The
Pearly Gates opened a little bit wider than usual this morning, to accommodate
the passing of a giant.
1980 Daytona 500 champion Buddy Baker died
early today after a brief battle with lung cancer at age 74.
The
6-foot-6 Baker was a part of the racing scene virtually from birth, working as
a crewmember and pit road peacemaker for his father, NASCAR Hall of Famer Buck
Baker. In an era when Victory Lane ceremonies often included a right-cross to
the chin, very few picked fights with Buck Baker.
Fewer
still wanted any part of big Buddy.
With a
fist the size of a country ham, Baker was more than a match for any aggressor.
But it was his heavy right foot and outsized heart that made him a NASCAR
legend.
As a
driver, Baker was best where the speeds were highest. His all-out,
take-no-prisoners style garnered 19 career premier series wins, including four
at his beloved Talladega Superspeedway. In 1970, he set the Alabama high banks
ablaze, becoming the first man to eclipse 200 mph on a closed course. His 1980 Daytona 500 victory came
at a still-record speed of 177.602 mph, and in 1970, he won the prestigious
Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway by lapping the entire field.
Every. Single. Car.
Baker was tough on equipment, often pushing
the engines, tires and chassis of the day past their breaking point. Hall Of
Famer Richard Petty once said that if cars could run as fast as Buddy Baker
could drive them, he would have retired undefeated. He remained unapologetic to the end, insisting
that “all-out” was the only dignified way to race.
His go-for-broke driving style led to a few
crashes along the way, as well, leaving him with lingering neck issues that
required surgery and ultimately led to his retirement from the cockpit.
“After the operation, I thought I could still compete,”
recalled Baker recently. “But a trusted friend of mine took me aside and said,
`Buddy, are you as good as you used to be?’
“I admitted that while I might not be the winner
I once was, I could still run up-front if the breaks went my way.
“He looked me straight in the eye and said, `Is
that enough for you? Is that how you want to be remembered?’
“I knew instantly that he was right. It was time
for me to quit.”
Baker wasted little time transitioning to a
broadcast role, conveying the excitement and color of NASCAR racing on The Nashville
Network and CBS. In recent years, he became a mainstay on SiriusXM NASCAR
Radio, alternately co-hosting the midday “Tradin’ Paint” and evening “Late
Shift” programs. In marked contrast to his on-track approach, Baker brought an
easygoing, gentle style to his radio efforts, displaying a natural storytelling
ability that endeared him to legions of listeners.
Despite his accomplishments – both on and off the
race track -- he remained an unfailingly humble man. He never quite understood the
hero status he held in our eyes, ending every show with a heartfelt “thank you”
to his co-host.
“It’s such an honor to work with professionals,”
he’d say. “I couldn’t imagine doing this without you.”
Last month, Buddy stunned his audience with news
of a massive, inoperable tumor in his lung. Unwilling to compromise his
standards, he announced his retirement on the spot, saying, “It’s like I’m in a
well, trying to yell up. With the quality that SiriusXM brings, I just wasn’t
living up to what (I am) supposed to do.”
Things deteriorated
quickly in the last 30 days. A bout of pneumonia laid him low, as cancer
continued to take its inexorable toll. An old-school refusal to utilize e-mail
or social media isolated us from our friend in his final days, but could not
slow the tidal wave of prayers sent up on his behalf.
"I was lucky enough
to have a great career as a broadcaster and over 30 years behind the
wheel," said Baker recently. "For those that feel sorry for me, hey,
I'm 74 years old. I have great friends...and am a blessed person. I'm going to
miss the heck out of not being around, but how many people would give anything
to live a charmed life like I have?
In typical Buddy Baker style, he was “hammer
down” to the finish.
"Do not shed
a tear,” said Baker in his final radio appearance last month. “Give a smile
when you say my name. I'm not saying goodbye, just `Talk to you later.’"
So long, old friend. You will be
missed.
