Buddy Baker

Bio:
Buddy Baker (born Elzie Wylie Baker, Jr. on January 25, 1941 in Florence, South Carolina) was an American NASCAR driver. Buddy was the son of two-time NASCAR Champion Buck Baker, and followed into the family business in 1959. By 1970, Buddy became the first driver to ever exceed 200mph on a closed course, driving the #88 Chrysler Charger Daytona. Buddy also set another record that year by winning the Southern 500, becoming the first NASCAR driver to win the same race at the same venue as his father. During his career, Buddy won 19 NASCAR races, including the 1980 Daytona 500, considered to be NASCAR’s most prestigious race. His victory remains the fastest Daytona 500 ever run, with an average speed of 177 miles per hour. He generally raced part-time, only competing in three full seasons during his thirty-plus year career. His final race was in 1992. He served as a television commentator for The Nashville Network from 1994-2000. In 2007, he was a part-time co-host of the Driver’s Seat on NASCAR’s Sirius Radio station. From 2011 until his resignation in 2015, he co-hosted the Late Shift and Tradin’ Paint programs on SiriusXM. He resigned after he was diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer.

Best Known For:
Buddy Baker was best known as a former NASCAR racer.

Personal Life:
Buddy is one of eight drivers to have won a NASCAR Career Grand Slam by winning the Daytona 500, Aaron’s 499, Coca-Cola 600 and the Southern 500. He shares that honor with such racing legends and Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon and Jimmy Johnson. On Aug. 10, 2015, Buddy passed away in his home in Catawba County in North Carolina.