Buddy Baker

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 SiriusXM.

Early life

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 the age of seventeen, 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.

Career 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 No. 88 blue 1969 Dodge Daytona, also known as DC-93. 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).thumb

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, Jack Link's 500, 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 1994, finishing with nineteen career victories. His 1,099 laps led at Talladega Superspeedway remain the track's all-time career record.

Broadcasting career and later life 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.

In 2001, Baker began calling American Speed Association races with Bob Dillner on The Nashville Network. He continued until the end of the 2002 season.

In 2007, Baker became the part-time co-host of "The Driver's Seat" with John Kernan on SiriusXM'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.

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".

Baker died on August 10, 2015, at his home in Catawba County, North Carolina. 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 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.

Baker was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2008, and the NASCAR Hall of Fame in January 2020.

Motorsports career results

NASCAR (key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Grand National Series

NASCAR Grand National Series results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 Pts Ref 1959 Buck Baker Racing 89 Chevy FAY DAY DAY HBO CON ATL WIL BGS CLB NWS REF HCY MAR TRN CLT NSV ASP PIF GPS ATL CLB WIL RCH BGS AWS DAY HEI 26th 1692 Lynton Tyson 88 Chevy CLT CON 89 MBS CLT NSV AWS BGS GPS CLB Julian Buesink 95 Ford DAR HCY RCH CSF HBO MAR AWS NWS 1960 Lynton Tyson 88 Chevy CLT CLB DAY DAY DAY CLT 38th 3070 Jess Potter 1 Chevy NWS PHO CLB MAR HCY WIL BGS GPS AWS DAR 32 PIF HBO RCH HMS Spook Crawford 20 Ford CLT BGS DAY HEI MAB MBS ATL BIR NSV 64 AWS PIF CLB SBO BGS Buck Baker Racing 87 Chevy DAR HCY CSF GSP HBO MAR Fred Harb 7 Ford NWS CLT RCH ATL 1961 CLT JSP DAY 39th 3668 Buck Baker Racing 86 Chrysler DAY DAY PIF AWS HMS DAR CLT CLT RSD ASP CLT PIF BIR GPS BGS NOR HAS STR DAY ATL CLB MBS DAR HCY RCH CSF ATL MAR NWS CLT BRI GPS HBO 87 ATL GPS HBO BGS MAR NWS CLB HCY RCH MAR BRI NSV BGS AWS RCH SBO 1962 86 CON AWS DAY DAY DAY CLB NWS GPS MBS MAR BGS BRI RCH HCY CON DAR PIF CLT ATL BGS AUG RCH SBO DAY ASH GPS AUG SVH MBS BRI CHT NSV HUN AWS STR BGS PIF VAL DAR HCY RCH DTS AUG MAR NWS CLT 23rd 9828 87 CON AWS SVH HBO RCH CLB ATL 1963 J.C. Parker 49 Dodge BIR GGS THS RSD DAY DAY DAY PIF AWS HBO ATL HCY BRI AUG RCH GPS SBO BGS MAR 52nd 2102 Buck Baker Racing 7 Chrysler NWS CLB THS DAR ODS RCH Cliff Stewart 2 Pontiac CLT BIR ATL DAY MBS SVH DTS BGS ASH OBS BRR BRI GPS NSV CLB AWS PIF BGS ONA Buck Baker Racing 87 Pontiac DAR HCY RCH MAR DTS NWS THS CLT SBO HBO RSD 1964 CON AUG JSP 31st 7314 30 Chevy SVH RSD DAY DAY David Walker 89 Plymouth DAY RCH Jack Anderson 20 Ford BRI GPS BGS ATL AWS Ray Osborne 92 Ford HBO J.C. Parker 87 Dodge PIF CLB NWS MAR SVH DAR LGY HCY SBO CLT GPS ASH ATL CON NSV CHT BIR VAL PIF DAY Curtis Crider 01 Mercury ODS BRR Fox Racing 03 Dodge OBS 3 ISP GLN LIN BRI NSV MBS AWS DTS ONA CLB BGS STR Bernard Alvarez 10 Ford DAR HCY RCH ODS HBO MAR SVH NWS CLT HAR AUG JAC 1965 Buck Baker Racing 86 Plymouth RSD DAY DAY AWS RCH HBO DAY CLT CAR 9th 20672 88 Dodge DAY PIF ATL NWS MAR CLB BRI DAR LGY BGS CLT CCF ASH HAR NSV BIR ATL GPS MBS VAL ODS OBS GLN BRI NSV CCF AWS SMR PIF CLB DTS HCY MAR NWS HBO 86 GPS LIN ODS RCH 87 Olds HCY Langley Racing 64 Ford ISP BGS 95 Pontiac AUG Gene Hobby 99 Dodge BLV Buck Baker Racing 87 Chevy DAR DTS 1966 88 Dodge AUG RSD 22nd 14302 Chevy DAY DAY DAY CAR BRI HCY CLB GPS BGS MAR DAR LGY 87 Olds ATL43 Gene Black 74 Ford NWS Handy Racing 25 Ford MGR Joan Petre 73 Ford MON RCH DTS ASH PIF SMR AWS BLV GPS ODS BRR CLB AWS BLV HCY RCH HBO MAR NWS Fox Racing 3 Dodge CLT DAY ATL DAR CLT CAR Emory Gilliam 00 Dodge OXF FON ISP BRI SMR NSV Ford BGS 1967 Fox Racing 3 Dodge AUG RSD DAY DAY DAY AWS BRI ATL CLB HCY NWS MAR SVH RCH DAR BLV LGY CLT ASH CAR GPS MGY DAY TRN ATL DAR HCY RCH BLV CLT CAR AWS 15th 18600 Toy Bolton 47 Chevy GPS BGS Buck Baker Racing 87 Ford MGR SMR BIR OXF FDA ISP Ranier Racing 68 Ford BRI SMR NSV Buck Baker Racing 88 Chevy BGS Owens Racing 6 Dodge CLB HBO MAR NWS Buck Baker Racing 88 Olds SVH 1968 Owens Racing 6 Dodge MGR MGY RSD 13th 2310 Fox Racing 3 Dodge DAY BRI RCH ATL HCY GPS CLB NWS MAR AUG AWS DAR BLV LGY CLT ASH MGR SMR BIR CAR GPS DAY ISP OXF FDA TRN BRI SMR NSV ATL CLB BGS AWS SBO LGY DAR HCY RCH BLV HBO MAR NWS AUG CLT43 CAR JFC 1969 MGR MGY RSD DAY DAY DAY CAR AUG BRI ATL CLB HCY GPS RCH NWS MAR AWS 22nd 1769 Owens Racing 6 Dodge DAR BLV LGY CLT MGR SMR MCH KPT GPS NCF DAY DOV TPN TRN BLV BRI NSV SMR ATL MCH SBO BGS AWS DAR HCY RCH TALWth CLB MAR NWS CLT SVH AUG CAR JFC MGR TWS8* 1970 RSD DAY DAY DAY RCH CAR SVH ATL BRI TAL NWS CLB DAR BLV LGY CLT SMR MAR MCH RSD HCY KPT GPS DAY AST TPN TRN BRI SMR NSV ATL CLB MCH TAL BGS SBO DAR HCY RCH DOV NCF NWS CLT MAR MGR CAR LGY 24th 1555 Neil Castles 86 Dodge ONA 1971 Petty Enterprises 11 Dodge RSD DAY DAY DAY ONT RCH CAR HCY BRI ATL CLB GPS SMR NWS MAR DAR SBO TAL ASH KPT CLT DOV MCH RSD HOU GPS DAY BRI AST ISP ATL BGS ONA MCH TAL CLB HCY DAR MAR CLT DOV CAR MGR RCH NWS TWS 15th 2358 Neil Castles 06 Dodge TRN NSV

Winston Cup Series NASCAR Winston Cup Series results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Pts Ref 1972 Petty Enterprises 11 Dodge RSD DAY RCH ONT CAR ATL BRI DAR NWS MAR TAL CLT DOV MCH RSD TWS DAY BRI TRN ATL TAL MCH NSV DAR 24th 3936.7 K&K Insurance Racing 71 Dodge RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR TWS 1973 RSD DAY6* RCH CAR BRI ATL NWS DAR MAR TAL NSV CLT DOV TWS6* RSD MCH DAY BRI ATL TAL NSV DAR RCH DOV NWS MAR CLT CAR 6th 6327.6 1974 RSD DAY RCH CAR BRI ATL DAR NWS MAR TAL NSV DOV 7th 1016.88 Bud Moore Engineering 15 Ford CLT RSD MCH DAY BRI NSV ATL POC TAL6* MCH DAR RCH DOV NWS MAR CLT CAR ONT 1975 RSD DAY RCH CAR BRI ATL NWS DAR MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT RSD MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH DAR DOV NWS MAR CLT RCH CAR BRI ATL ONT 15th 3050 1976 RSD DAY CAR RCH BRI ATL NWS DAR MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT RSD MCH DAY NSV23* POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR ATL ONT 7th 3745 1977 RSD DAY RCH CAR ATL NWS DAR BRI MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT RSD MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR ATL ONT 5th 3961 1978 M.C. Anderson Racing 27 Olds RSD DAY RCH ATL BRI TAL DAY NSV TAL MCH BRI 24th 2130 Chevy CAR DAR NWS MAR DOV CLT NSV RSD MCH POC DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR ATL ONT 1979 Ranier-Lundy Racing 28 Chevy RSD CAR RCH NWS BRI DAR MAR NSV DOV CLT TWS RSD MCH POC MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR CLT NWS CAR ATL ONT 15th 3249 Olds DAY ATL TAL DAY NSV TAL 1980 RSD DAY RCH ATL BRI TAL NSV DAY NSV TAL32* 21st 2603 Chevy CAR DAR NWS MAR DOV MCH MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV NWS MAR CAR Buick CLT TWS RSD POC CLT ATL ONT 1981 Ellington Racing 1 Olds RSD DAY RCH CAR ATL BRI NWS CLT TWS RSD DAY NSV 27th 1904 Buick DAR MAR TAL NSV DOV MCH POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV CLT CAR ATL RSD Kennie Childers Racing 12 Buick MAR NWS 1982 Ellington Racing 1 Buick DAY RCH BRI ATL CAR DAR NWS MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT POC RSD 23rd 2591 Ranier-Lundy Racing 28 Pontiac MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV NWS CLT MAR CAR ATL RSD 1983 Wood Brothers Racing 21 Ford DAY RCH CAR ATL DAR NWS MAR TAL NSV DOV BRI CLT RSD POC MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR ATL RSD 21st 2621 1984 DAY RCH CAR ATL BRI NWS DAR MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT RSD POC MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR CLT NWS CAR ATL RSD 21st 2477 1985 Baker-Schiff Racing 88 Olds DAY RCH CAR ATL BRI DAR NWS MAR TAL DOV CLT RSD POC MCH DAY POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR ATL RSD 17th 2986 1986 DAY RCH CAR ATL BRI DAR NWS MAR TAL DOV CLT RSD POC MCH DAY POC TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR ATL RSD 24th 1924 1987 DAY CAR RCH ATL DAR NWS BRI MAR TAL CLT DOV POC RSD MCH DAY POC TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR RSD ATL 24th 2373 1988 DAY RCH CAR ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL CLT DOV RSD POC MCH DAY POC TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR CLT NWS CAR PHO ATL 29th 2056 1990 Donlavey Racing 90 Ford DAY RCH CAR ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL CLT DOV SON POC MCH DAY POC TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR PHO ATL 41st 498 1991 Osterlund Racing 88 Pontiac DAY RCH CAR ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR 40th 552 Moroso Racing Olds TAL CLT DOV SON POC 20 MCH DAY POC TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR PHO ATL 1992 Close Racing 47 Olds DAY CAR RCH ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR MCH DAY POC TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR PHO ATL 48th 255 Chevy TAL CLT DOV SON POC 1993 Hendrick Motorsports 46 Chevy DAY CAR RCH ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL SON CLT DOV POC MCH DAY NHA POC TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR PHO ATL NA - 1994 Moroso Racing 20 Ford DAY CAR RCH ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL SON CLT DOV POC MCH DAY NHA POC TAL IND GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR PHO ATL NA -

Daytona 500 results 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 (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 RSD RSD DAY 5th NA 1979–80 Chevy MCH MCH RSD RSD ATL 10th 14