Buck Baker

One of NASCAR’s first stars has died at the age of 83. Buck Baker competed in the very first NASCAR race in a Kaiser, gradually became a true front runner, and was a regular winner in 1953 with an Oldsmobile.

Two years later he drove a Ford, but it was Chrysler that provided him with the machinery to win the 1956 NASCAR championship. He successfully defended this title with a Chevrolet, and when his full-time career ended in the mid 1960s, he had 46 wins to his name.

Father of NASCAR star Buddy Baker, Buck had remained involved with the sport via his driving school. DM