 Following struggles with an addiction to painkillers, he took a 10-year hiatus from racing.Walther attempted a comeback in 1990, driving the #77 for Walther Racing.Walther qualified for the race only to be bumped out by a last-minute run by Rocky Moran, and the American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association, Inc. awarded him the dubious "Jigger Award" for his efforts.