Buddy Baker

[JHamilton]

Buddy Baker has died at the age of 74.

http://espn.go.com/racing/nascar/cup...career-live-on

[S griffin]

Oh no, sad news

[canamman]

Really enjoyed his story telling on Sirrius XM's
NASCAR channel. His Crisco car from way
back still one of my favorite nascar liveries.

[fieldodreams79]

Not sure how I missed this yesterday.

One of the good guys.

RIP Buddy.

[fieldodreams79]

I just got sucked into this one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVgW39STUFg

Awesome Bill sandwiched between Richard Childress and Janet Guthrie in 12th.

[HJJ]

NASCAR: Obituary: Buddy Baker 1941-2015

Daytona 500 winner Buddy Baker has died at the age of 74 after a battle with cancer.

A 19-time race winner in NASCAR's top tier during a 33-year career that ended in 1992, Baker's 1980 Daytona victory still holds the record for the track's fastest average race speed at 177.602mph.

Baker also boasted the record of being the first driver to set an average lap speed above 200mph during testing at Talladega in 1970, where he would win four times. He moved into commentary and broadcast work after retiring from the cockpit, and was most recently co-host of two NASCAR radio programmes.

"Many of today's fans may know Buddy Baker as one of the greatest storytellers in the sport's history, a unique skill that endeared him to millions," said NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France.

"But those who witnessed his racing talent recognised Buddy as a fast and fierce competitor, setting speed records and winning on NASCAR's biggest stages. It is that dual role that made Buddy an absolute treasure who will be missed dearly."

Baker was the first winner of NASCAR's now-traditional pre-season race at Daytona ahead of the 500, triumphing in the 1979 running of the event.

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