Buddy Baker Passes

FLORIDA STOCK CAR RACING KARNAC's FLORIDA STOCK CAR RACING
1

Hard to believe no one has said anything on here… I met Buddy for the first time at the old Orlando Raceway when he and a friend came out to watch the races one Friday night… It was around the 4th of July so I expected he was getting ready for the Firecracker 400 at Daytona… I was never very shy when it came to meeting race car drivers when I was a kid, so I went down to where he was sitting and started talking to him… Seems he came down early to do a little bit of fishin’ before going to Daytona and just felt like seeing some local racing… Had a chance to see and talk with him many times after that and always noticed that he always had time for everybody, especially when it came to talking racing…

Here’s the Associated Press story on Buddy Baker released yesterday:

Buddy Baker, who won the 1980 Daytona 500 and at 6-foot-6 was NASCAR’s “Gentle Giant,” died Monday. He was 74. Baker died after a brief battle with lung cancer, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio said. Baker left his job as co-host of “The Late Shift” for the station last month when he announced he had a “huge” inoperable lung tumor. “Do not shed a tear. Give a smile when you say my name. I’m not saying goodbye. Just talk to you later,” Baker said in his final radio appearance. Baker rode for more than 30 years and was honored as one of NASCAR’s 50 greatest drivers in 1998. He was the first driver to exceed 200 mph on a closed course. The milestone came in 1970 at Talladega Superspeedway, where he won four times. Born Elzie Wylie Baker Jr., Baker was the son of two-time champion and NASCAR Hall of Famer Buck Baker. He made his Cup Series debut in 1959 and ran his final race in 1992. Baker won 19 races, highlighted by the 1980 victory at Daytona. He also won the 1970 Southern 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 in 1968, 1972 and 1973. He ranks 14th in NASCAR with 38 poles from 700 starts from 1959-1992. He had 202 top-five finishes and 311 top 10s. “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,” NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France said. “But those who witnessed his racing talent recognized 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 raced for Petty Enterprises in 1971 and 1972, winning one race each season. “Buddy was always wide open and that’s the way he raced and lived his life. He was always full of energy,” Hall of Fame driver Richard Petty said. “He was a person you wanted to be around because he always made you feel better.” After retiring from racing, Baker remained involved in NASCAR. He was a broadcaster for The Nashville Network, then CBS and finally SiriusXM NASCAR Radio when the station started a NASCAR channel in 2007. “I just want to say goodbye to everyone,” Baker said before signing off from his final broadcast, which lasted about 40 minutes. “Thanks for being a friend.”

2

Had a friend pass away from similar causes. It is a rough way to go but Buddy was a class act all the way, as was Benny Parsons.

Further, have read that Baker stated he was “right with The Man upstairs” and was unafraid of passing.

Good news, we will get to see him again!

3

It was a different sport in Buddy’s heyday. Not all the fast teams ran every race, and I recall several years when Buddy only ran the biggest, richest events.

Also, the difference between a fast car and a slow car was greater back then (everyone seems to run in a pack today). Buddy was usually one of the very fast ones, so he always appeared to me to be a fast and fearless lead-foot. I was certainly a Baker fan, and later admired his skills as a TV analyst. It is sad to see one of the great ones leave us.

4

Unlike so many of todays PR coached clones, his daddy gave him a start and he took it from there to the top. He was always humble down home and very natural drivers and commentators. He and Benny Parsons were very much alike and sorely missed by a sport that currently needs all the help it can get. God speed Buddy.

5

He was always one of my heroes. I was at Daytona when he won the 500, and I was there for his last win in the '83 Firecracker. I got to meet him at the '06 Brumos 250 sports car race when he was the Grand Marshall. Talked to him while he was having a beer at the Bistro. What a wonderful gentleman, and a fearsome racer. Much could be learned from him by today’s racers. God Bless you Buddy.

6

Its so sad to see the old superstars depart this world.A man and driver of such class comes along so rarely.BUDDY, YOU WILL BE MISSED

7

[QUOTE=ancrdave;163824]Hard to believe no one has said anything on here… I met Buddy for the first time at the old Orlando Raceway when he and a friend came out to watch the races one Friday night… It was around the 4th of July so I expected he was getting ready for the Firecracker 400 at Daytona… I was never very shy when it came to meeting race car drivers when I was a kid, so I went down to where he was sitting and started talking to him… Seems he came down early to do a little bit of fishin’ before going to Daytona and just felt like seeing some local racing… Had a chance to see and talk with him many times after that and always noticed that he always had time for everybody, especially when it came to talking racing…

Here’s the Associated Press story on Buddy Baker released yesterday:

Buddy Baker, who won the 1980 Daytona 500 and at 6-foot-6 was NASCAR’s “Gentle Giant,” died Monday. He was 74. Baker died after a brief battle with lung cancer, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio said. Baker left his job as co-host of “The Late Shift” for the station last month when he announced he had a “huge” inoperable lung tumor. “Do not shed a tear. Give a smile when you say my name. I’m not saying goodbye. Just talk to you later,” Baker said in his final radio appearance. Baker rode for more than 30 years and was honored as one of NASCAR’s 50 greatest drivers in 1998. He was the first driver to exceed 200 mph on a closed course. The milestone came in 1970 at Talladega Superspeedway, where he won four times. Born Elzie Wylie Baker Jr., Baker was the son of two-time champion and NASCAR Hall of Famer Buck Baker. He made his Cup Series debut in 1959 and ran his final race in 1992. Baker won 19 races, highlighted by the 1980 victory at Daytona. He also won the 1970 Southern 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 in 1968, 1972 and 1973. He ranks 14th in NASCAR with 38 poles from 700 starts from 1959-1992. He had 202 top-five finishes and 311 top 10s. “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,” NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France said. “But those who witnessed his racing talent recognized 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 raced for Petty Enterprises in 1971 and 1972, winning one race each season. “Buddy was always wide open and that’s the way he raced and lived his life. He was always full of energy,” Hall of Fame driver Richard Petty said. “He was a person you wanted to be around because he always made you feel better.” After retiring from racing, Baker remained involved in NASCAR. He was a broadcaster for The Nashville Network, then CBS and finally SiriusXM NASCAR Radio when the station started a NASCAR channel in 2007. “I just want to say goodbye to everyone,” Baker said before signing off from his final broadcast, which lasted about 40 minutes. “Thanks for being a friend.”[/QUOTE]

Had my very first laps around daytona with Buddy at the wheel. Always a real southern gentelman. I think it was 1982 or 83. you always new he would be on the pole or close. If engines lasted back then like now he would have won many more. He will b missed. Any time you talked to him it was like talking to a friend. God b with him and his family.