Professional Race Car Driver. He is remembered as an American NASCAR Driver and Broadcaster. Born Elzie Wylie Baker, Jr., he was the son of two-time winner of the NASCAR Championship and a Hall of Fame member Buck Baker. Buddy, who raced in NASCAR from 1959 to 1994, took the checkered flag four times at Talladega, four times at Charlotte, twice at Darlington and twice at Daytona. Not to be overshadowed by his father's impressive race record, he placed first in the 1980 Daytona 500, averaging 177.602 miles per hour, a record that still stands as of 2022. He was the first driver to turn a lap of more than 200 mph in a stock car, which he achieved at Talladega Superspeedway on March 24, 1970, when he ran 200.447 miles per hour. For his career, he posted 19 race victories, 202 top-fives in 700 starts in what is now known as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Baker is one of only eight drivers in NASCAR history to win the sport's four major races: Daytona 500, Southern 500, Coca-Cola 600 and Aaron's 499. He ranks 14th in NASCAR history with 38 poles in his 700 career starts and in 1998, he was named one of NASCAR's 50 greatest drivers. After his retirement, he worked as a commentator for "The Nashville Network" and then co-hosted a radio show two nights a week on satellite radio. Baker, who was a member of the National Motorsports Hall of Fame and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame, died of lung cancer.
Professional Race Car Driver. He is remembered as an American NASCAR Driver and Broadcaster. Born Elzie Wylie Baker, Jr., he was the son of two-time winner of the NASCAR Championship and a Hall of Fame member Buck Baker. Buddy, who raced in NASCAR from 1959 to 1994, took the checkered flag four times at Talladega, four times at Charlotte, twice at Darlington and twice at Daytona. Not to be overshadowed by his father's impressive race record, he placed first in the 1980 Daytona 500, averaging 177.602 miles per hour, a record that still stands as of 2022. He was the first driver to turn a lap of more than 200 mph in a stock car, which he achieved at Talladega Superspeedway on March 24, 1970, when he ran 200.447 miles per hour. For his career, he posted 19 race victories, 202 top-fives in 700 starts in what is now known as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Baker is one of only eight drivers in NASCAR history to win the sport's four major races: Daytona 500, Southern 500, Coca-Cola 600 and Aaron's 499. He ranks 14th in NASCAR history with 38 poles in his 700 career starts and in 1998, he was named one of NASCAR's 50 greatest drivers. After his retirement, he worked as a commentator for "The Nashville Network" and then co-hosted a radio show two nights a week on satellite radio. Baker, who was a member of the National Motorsports Hall of Fame and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame, died of lung cancer.
Bio by: Linda Davis
Gravesite Details
Granite flat marker has a bronze checkered flag and a race car
Family Members
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