 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (September 2016) |
| Lonnie "LeeRoy" Yarbrough | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Lonnie "LeeRoy" Yarbrough's official publicity photo (1969) | |||||||
| Born | September 17, 1938 Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. | ||||||
| Died | December 7, 1984 (aged 46) Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. | ||||||
| Cause of death | Internal head injuries caused by fall | ||||||
| Achievements | 1969 Daytona 500 Winner 1969 Southern 500 Winner 1969 World 600 Winner First driver to win NASCAR's "Triple Crown" (1969) | ||||||
| Awards | Named one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers (1998) Named one of NASCAR's 75 Greatest Drivers (2023) | ||||||
| NASCAR Cup Series career | |||||||
| 198 races run over 12 years | |||||||
| Best finish | 15th (1964) | ||||||
| First race | 1960 Atlanta 500 (Atlanta) | ||||||
| Last race | 1972 Old Dominion 500 (Martinsville) | ||||||
| First win | 1964 Savannah 200 (Savannah) | ||||||
| Last win | 1970 National 500 (Charlotte) | ||||||
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| NASCAR Grand National East Series career | |||||||
| 1 race run over 1 year | |||||||
| First race | 1972 Greenville 200 (Greenville) | ||||||
| Last race | 1972 Greenville 200 (Greenville) | ||||||
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| Statistics current as of December 18, 2012. | |||||||
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, tallied 21 finishes in the top-ten and earned $193,211 ($1,407,350.77 when inflation is taken into account). 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 5 starts in the USAC Championship cars, including 3 Indianapolis 500s, with a best finish of 3rd 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.[1][2] All attempts to rehabilitate him (both in Florida or in North Carolina) failed and LeeRoy eventually died in 1984 after a fall.[2] In 1990, he was inducted into the National Motorsports Press Association's Hall of Fame at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina.[2] LeeRoy Yarbrough is not related to NASCAR champion Cale Yarborough.
- ^ "» LeeRoy, He Ain't Here No More Bronx Banter".
- ^ a b c "The Fall of LeeRoy Yarbrough". Legends of NASCAR. Archived from the original on 2009-10-17. Retrieved 2010-07-13.