Buck Baker 2002 Deaths

Buck Baker

stock car racing pioneer and the Winston Cup series' first back-to-back champion (1956-57); born Elzie Wylie Baker; won 46 Winston Cup races, placing him 13th all-time; started 631 races, 44 from the pole; two-time Southern 500 winner; retired in 1976; operated Buck Baker Racing School since early 1980s, where Jeff Gordon drove his first stock car; his son, Buddy, was a 34-year Winston Cup veteran; member of the National Motorsports Press Association and International Motorsports halls of fame. He died following surgery involving a pacemaker.