Fan4Racing News Now – highlighting NASCAR Pre-Season breaking news for each week leading up to NASCAR season openers at Daytona International Speedway in February.
Check back throughout the week for new updates as they become available. Thanks!
NASCAR sprint unlimited
33 posts
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.
Matt Kenseth did what he couldn’t do all of last year — win a race.
And Martin Truex Jr., runner-up in Saturday night’s 75-lap Sprint Unlimited exhibition race at Daytona International Speedway, did what he could do only once in 2014 — lead a lap.
Coming to the finish line on the last lap, Kenseth blocked Truex’s move off Turn 4 and crossed the finish line in his No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota .219 seconds ahead of Truex, who led four times for 28 laps after leading just one lap in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series all of last season.
The victory was Kenseth’s first in the non-points race, but it was the second straight win for Joe Gibbs Racing. Continue reading
Two big events headline Valentine’s Day for race fans. At Daytona International Speedway the ARCA Racing Series’ Lucas Oil 200 will air on Fox Sports 1 at 4 pm ET; followed by NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series’ Sprint Unlimited at 8 pm ET on FOX.
A big part of today’s stories include veteran Frank Kimmel – the winningest driver in ARCA history – going for his first Daytona win ever; and veteran Jeff Gordon racing his last Sprint Unlimited – after racing 21 consecutive – as he begins his farewell tour throughout the 2015 season and retires his racing career.
While fans are happy to see drivers and their cars back on the track, what will take center stage for NASCAR is what happens behind the scenes after making several changes on how they will officiate their events. Continue reading