LeeRoy Yarbrough

Lonnie "LeeRoy" Yarbrough (September 17, 1938 – December 7, 1984) was an American stock car racer. His best season was 1969 when he won seven races, had 21 finishes in the top-ten and earned $193,211 ($ when adjusted for inflation). During his entire career from 1960–1972, he competed in 198 races, scoring fourteen wins, 65 finishes in the top-five, 92 finishes in the top-ten, and ten pole positions. Yarbrough also competed in open-wheel racing, making five starts in the USAC Championship cars, including three Indianapolis 500s, with a best finish of third at Trenton Speedway in 1970. His racing number was 98. When asked about his passion, Yarbrough described racing as "what I call my life."

Yarbrough was admitted to a mental institution on March 7, 1980, after trying to kill his mother by strangulation. All attempts to rehabilitate him (both in Florida or in North Carolina) failed and LeeRoy eventually died in 1984 after a fall. Yarbrough won the summer race at Atlanta International Raceway despite a 102-degree fever. He captured The Southern 500 by passing David Pearson on the last lap. He won by a full lap at Rockingham in October, overcoming a lap deficit when a flat tire sent him into the wall. By season's end, Yarbrough had seven wins to his credit and was named American Driver of The year.

After his successful 1969 season, Yarbrough’s performance record trailed off. A victim of the factory withdrawal, Yarbrough had to scramble to locate rides in Grand National events. He won once in 1970 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and only entered six races in 1971. In 1972, he accepted a ride in a Ford owned by independent campaigner Bill Seifert. He registered nine top-ten finishes in 18 starts. Yarbrough showed up for Daytona's 1973 Speedweeks, but failed to earn a starting berth for the Daytona 500. He virtually dropped out of sight after that, never again showing up at a NASCAR event.

Later career and life

On April 22, 1970, Yarbrough suffered head injuries while doing tire tests for Goodyear at Texas World Speedway. Yarbrough blew a tire between turns three and four and impacted the wall at over 160 mph. Yarbrough's head hit a roll bar inside the cockpit with such force that it cracked his helmet. He was released from the hospital that evening, and at the time, was not believed to have had a serious head injury. He was picked up at the airport by Cale Yarborough, but later had no memory of the crash, hospital, or meeting with Yarborough.

"I was unconscious for about an hour, but I feel okay today," Yarbrough said a day later. "As tightly as I was strapped in the seat, it's hard for me to believe my body moved that much. The straps made my shoulders black and blue and I'm pretty sore."

Yarbrough showed well in a few championship car starts in 1970, leading the inaugural California 500 at Ontario Motor Speedway late. Yarbrough was a last-minute entry after Jack Brabham's late withdrawal. After Al Unser retired with 14 laps remaining, Yarbrough inherited the lead. With a margin of two laps over second place, it appeared that Yarbrough would score an unlikely victory. But with eight laps remaining, Yarbrough suffered a broken piston and blew an engine, coasting to a stop in turn four. Yarbrough drew cheers from the crowd as he pushed his car back to the pits. Yarbrough then finished 3rd at Trenton Speedway in 1971.

After competing in three Indianapolis 500s in 1967, '69 and '70, Yarbrough was driving a Dan Gurney Eagle in practice on May 9 for the 1971 Indianapolis 500 when he spun and crashed hard in turn one, suffering head injuries. Cale Yarborough was at the track hospital when LeeRoy was brought in. "He was burned on the hands and neck, and he was woozy from another lick on the head. He was the palest live man I've ever seen." Yarbrough had an alcohol problem and would sometimes collect empty bottles on the side of the road for the bottle deposits which he would use to buy beer. The alcohol abuse further irritated his brain damage.

On Wednesday, February 13, LeeRoy spent most of the day in bed, with his mother bringing him food. Terry Sweat, Minnie's grandson, had left the house to buy her cigarettes. While doing the dishes after dinner, LeeRoy entered the kitchen and remarked about his mouth, saying "'Mama, look how you've cut my mouth!' I said, Son, I haven't done anything to your mouth. Your mouth is all right.' LeeRoy opened his mouth. I looked at it. It was not cut." He left the kitchen and returned shortly, saying, "Mama, I'm going to do something, and I don't want to do it. I'm going to kill you." Yarbrough would proceed to strangle his mother. Terry Sweat returned and struck Yarbrough with a jelly jar until he released his mother. When police arrived, LeeRoy struck an officer in the face and needed several firefighters to subdue him. Junior Johnson was also prepared to give Yarbrough a job. Unfortunately, staff at the facility determined Yarbrough's brain damage was too severe for treatment and he returned to a Florida facility.

Death While in the hospital on December 6, 1984, Yarbrough had a violent seizure and fell over striking his head. He fell unconscious immediately. He was rushed to Jacksonville's University Hospital where he died the morning of December 7, 1984. The doctors said he died of internal bleeding in the brain.

Upon Yarbrough's death, Junior Johnson said, "People should always have respect for LeeRoy. He'd have been among our greats if he hadn't been so unlucky to hit the walls a time or two too many."

Motorsports career results

American open-wheel racing (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

USAC Championship Car Year 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 Pos Points 1966 PHX TRE INDY DNQ MIL LAN ATL PIP IRP LAN SPR MIL DUQ ISF TRE SAC PHX NC 0 1967 PHX TRE INDY27 MIL LAN PIP MOS MOS IRP LAN MTR MTR SPR MIL DUQ ISF TRE SAC HAN PHX RIV NC 0 1968 HAN LVG PHX TRE INDY DNQ MIL MOS MOS LAN PIP CDR NAZ IRP IRP LAN LAN MTR MTR SPR MIL DUQ ISF TRE SAC MCH HAN PHX RIV NC 0 1969 PHX HAN INDY 23 MIL LAN PIP CDR NAZ TRE IRP IRP MIL SPR DOV DUQ ISF BRN BRN TRE SAC KEN KEN PHX RIV NC 0 1970 PHX SON TRE INDY 19 MIL LAN CDR MCH IRP SPR MIL ONT 8 DUQ ISF SED TRE SAC PHX 35th 250 1971 RAF RAF PHX TRE 3 INDY DNQ MIL POC MCH MIL ONT TRE PHX 23rd 280

Indianapolis 500

NASCAR (key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led. ** – All 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 1960 Chevy CLT CLB DAY DAY DAY CLT NWS PHO CLB MAR HCY WIL BGS GPS AWS DAR PIF HBO RCH HMS CLT BGS DAY HEI MAB MBS ATL BIR NSV AWS PIF CLB SBO BGS DAR HCY CSF GSP HBO MAR NWS CLT DNQ RCH 137th 84 82 Chevy ATL 33 1962 Lewis Osborne 97 Chevy CON AWS DAY DAY DAY CON AWS SVH HBO RCH CLB NWS GPS MBS MAR BGS BRI RCH HCY CON DAR 30 PIF ATL 17 BGS AUG 13 RCH SBO AUG 19 SVH 20 MBS BRI 42 CHT NSV HUN AWS STR BGS PIF 36th 4240 Nichels Engineering 39 Pontiac CLT 12 DAY 25 CLB ASH GPS Ralph Smith 179 Chevy VAL 5 McMillion Racing 83 Pontiac DAR 27 HCY RCH DTS AUG MAR NWS Jimmy Baker 81 Mercury CLT 43 ATL 37 1963 BIR 20 GGS THS RSD DAY 26th 7872 E. A. McQuaig 30 Pontiac DAY 11 SVH 6 DTS BGS ASH OBS BRR BRI GPS NSV CLB AWS PIF BGS ONA 39 DAY 13 PIF AWS HBO ATL 7 HCY CLT 33 BIR ATL DAY MBS Lou Sidoit 69 Mercury BRI 5 MAR 17 Lyle Stelter 55 Mercury AUG 9 RCH GPS SBO BGS NWS 26 CLB 10 THS W. M. Harrison 71 Chevy DAR 16 ODS RCH Don Harrison 92 Ford DAR 29 HCY RCH MAR DTS NWS THS Ray Osborne CLT 34 SBO HBO RSD 1964 E. A. McQuaig 39 Pontiac CON AUG JSP 20 15th 16172 90 Plymouth SVH 17 RSD DAY David Walker 89 Plymouth DAY 21 DAY RCH ATL 22 Roscoe Sanders 71 Plymouth BRI 11 Louis Weathersbee 45 Plymouth GPS 4 BGS AWS 8 HBO 14 PIF 14 CLB 3 SVH 1 LGY 9 HCY 4 SBO GPS 1 ASH CON 12 NSV CHT BIR VAL 2* PIF 2 ODS 12 OBS 6 ISP 15 MBS 3 AWS DTS ONA CLB BGS STR AUG 23 JAC Paul Clayton 70 Pontiac NWS 26 MAR Fox Racing 03 Dodge DAR 8 CLT 26 ATL 11 DAY 11 BRR 18 GLN 2 LIN 18 BRI 4 NSV DAR 17 HCY RCH ODS HBO MAR 27 SVH NWS CLT 5 HAR 1965 3 RSD DAY 12 DAY DAY DNQ PIF AWS RCH HBO ATL GPS NWS MAR CLB BRI DAR LGY BGS HCY 37th 5852 Chevy CLT 14 CCF ASH HAR NSV BIR ATL 34 GPS MBS VAL DAY 34 ODS OBS ISP GLN BRI NSV CCF DAR 27 HCY CLT 5 HBO CAR DTS Gary Weaver 10 Ford AWS 19 AUG 4 CLB 6 DTS BLV BGS Gene Hobby 99 Dodge SMR 21 Sam Fogle 31 Ford PIF 12 LIN 23 ODS 25 Petty Enterprises 43 Plymouth RCH 34 MAR NWS 1966 Jon Thorne 12 Dodge AUG RSD DAY DAY 4 DAY 8 CAR 32 BRI ATL 21 HCY CLB GPS BGS NWS MAR DAR 29 LGY MGR MON RCH CLT DTS ASH PIF SMR AWS BLV GPS DAY 24 ODS BRR OXF FON ISP BRI SMR NSV ATL 43 CLB AWS BLV BGS DAR 8 HCY RCH HBO MAR NWS CLT 1* CAR 39 26th 10528 1967 33 Chevy AUG 20 37th 7012 Jon Thorne 12 Dodge RSD 34 DAY 1 DAY DAY 34 AWS BRI 24 GPS BGS ATL 30 CLB HCY NWS MAR SVH RCH DAR BLV LGY CLT ASH MGR SMR BIR Bud Moore Engineering 16 Mercury CAR 18 GPS MGY DAY 6 TRN OXF FDA ISP BRI 16 SMR NSV ATL 3 BGS CLB SVH DAR 39 HCY RCH BLV HBO MAR 35 Junior Johnson & Associates 26 Ford NWS 3 CLT DNQ CAR 14 AWS 27 1968 MGR 17 MGY 20 RSD 37 BRI 3 RCH MAR 4 DAR 5 BLV LGY 16th 1894 Mercury DAY 2 ATL 2 HCY GPS Lyle Stelter 56 Ford CLB 9 CLB 3 BGS AWS Junior Johnson & Associates 98 Ford CLB 5 CAR 28 GPS TRN 1* BRI 32 SMR NSV DAR 27 HCY RCH BLV HBO MAR 3 CLT 41 CAR 3 Lyle Stelter 55 Ford AUG 15 AWS Junior Johnson & Associates 98 Mercury CLT 3 ASH MGR SMR BIR DAY 2 ISP OXF FDA ATL 1* NWS 3 AUG Lyle Stelter 56 Mercury SBO 20 LGY 23 JFC 5 1969 MGR 16 MGY 16th 2712 Junior Johnson & Associates 98 Mercury RSD 6 ATL 11 CLB HCY GPS RCH NWS 2 MAR 4 AWS DAR 1 BLV LGY CLT 1* MGR SMR MCH 4* KPT GPS NCF Ford DAY 9 DAY DAY 1 CAR 23 AUG BRI 2 DAY 1* DOV 15 TPN BRI 11 NSV SMR ATL 1* MCH 8 SBO BGS AWS 22 DAR 1* HCY RCH 10 TAL Wth CLB MAR 20 NWS 4 CLT 38 SVH 4 AUG 4 CAR 1* JFC 4 MGR 29 TWS 10 DeWitt Racing 14 Ford TRN 5 BLV 1970 Junior Johnson & Associates 98 Ford RSD 3 DAY 3 DAY DAY 9 RCH CAR 29 SVH ATL 4 BRI TAL NWS 3 CLB DAR 26 BLV LGY MCH 4 RSD HCY KPT GPS BRI 2 SMR NSV 23 MAR 7 MGR 43rd 625 Mercury CLT 29 SMR DAY 25 AST TPN ATL 3 CLB ONA MCH 7 TAL BGS SBO DAR HCY RCH DOV NCF NWS CLT 1* CAR 29 LGY Matthews Racing 27 Ford MAR 26 Donlavey Racing 90 Ford TRN 30 1971 Junior Johnson & Associates 98 Mercury RSD DAY 4 DAY DAY 34 ONT 6 RCH CAR 6 HCY BRI 73rd 98 Seifert Racing 45 Ford ATL 28 CLB 44 GPS DNQ SMR NWS MAR DAR SBO TAL ASH KPT CLT DOV MCH RSD HOU GPS DAY BRI AST ISP TRN NSV ATL BGS ONA MCH TAL CLB HCY DAR MAR Howard & Egerton Racing 98 Chevy CLT 34 DOV CAR MGR RCH NWS TWS

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 Nichels Engineering 99 Plymouth RSD DAY DNQ RCH ONT 34th 2157.5 Seifert Racing 45 Ford CAR 4 ATL 9 BRI 4 NWS 6 TWS 41 BRI 19 TRN TAL 33 MCH NSV 28 MAR 30 NWS CLT CAR TWS Bud Moore Engineering 15 Ford DAR 26 Seifert Racing 45 Mercury MAR 23 TAL 7 CLT 5 DOV 3 MCH 28 RSD DAY 6 Donlavey Racing 90 Ford ATL 5 DAR 39 RCH DOV 1973 RSD DAY DNQ RCH CAR BRI ATL NWS DAR MAR TAL NSV CLT DOV TWS RSD MCH DAY BRI ATL TAL NSV DAR RCH DOV NWS MAR CLT CAR – –

Daytona 500 Year Team Manufacturer Start Finish 1963 E. A. McQuaig Pontiac 22 13 1965 Fox Racing Dodge DNQ 1966 Jon Thorne Dodge 8 8 1967 3 34 1968 Junior Johnson & Associates Mercury 3 2 1969 Ford 19 1 1970 5 9 1971 Mercury 7 34 1972 Nichels Engineering Plymouth DNQ 1973 DNQ

Grand National East Series NASCAR Grand National East Series results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Pts Ref 1972 Seifert Racing 45 Ford JSP HCY GPS 3 CLB NSV SMR ONA MBS AST ISP CLB HCY BGS LPS CLB – –