after 3 struggling years of no wins, in his 8th start he won, Digard had a winner.....in 1977 digard signed a 5 year contract with waltrip and good thru the 82 season.

But waltrip had become wary of the digard management, he wanted out, gardner said"if waltrip has intentions of getting out of his contract, its going to cost a bundle". he also added that "if rainer wants to pay my price, fine, if not i fully expect waltrip to drive the digard cars next year, i took him as a 28 year old driver when i could have chosen a superstar, we have 4 and a half years left on the contract and i have given him more money each year, above what it calls for"  Waltrip said that he has not been satisfied with the deal with digard for some time "i have not been too happy with management" he said "i have no qualms with the crew or sponser<gatorade>, its just that there is something to be desired when it comes to the strctures of the company"

On aug 27th 1978 harry ranier said he intended to replace pond with waltrip for the 1979 season. he was aware of the contractual problems waltrips was in, but he had not accually seen the written contract himself.... "as far as we know, darrel waltrip will be driver our car next year" said ranier....  On the heels of rainers statement bill gardners said waltrips contract is no longer for sale and he intended to make waltrip follow by the terms of the deal they had which waltrip signed a year eariler.....but gardners statement had little impact on waltrips saying "im flat out with the WIN team<raniers team> next year and who ever wants to sponser the best darned team had better get in touch with us" said waltrip

Digard told waltrip that he was bound to the contract and if nesscessary they would take him to court in each state that the cup series raced at,  on oct 31st the parties had a meeting and the anouncement was stunning. "we are pleased to announce that the contract darrell walltrip and digard has been resloved" said gardner"darrell will be in the car untill the 1983 season"

Waltrip had signed another long term contract "realistically we had a binding contract said waltrip"  he also added "bill gardner is sort of a hard head like me, but amendments were made to the current contract,bill did not have toi give me anything, basically, its a new contract , i got what i want"   According to the guidlines of the new draft, waltrip would share the post season awards won by the digard team. waltrip won 6 races and place 3rd in the final points, his total winnings were 413,000 plus including appearance fees, racing winnings and post season team awards........

**************THE DIVORCE*******************

In october of 1980 waltrip and gardner met in a meeting about the sutuation at length, a few mins into the meeting waltrip had announced he was a free man "i am committed to run the last 2 races for digard but after that i am free, now only if the hostages in iran can be set free, my world would be in good shape"  waltrip bought himself out of the contract with digard "i think 90% of the garage never thought i would get out of it" he said

The financial settelement was undisclosed but it was a big amount, anywhere from 350,000 to 500,000.  Ricky Rudd was hired by digard, they signed a contract for 81 and holding the options for 4 more years...

******************1985 season***********************

The strugling digard crew failed to hit victory lane in 1985 untill july 4th 1985 where the most unusal events took place, the whole year the fords where the class of the field, importantly on tracks a mile or bigger, Bobby Allison took over ricky rudds ride in 1982 and won a championship in 1983....   1984 was a hit or miss year for the stable but 1985 was anything but winning.... the pepsi/firecracker 400 started just like any other superspeedway race that year, a ford took the pole, bill eilliots coors sponsered car took the lead for the 12 laps, around the 40 lap point everyone was surprised that greg sacks started 8th in the digard chevy<bobbys car was a buick like it has been for all year> erased bills nearly 8.0 second lead in a matter 12 laps and passed him on lap 45, in all sacks lead the race for 31 laps and eilliot was forced to make a splash and go and ended up 21 secs behind sacks when the checker flag flew....  gary nelson would later admitt that he sneaked one past the inspectors, the car might have been eqiuped with a big motor....  sacks victory was like pouring salt into the wound for allison who not had a win in sometime, allison quit the team a few days later......

*******************rest of 85, the 86 season and 3 races of 87*****

sacks would drive for the rest of the year for digard. allison took the miller sponsership he had with digard and ranhis own team for the rest of 85,  sacks also had the miller sponsership for the rest of 85, but it was this type of event that what i think would be a blacklisting for digard, this team had so much going for them, bad bussiness moves and a total disgreguard for there empolyers<mainly allison> waltrips on the other hand, admitting that he might have been too cocky and brash but maybe there was more than meets the eye..... as far as digard racing goes,  they had a horrable year in 1986, a far cry from there near winnless season in 1985, they would attend 3 races in 1987 before desoving the team ....... in the end i dont think they were exactly missed from the sport, but that is my take, 

on the next flashback............  the invention of the polish victory lap,  that race will be profiled next time..... keep reading and keep on makinglaps.     till then

scott