Buddy Baker
Buddy Baker | |||||||
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![]() Baker in his car, 1970 | |||||||
Born | Elzie Wylie Baker, Jr. January 25, 1941 Florence, South Carolina, U.S. | ||||||
Died | August 10, 2015 Lake Norman of Catawba, North Carolina, U.S. | (aged 74)||||||
Achievements | 1980 Daytona 500 Winner 1970 Southern 500 Winner 1968, 1972, 1973 World 600 Winner 1975, 1976, 1980 Winston 500 Winner 1979 Busch Clash Winner | ||||||
Awards | International Motorsports Hall of Fame (1995) Charlotte Motor Speedway Court of Legends (1995) National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame (1997) Named one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers (1998) NASCAR Hall of Fame (2020) Named one of NASCAR's 75 Greatest Drivers (2023) | ||||||
NASCAR Cup Series career | |||||||
700 races run over 33 years | |||||||
Best finish | 5th (1977) | ||||||
First race | 1959 untitled race (Columbia) | ||||||
Last race | 1992 Winston 500 (Talladega) | ||||||
First win | 1967 National 500 (Charlotte) | ||||||
Last win | 1983 Firecracker 400 (Daytona) | ||||||
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NASCAR Grand National East Series career | |||||||
8 races run over 2 years | |||||||
Best finish | 15th (1973) | ||||||
First race | 1972 Sandlapper 200 (Columbia) | ||||||
Last race | 1973 Buddy Shuman 100 (Hickory) | ||||||
First win | 1972 Sandlapper 200 (Columbia) | ||||||
Last win | 1973 Sunoco 260 (Hickory) | ||||||
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Statistics current as of December 18, 2012. |
Elzie Wylie "Buddy" Baker Jr. (January 25, 1941 – August 10, 2015) was an American professional stock car racing driver and commentator. Over the course of his 33-year racing career, he won 19 races in the NASCAR Cup Series, including the 1980 Daytona 500. Known by the nickname "Gentle Giant", Baker was noted for his prowess at NASCAR's superspeedways, Daytona and Talladega, at which he won a combined six races. After his racing career, he worked as a broadcaster and co-hosted a number of radio shows on Sirius XM.
Early life
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/88/BuddyBaker1969DodgeDaytona.jpg/220px-BuddyBaker1969DodgeDaytona.jpg)
Baker was born on January 25, 1941, in Florence, South Carolina, the son of two-time NASCAR champion Buck Baker. A high school athlete, Baker began racing in 1958 at age 17, and started his NASCAR career the following year. As a teenager, he idolized many of NASCAR's top drivers, including his father and Fireball Roberts, and he studied them closely during his early NASCAR career.[1]
Career
[edit]Baker won his first race in 1967, winning the National 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. On March 24, 1970, he became the first driver ever to exceed 200 mph (320 km/h) on a closed course, accomplishing the feat while testing the Chrysler Engineering #88 blue 1969 Dodge Daytona. That car was the only one to exceed 200 in 1970. He became known for his skill at superspeedways; in his career, he won four races at Talladega and two at Daytona, including the 1980 Daytona 500. Baker's victory in that race remains the fastest Daytona 500 in NASCAR history, posting an average speed of 177.602 mph (285.809 km/h).
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1c/Buddy_Baker_1985.jpg/220px-Buddy_Baker_1985.jpg)
He is one of nine drivers to have accomplished a Career Grand Slam, a feat which involves winning NASCAR's four most prestigious races: the Daytona 500, Aaron's 499, Coca-Cola 600, and Southern 500. The only other drivers to have accomplished this feat are Richard Petty, David Pearson, Bobby Allison, Darrell Waltrip, Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick, and Denny Hamlin. Of the ten, Baker is one of two to have never won a Cup Series championship. He generally raced part-time, having only raced three full seasons, and co-owned his car from 1985 to 1989. He competed in two International Race of Champions series, IROC IV and IROC VII, and helped run the Buck Baker Racing School with his brother for a number of years.
Baker retired from NASCAR in 1992, finishing with 19 career victories. His 1,099 laps led at Talladega Superspeedway remain the track's all-time career record.
Broadcasting career and later life
[edit]After his retirement, Baker became a television broadcaster, acting as an analyst initially for The Nashville Network beginning in 1991, and later for TBS and CBS beginning in 1996. As a commentator, he helped call some of the most legendary moments in NASCAR history, including the first Winston All-Star Race held at night, the last 500-mile race at Dover in 1997, Dale Earnhardt's only Daytona 500 win, and the first race at Daytona to be held under the lights in Prime Time. He remained with all 3 networks until the new consolidated television package took effect beginning with the 2001 season, after which he stepped away from the broadcasting booth.
In 2007, Baker became the part-time co-host of "The Driver's Seat" with John Kernan on Sirius XM's new NASCAR Radio channel. He later became a regular on "Tradin' Paint" with Steve Post and co-host on "Late Shift" with Alex Hayden.[2]
On July 7, 2015, Baker announced his retirement from broadcasting, and revealed that he had been diagnosed with lung cancer. During his final broadcast, he told his audience, "Do not shed a tear. Give a smile when you say my name".[3]
Baker died on August 10, 2015, at his home in Catawba County, North Carolina.[4][5] During the August 2015 race weekend at Michigan International Speedway, the drivers in all three NASCAR series placed stickers on their cars to honor Baker's legacy.
Awards
[edit]In 1997, Baker was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in Talladega, Alabama, and the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame. He was named one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998.
He was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2008, and the NASCAR Hall of Fame in January 2020.[6]
Motorsports career results
[edit]NASCAR
[edit](key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)
Grand National Series
[edit]Winston Cup Series
[edit]Daytona 500 results
[edit]Year | Team | Manufacturer | Start | Finish |
---|---|---|---|---|
1961 | Buck Baker Racing | Chrysler | 28 | 40 |
1962 | 15 | 29 | ||
1964 | David Walker | Plymouth | 42 | 29 |
1965 | Buck Baker Racing | Dodge | 18 | 40 |
1966 | Chevrolet | 36 | 32 | |
1967 | Fox Racing | Dodge | 9 | 28 |
1968 | 13 | 30 | ||
1969 | 1 | 5 | ||
1970 | Owens Racing | Dodge | 2 | 27 |
1971 | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 6 | 2 |
1972 | 31 | 34 | ||
1973 | K&K Insurance Racing | Dodge | 1 | 6 |
1975 | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 13 | 20 |
1976 | 5 | 33 | ||
1977 | 8 | 3 | ||
1978 | M.C. Anderson Racing | Oldsmobile | 31 | 7 |
1979 | Ranier-Lundy Racing | Oldsmobile | 1 | 40 |
1980 | 1 | 1 | ||
1981 | Ellington Racing | Oldsmobile | 6 | 4 |
1982 | Buick | 4 | 8 | |
1983 | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 5 | 3 |
1984 | 5 | 38 | ||
1985 | Baker-Schiff Racing | Oldsmobile | 7 | 4 |
1986 | 17 | 26 | ||
1987 | 7 | 4 | ||
1988 | 18 | 9 | ||
1991 | Osterlund Racing | Pontiac | 16 | 37 |
1992 | Close Racing | Oldsmobile | 24 | 11 |
1994 | Moroso Racing | Ford | DNQ |
International Race of Champions
[edit](key) (Bold – Pole position. * – Most laps led.)
International Race of Champions results | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Make | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Pos. | Pts | Ref |
1976–77 | Chevy | MCH 1 |
RSD 6 |
RSD 8 |
DAY 8 |
5th | NA | [42] | |||
1979–80 | Chevy | MCH 4 |
MCH | RSD | RSD 8 |
ATL 9 |
10th | 14 | [43] |
References
[edit]- ^ "Wylie "Buddy" Baker, Jr., 1941-2015". International Motorsports Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 2020-08-15. Retrieved 2020-04-11.
- ^ "NASCAR Legend Buddy Baker Leaves SiriusXM Radio After Cancer Diagnosis". Catchfence. Retrieved 2020-04-11.
- ^ "Buddy Baker announces he has 'huge tumor' in lung, leaving SiriusXM". NBC Sports. July 7, 2015. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
- ^ "Buddy Baker, Nascar racer and commentator, dies at 74". The Washington Post. Associated Press. August 10, 2015. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
- ^ "Buddy Baker, NASCAR's 'Gentle Giant,' dies at 74". USA Today. August 10, 2015. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
- ^ Buddy Baker at the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America
- ^ "Buddy Baker – 1959 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
- ^ "Buddy Baker – 1960 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
- ^ "Buddy Baker – 1961 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
- ^ "Buddy Baker – 1962 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
- ^ "Buddy Baker – 1963 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
- ^ "Buddy Baker – 1964 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
- ^ "Buddy Baker – 1965 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
- ^ "Buddy Baker – 1966 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
- ^ "Buddy Baker – 1967 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
- ^ "Buddy Baker – 1968 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
- ^ "Buddy Baker – 1969 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
- ^ "Buddy Baker – 1970 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
- ^ "Buddy Baker – 1971 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
- ^ "Buddy Baker – 1972 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
- ^ "Buddy Baker – 1973 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
- ^ "Buddy Baker – 1974 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
- ^ "Buddy Baker – 1975 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
- ^ "Buddy Baker – 1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
- ^ "Buddy Baker – 1977 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
- ^ "Buddy Baker – 1978 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
- ^ "Buddy Baker – 1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
- ^ "Buddy Baker – 1980 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
- ^ "Buddy Baker – 1981 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
- ^ "Buddy Baker – 1982 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
- ^ "Buddy Baker – 1983 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
- ^ "Buddy Baker – 1984 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
- ^ "Buddy Baker – 1985 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
- ^ "Buddy Baker – 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
- ^ "Buddy Baker – 1987 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
- ^ "Buddy Baker – 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
- ^ "Buddy Baker – 1990 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
- ^ "Buddy Baker – 1991 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
- ^ "Buddy Baker – 1992 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
- ^ "Buddy Baker – 1993 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
- ^ "Buddy Baker – 1994 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
- ^ "Buddy Baker – 1977 IROC Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
- ^ "Buddy Baker – 1980 IROC Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
External links
[edit]- Official website
- Buddy Baker at IMDb
- The Inside Groove.com – Historical Nascar Image Gallery
- Buddy Baker driver statistics at Racing-Reference
- Actual footage of Buddy Baker setting the 200 mph world record in the No. 88 Chrysler Engineering Charger Daytona
- Profile, aerowarriors.com
- 1941 births
- 2015 deaths
- American television sports announcers
- Deaths from lung cancer in North Carolina
- International Motorsports Hall of Fame inductees
- International Race of Champions drivers
- Motorsport announcers
- NASCAR drivers
- NASCAR team owners
- Sportspeople from Florence, South Carolina
- Racing drivers from South Carolina
- NASCAR Hall of Fame inductees
- Daytona 500 winners