NASCAR Legend Buck Baker passes away: Buck Baker [Buddy Baker’s father], a two-time Winston Cup champion on NASCAR’s 50 Greatest drivers list, died Monday at 83. He won 46 Winston Cup races — 13th on the all-time list — and 44 poles. Baker was the first back-to-back series champion, winning titles in 1956 and 1957. Baker started 631 races, seventh most in NASCAR, and ran the most laps and miles for three consecutive years beginning in 1955. He was a three-time winner of the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, one of NASCAR’s most storied races. Baker, who retired in 1976, was inducted into the National Motorsports Press Association’s Hall of Fame in 1982 and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1990.(ESPN) Baker is survived by his wife of 30 years, Susan Painter Baker; two sons, Buddy of Sherrills Ford and Randy of Kannapolis; a daughter, Susie Baker of Charlotte, a sister, two grandsons and two great granddaughters. The funeral will be held Thursday at the Calvary Church Chapel in Charlotte.(4-15-2002)
