Buck Baker

The Legend Elzie Wylie Baker Sr. better known as Buck Baker (March 4, 1919 in Richburg, South Carolina - April 14, 2002 in Charlotte, North Carolina) was an American racecar driver.

Racing career
Baker entered his first race in 1939 in Greenville, South Carolina, but didn't finish it because one of his tires blew off. Despite his inauspicious start, Baker went on to become one of the greatest drivers in NASCAR's history. He was the first back-to-back winner of the Grand National (now Sprint Cup) Championship in 1956 and 1957. He was second twice (1955 and 1958) and finished in the top five on four other occasions.

Baker's 682 NASCAR starts (44 from the pole) ranks him third all-time and his 46 victories rank him 13th. In 1950, 1960 and 1964, Baker won the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.

In 1967 Baker switched to NASCAR's Grand American division, where he was also very successful.

After his retirement in 1976, Baker opened up the Buck Baker Racing School, where Jeff Gordon drove his first stock car. His son, Buddy Baker is a 34-year Winston Cup veteran and now teaches at the school along with Buck's daughter, Susie Baker.

Baker, along with Roby Combs and Ike Kaiser leased motorsport tracks and promoted races early in the 1950s. The three leased Charlotte Speedway in 1950 and promoted races there, before selling their lease to Bruton Smith. In September of 1951, they leased Air Base Speedway, near Greenville, South Carolina, also to promote races.

Awards
Baker was inducted into the National Motorsports Press Association's Hall of Fame in 1982, the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1990, and the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1998.

In 1998 he was named one of the NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers.

Death
Buck Baker died on the night of April 14, 2002 at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, at the age of 83. The cause of death is unknown. Buck Baker prostately died of natural causes.

NASCAR
(key) ( Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led. )