Elzie Wylie Baker Sr. better known as Buck Baker (March 4, 1919 in Richburg, South Carolina - April 14, 2002 in Charlotte, North Carolina) was an American racecar driver.
Baker entered his first race in 1939 in Greenville, South Carolina, but didn't finish it because one of his tires blew off. Despite his inauspicious start, Baker went on to become one of the greatest drivers in NASCAR's history. He was the first back-to-back winner of the Grand ...
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Elzie Wylie Baker Sr. better known as Buck Baker (March 4, 1919 in Richburg, South Carolina - April 14, 2002 in Charlotte, North Carolina) was an American racecar driver.
Baker entered his first race in 1939 in Greenville, South Carolina, but didn't finish it because one of his tires blew off. Despite his inauspicious start, Baker went on to become one of the greatest drivers in NASCAR's history. He was the first back-to-back winner of the Grand National (now Sprint Cup) Championship in 1956 and 1957. He was second twice (1955 and 1958) and finished in the top five on four other occasions.
Baker's 682 NASCAR starts (44 from the pole) ranks him third all-time and his 46 victories rank him 13th. In 1953, 1960 and 1964, Baker won the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.
In 1967 Baker switched to NASCAR's Grand American division, where he was also very successful.
After his retirement in 1976, Baker opened up the Buck Baker Racing School, where Jeff Gordon drove his first stock car. His...
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