Riley Herbst at 9:30 pm ET on Monday, August 13, 2015 Photo – Riley Herbst Facebook page
Riley Herbstis our guest onFan4Racing Fan2Fan NASCAR & Race Talk on Monday, August 10, 2015 at 9:30 pm ET. Call 714-202-9918 or tweet @Fan4RacingSite, @Sal_Sigala or @ZRoethlisberger with any questions or comments during our LIVE broadcast.
At just 16 years of age, Las Vegas resident Riley Herbst was born to race. He grew up watching his father and grandfather compete in off-road racing classics such as the Baja 500 and 1000. Developing his passion for racing, Herbst started racing Go-Karts at the age of 5 and in 2007 he transitioned to Trophy Karts. By 2012 Herbst was racing on ovals with Legend Cars and now races at Irwindale Speedway in Speed Trucks and Late-Models as part of NASCAR’s Whelen All-American Series. Continue reading →
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 (b. 1-25-41).
At 6 feet 6 inches tall, Buddy Baker was often called the ‘Gentle Giant,’ though the nickname ‘Leadfoot’ was more àpropos 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.
“Many of today’s fans may know Buddy Baker as one of the greatest storytellers in the sport’s history, a unique skill that endeared him to millions,” said NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France. “But those who witnessed his racing talent recognized Buddy as a fast and fierce competitor, setting speed records and winning on NASCAR’s biggest stages. It is that dual role that made Buddy an absolute treasure who will be missed dearly.”
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 preseason 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.
