NASCAR Race Legends - Cale Yarborough

Cale Yarborough was born in Timmonsville, SC nearhe reached 14 wins. He also did some competing in
Darlington Raceway. He attended his first Southernopen-wheel Indy cars during the next couple of
500 in 1950 as a spectator. That was the beginningyears and ran every race in the season in 1973. He
of his love for racing. He wanted to drive, not justwon the NASCAR championships in '76, '77 and '78.
watch. As a teenager he decided to try it, so he liedThat made him the only driver in NASCAR history to
about his age to be able to compete. Needless toever win three in a row. 1980 brought Yarborough six
say, he got caught and was disqualified by NASCAR.wins and a career-high 14 poles.
His real debut was in 1957 when he raced in theHe lost the championship that year by only 19 points
Southern 500, driving the #30 Pontiac. His careerto Dale Earnhardt. In 1984, he became the first driver
cranked up in the "60's when he finished fifth twice into qualify for the Daytona 500 with a speed of over
1963. The next season brought his first win at200mph. Altogether he had 83 wins, which places him
Valdosta Speedway, placing him tenth in the finalat number five on the all-time NASCAR winner's list
standings. In 1967 he won two races but dropped to(behind Bobby Allison and Darrell Waltrip, who are tied
20th because of only running 17 events. In 1968 hefor third with 84). In 1988 he ran his final season,
won the first of his four wins at the Daytona 500.making two ninth place finishes. He retired from
That same year, Ford Motor Company came outdriving at the end of that year. From the late "80's to
with a Cale Yarborough Special Edition Mercuryaround 2000, Yarborough dabbled in car ownership
Cyclone Spoiler II Limited Edition. Less than 1000with various sponsors but soon after that the team
were made and the car became known as thedisappeared from the Cup Circuit.
Talladega/Yarborough Cyclone. In the 1970 season,