| Elzie Wylie Baker, Jr., better known as "Buddy", is the | | | | the front of the pack and set some speed records |
| son of legendary Buck Baker and was born in | | | | which still stand today. He was the first driver to |
| Florence, SC. Growing up in the heart of racing | | | | break the speed barrier at Talladega in 1970 with a |
| country and being the spawn of a NASCAR champion | | | | speed of 200.447mph. Also, in 1980 he won |
| and Hall of Fame member, Buddy Baker had only one | | | | NASCAR's most sought after win, the Daytona 500. |
| destiny---racecar driving. | | | | And he did it with an average speed of 177.602mph, |
| His career in NASCAR began in 1959 and lasted 33 | | | | a record that is still unsurpassed today. Certainly, |
| years. During that time, he tore up racetracks all over | | | | that's how he gained the nickname "Leadfoot". |
| the southeast and ranks ninth on the all-time list for | | | | Buddy Baker is one of the few to achieve a Career |
| 202 top-five finishes and 311 top-tens out of 699 | | | | Grand Slam or the "Big Four". He won NASCAR's four |
| total starts. Buddy ranks tenth, right behind his dad | | | | major events: Daytona, Talladega, Charlotte, and |
| for pole positions with 40. His dad had 44. Buddy | | | | Darlington. Only seven other drivers have |
| drove one of the fastest and most ominous cars in | | | | accomplished this feat. Buddy retired from driving in |
| NASCAR-an Oldsmobile called the "Gray Ghost". Its | | | | 1994, but not from the racing scene. He's spent |
| paint scheme was gray with black side panels. | | | | almost a decade with Penske Racing and has |
| With Buddy's spectacular speed and the car blending | | | | mentored drivers such as Rusty Wallace and Ryan |
| in with the pavement on the track, it was hard for | | | | Newman. He has also been a spotter for Newman |
| the other drivers to see him in their rearview mirrors. | | | | and the No. 12 Alltel Dodge and still does test driving |
| Before they knew it, Buddy would sneak up and | | | | when needed. |
| blow by them like an explosion. Because of the | | | | Along with his brother and father, Buddy runs the |
| complaints of the other drivers, NASCAR officials | | | | Buck Baker Racing School and is the co-host of a |
| made Buddy put Day-Glo strips on the front of his | | | | weekly radio broadcast show. Buddy Baker is far |
| car so that it could be seen in the rearview mirrors | | | | from retired and is very happy doing what he's doing. |
| of his competitors. | | | | "I'm in great health," he said. "I get to be around a |
| Buddy Baker may not have visited the winner's circle | | | | sport that I love. I'm very content with life. |
| as many times as some of his rivals, but he was at | | | | |