Baker’s NASCAR Career as Driver and Broadcaster Spanned Parts of Seven Decades Elzie Wylie “Buddy” Baker Jr., the 1980 Daytona 500 champion and famed NASCAR commentator, has died after a battle with cancer. He was 74. Baker was a two-time champion at Michigan International Speedway, having won a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race in June 1979 and an IROC race in September 1976. At 6 feet 6 inches tall, Buddy Baker was often called the “Gentle Giant,” though the nickname “Leadfoot” was more apropos due to the blistering speeds he often achieved during his 33-year career. In 1970, Baker became the first driver to eclipse the 200-mph mark on a closed course while testing at Talladega Superspeedway. Although he didn’t win at the 2.66-mile superspeedway that year, Baker visited Talladega Victory Lane four times throughout his stellar career. A race commentator and radio host during a lengthy and prolific post-racing career, the Charlotte, North Carolina, native’s biggest win came in the 1980 Daytona 500. He finished with an average race speed of 177.602 mph – a track record that still stands. Baker, son of NASCAR Hall of Famer Buck Baker, accumulated 19 wins in the premier series, including a victory in the 1970 Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway where he lapped the rest of the field. In 1972-73, Baker became the first driver to win consecutive World 600s. He also won the inaugural pre-season event now known as the Sprint Unlimited in 1979. He was named one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998, and in 2014 was first nominated for inclusion into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. After retiring in 1992, Baker made a successful transition to the television booth as a commentator for The Nashville Network and CBS. He most recently served as a radio co-host on “Late Shift” and “Tradin’ Paint” for SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. Baker passed away just a couple of days more than a month after announcing his retirement from SiriusXM NASCAR radio because of a terminal cancer diagnosis. His parting words on his last radio show were… Do not shed a tear. Give a smile when you say my name. I’m not saying goodbye. Just talk to you later. –Buddy Baker His death was announced early Monday morning by SiriusXM NASCAR on their twitter account. A Tribute to Buddy Baker Grand Marshals, David Pearson, Donnie Allison, Buddy Baker, Ned Jarrett, Richard Petty, and Benny Parsons give the command to start engines prior to the strat of the NASCAR Busch Series Nicorette 300 at the Atlanta Motor Speedway on March 18, 2006 in Hampton, Georgia. (photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR) Buddy Baker, Daytona 500 winner, poses prior to practice for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 5, 2007 in Daytona, Florida. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images for NASCAR) Television personality and former driver Buddy Baker signs autographs for fans during the Darlington Vintage Racing Festival at Darlington Raceway on August 31, 2008 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images) Sue and Buddy Baker accepting for Buck Baker at the NASCAR Hall of Fame on February 8, 2013 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Photo by (Jamey Price/NASCAR via Getty Images) After retiring from NASCAR racing, Buddy Baker went to work as a television commentator for The Nashville Network and covered races for TNN from1991 through 2000. (Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images) Driver Buddy Baker poses for a photo during the NASCAR Winston West. 500 in 1984 at Riverside International Raceway in Riverside, California. (Photo by Mike Powell/Getty Images) Buddy Baker celebrates his victory in the Daytona 500 NASCAR Cup race at Daytona International Speedway. Driving an Oldsmobile for Harry Ranier, Baker dominated the event, leading 143 of the 200 laps. (Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images) Driving a Dodge for veteran owner Ray Fox, Buddy Baker didn’t have much luck in the NASCAR Cup events held at Daytona International Speedway, finishing 30th in the Daytona 500 and 32nd in the Firecracker 400. (Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images) Driver Buddy Baker talks with owner Ray Fox while sitting in his 1967 Dodge at The Daytona 500 on February 24, 1967 at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. Baker finishes 4th. (Photo by Dozier Mobley/Getty Images) Buddy Baker ran 700 races during his NASCAR Cup career, scoring 19 wins. (Photo by ISC Archives via Getty Images) Buddy Baker was a big fan of Scott Fraser’s. Buddy Baker was amazed at the Fan’s of Fraser campaign for Scott Fraser, so much so we had to find a place for him to write his name on the car.
