Darrell Waltrip has long thought about adding a car from his 1981-1982 championship seasons to his collection and on Sunday before the sold-out Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway, that dream was realized.

Much to the surprise of the three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion, Waltrip was presented with the No. 11 Mountain Dew Buick Regal he drove during his back-to-back championship seasons during pre-race ceremonies. During those two title years, the 61-year-old Waltrip, now a television analyst for FOX, captured 24 checkered flags, nabbing 12 in 1981 and picking up another dozen in 1982.

Ralph Santana of PCNA VP Sports, Media and IMG, made the presentation to Waltrip on behalf of the Mountain Dew Racing Team.

Waltrip's streak of seven consecutive victories at Bristol Motor Speedway began with a sweep of both Cup events at the World's Fastest Half-Mile during that 1981 campaign. He also won both Bristol events in 1982 and 1983 and the spring race in 1984.

Waltrip, named one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers, leads all drivers with 12 wins at Bristol Motor Speedway.