Darell Cartrip

Darrell Cartrip, a 1977 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, is a Piston Cup announcer in the first film. A former Piston Cup racer, his character is based on his voice actor, 1989 Daytona 500 winner and NASCAR on Fox commentator Darrell Waltrip. An enthusiastic Cartrip uses Waltrip's catchphrase "Boogity boogity boogity! Let's go racing, boys!" and insists that his oil pressure's running through the roof and he might need to be towed out of the booth after the race. Cartrip appears in the Cars video game as the sole announcer; he is a playable character in the Piston Cup VS. and Arcade mode and returns in the second film as the only of three World Grand Prix announcers to believe it was Lightning McQueen's race to lose. A real-life 1977 Monte Carlo was driven by Waltrip with DiGard Motorsports, finishing a very close second (11 points behind Richard Petty) for the 1979 championship Cup.[16] Waltrip raced from midway through the 1975 season until the 1980 season driving for the team. The real-life car's original number (DiGard's #88) and green-and-white Gatorade livery do not appear on the character (The livery's design is now owned by Pepsico). The film's credits list Darrell Waltrip Motorsports (his licencing arm) as the "#17 Car"; Waltrip's various NASCAR entries have included a #17 (which he owned) and a #95. The most famous of the DiGard Monte Carlos was the infamous "Bertha", displayed at the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in Talladega, known for a weight-reduction scheme (devised by Gary Nelson and Buddy Parrott) where up to 100 pounds (45 kg) of buckshot is dropped on-track on parade laps to lighten the car. A subsequent NASCAR rule change to weigh cars after the race now prevents this type of ruse.