Cale Yarborough, 3-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, dies at 84
ByJessica Goodman, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Cale Yarborough NASCAR legend Cale Yarborough stands next to his car prior to the start of the NASCAR Legends UARA Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on March 21, 2009, in Bristol, Tennessee. (John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR)
(John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR)
ByJessica Goodman, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
NASCAR announced Sunday that NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Cale Yarborough died at the age of 84.
“Cale Yarborough was one of the toughest competitors NASCAR has ever seen. His combination of talent, grit and determination separated Cale from his peers, both on the track and in the record book. He was respected and admired by competitors and fans alike and was as comfortable behind the wheel of a tractor as he was behind the wheel of a stock car. On behalf of the France family and NASCAR, I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Cale Yarborough,” NASCAR CEO Jim France said.
He competed in NASCAR’s top series for over four decades, ESPN reported.
A cause of death for Yarborough was not immediately known.
“Sad news about the passing of Cale today. A legend behind the wheel for sure, but he had a personality, grit, and swagger that attracted fans around the world to him and to NASCAR. He truly made the sport far better for being a part of it,” Dale Earnhardt Jr. said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Yarborough’s 83 career Cup wins tied him with Jimmie Johnson for sixth on the all-time wins list, according to NASCAR.
“Cale Yarborough was my childhood hero. What an honor to be tied with the legend for 83 Cup series wins. He was “the man” and the legacy of Cale Yarborough will forever live on,” Johnson said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The NASCAR family mourns the loss of NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Cale Yarborough, who passed away at the age of 84.
Yarborough was the first driver to win three consecutive series championships, according toNBC Sports. It was between 1976 and 1978. Johnson broke that record in 2006 to 2010 after winning five championships in a row.
He won the Southern 500 five times and Daytona 500 four times, according to NASCAR.
“Somehow, I knew there had to be a better way to make a living than digging around in the dirt and picking tobacco worms off leaves by hand,” Yarborough said in 1988, according to NASCAR.
Yarborough was born on March 27, 1939. He had two younger brothers. According to NASCAR, his family farmed tobacco and cotton, which led him to start driving a tractor by the time he was 9 years old to help with plowing.
When he was 11, his father was killed in a private airplane crash and he started to take on more roles helping to manage his family’s business, “The experience served him well in later years as a farmer, a businessman and a multiple-term member of the Florence County council, but he had designs on a faster-paced career,” NASCAR said.
He won his final race in Charlotte in 1985, according to ESPN. He ended his career three years later in 1988 in Atlanta.
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Cale Yarborough: Cale Yarborough is shown in the winner's circle after capturing his first Daytona 500 title in 1968. (Bettmann/Bettmann Archive)
Cale Yarborough: Cale Yarborough, left, and Richard Petty at North Wilkesboro Speedway in 1977. (Bettmann/Bettmann Archive)
Cale Yarborough: Cale Yarborough hoists his trophy after capturing the 1977 Daytona 500. (Bettmann/Bettmann Archive)
Cale Yarborough: Track emergency workers try to break up a fight between Cale Yarborough, holding helmet, Donnie Allison and Bobby Allison after Yarborough and Donnie Allison crashed on the final lap while battling for the lead in the 1979 Daytona 500. The incident happened before a live nationwide television audience. (RacingOne/ISC Archives/CQ-Roll Call Group )
Cale Yarborough: Cale Yarborough sits in his car prior to a practice session for the 1980 Daytona 500. (Robert Alexander/Getty Images)
Cale Yarborough: Cale Yarborough helps push his race car in the Daytona International Speedway garage during a practice session for the 1981 Firecracker 400. (Robert Alexander/Getty Images)
Cale Yarborough: A member of NASCAR driver Cale Yarborough's racing crew holds up the team's pit stop sign prior to the start of the 1982 Daytona 500. (Robert Alexander/Getty Images)
Cale Yarborough: Cale Yarborough takes the checkered flag to win the Daytona 500 in 1984. (Bettmann/Bettmann Archive)
Cale Yarborough" Cale Yarborough's win at the 1984 Daytona 500 was his second straight at the Florida superspeedway. (RacingOne/ISC Archives/CQ-Roll Call Group )
Cale Yarborough: A fan of NASCAR driver Cale Yarborough walks with a woman through the speedway garage prior to the start of the 1985 Daytona 500. (Robert Alexander/Getty Images)
Cale Yarborough: Cale Yarborough sits in his race car prior to the start of the 1986 Firecracker 400 stock car race at Daytona International Speedway. (Robert Alexander/Getty Images)
Cale Yarborough: NASCAR legend Cale Yarborough speaks with the media while attending a promotional event for the 2009 Southern 500. (Rusty Jarrett)
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