Buddy Baker

Buddy Baker
Baker in his car, 1970
BornElzie Wylie Baker, Jr.
(1941-01-25)January 25, 1941
Florence, South Carolina, U.S.
DiedAugust 10, 2015(2015-08-10) (aged 74)
Lake Norman of Catawba, North Carolina, U.S.
Achievements1980 Daytona 500 Winner
1970 Southern 500 Winner
1968, 1972, 1973 World 600 Winner
1975, 1976, 1980 Winston 500 Winner
1979 Busch Clash Winner
AwardsInternational 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 finish5th (1977)
First race1959 untitled race (Columbia)
Last race1992 Winston 500 (Talladega)
First win1967 National 500 (Charlotte)
Last win1983 Firecracker 400 (Daytona)
Wins Top tens Poles
19 311 38
NASCAR Grand National East Series career
8 races run over 2 years
Best finish15th (1973)
First race1972 Sandlapper 200 (Columbia)
Last race1973 Buddy Shuman 100 (Hickory)
First win1972 Sandlapper 200 (Columbia)
Last win1973 Sunoco 260 (Hickory)
Wins Top tens Poles
4 7 2
Statistics current as of December 18, 2012.
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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.


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