Buddy Baker
"Leadfoot"
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The son of racing legend Buck Baker, Buddy is generally regarded in stock car circles as the fastest of all top drivers, using his unique, "leadfooted" approach to racing to attain speeds never before seen on the NASCAR Grand National circuit.
At Talladega in 1970, Buddy became the first driver to race over 200 mph on a closed course, piloting a Dodge Daytona.  At the 1980 Daytona 500, Buddy took the checkered flag with an average speed of 177.6 mph, a record that still stands.
Along with his remarkable single race performances, Buddy enjoyed one of the elite careers in the history of racing. He was the first driver to win the racing's "Big Four": Daytona, Talladega, Darlington and Charlotte. In fact, Buddy won at Talladega four times (twice in 1975, 1976, and 1980), Charlotte four times (1967, 1968, 1972, and 1973), Darlington twice (1970 and 1971), and Daytona twice (1980 and 1983). In all, Buddy won 19 times during his career on the NASCAR circuit, with 17 on major speedways. He ranks ninth on NASCAR's all-time list for top-five finishes with 202 and top-10 finishes with 311 (out of 688 starts). Buddy also ranks tenth on the all-time list for pole positions with 40. This extraordinary career culminated with Buddy's induction into the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway Court of Legends in 1995 and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in Talladega, Ala in 1997.
Since retiring from racing, Buddy has established himself as one of the preeminent television commentators in the business while working for TNN Motorsports. In 1997, he was inducted into the National Motorsports Press Association's Hall of Fame at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway. With his brother and father, Buddy runs the Buck Baker Racing School in Rockingham, North Carolina. He also tests cars for the Penske Racing team and enjoys fishing and golf.
Career Racing Achievements
Won 19 races on NASCAR's Circuit.
Champion:
- 1980 Daytona 500 with an average speed of 177.6 mph (a record that still stands)
- Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte, North Carolina (1972-1973)
- Talladega four times (1975 (2), 1976, 1980)
- Charlotte four times (1967, 1968, 1972, 1973)
- Darlington (1970 & 1971)
- Daytona (1980 & 1983)
- Atlanta (1975 & 1979)
First driver to break the 200 mph barrier (Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, March 24, 1970).
First driver to win the Big Four (Daytona, Talladega, Darlington and Charlotte).
Ranks ninth on NASCAR's all-time list for top-five finishes (202) and top-10 finishes (311).
Ranks 10th on the all-time list for pole positions with 40.
Career earnings: $3,995,500
Inducted into the National Motorsports Press Association's Hall of Fame at Darlington, (S.C.) Raceway (1997).
Inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in Talladega, Alabama. (1997)
Inducted into Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway Court of Legends (1995).
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 Buddy Baker on the Dodge Charger Daytona
“It’d be hard for race fans today to understand just how well the Charger stuck to the ground with that big wing on it. Even without the wing, the old Dodge with the Hemi ran well over 200 mph at Daytona and Talladega. It was a time in the sport when you looked at the car and knew you wanted one of ‘em. They were fast. When it cranked up everybody looked. We had great teams back then, too. The car had a certain mystique about it that people still remember. When you say Charger, you think racing. Names stick out for certain manufacturers, and I think it would be hard to improve on Charger for Dodge. What else is there to say? Charge!” |
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Cotton Owens Garage Drivers:
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- HAPPY MOTORING! -
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