Elzie Wylie Baker Sr. (March 4, 1919 - April 14, 2002), better known as Buck Baker, was an American racing driver. Born in Richburg, South Carolina, Baker began his NASCAR career in 1949 and won his first race three years later at Columbia Speedway. Twenty-three years later, Baker retired after the 1976 National 500. He died in Charlotte, North Carolina at the age of 83.
During his NASCAR Strictly Stock (now Sprint Cup Series) career, Baker won two championships, 46 races and 45 pole positions, as well as recorded 372 top-tens. In 1957, he became the first driver to win two consecutive championships in the series. From 1972 to 1973, he competed in the Grand National East Series, where he recorded five top-tens in twelve races. On May 23, 2012, it was announced that he would be inducted into the 2013 class of the NASCAR Hall of Fameon February 8, 2013.
Read more about Buck Baker: Racing Career, Awards, Last Years and Death
Famous quotes containing the words buck and/or baker:
“... every event has had its cause, and nothing, not the least wind that blows, is accident or causeless. To understand what happens now one must find the cause, which may be very long ago in its beginning, but is surely there, and therefore a knowledge of history as detailed as possible is essential if we are to comprehend the past and be prepared for the future.”
—Pearl S. Buck (1892–1973)
“It seems to be a law in American life that whatever enriches us anywhere except in the wallet inevitably becomes uneconomic.”
—Russell Baker (b. 1925)