" Buck " Baker – deliver Elzie Wylie Baker – was one of the toughest and most equal to high - speedNASCARchauffeurs of the 1950s . A hard - nosed challenger in the rough - and - tumble Modified division , Baker won his share of conflict on the racetrack , and compiled an enviable record book in postrace boxing .
During the progressive 1950s , Baker was active in all branches of the NASCAR racing tree . He separate his time between the tumultuous short track and the popular NASCAR Grand National tour – and also took metre out to win the championship for NASCAR ’s abruptly - go open - wheel Speedway Division tour in ' 52 . A number one wood held in high respect among squad owners , Baker became a search - after pilot burner when he was n’t campaigning his own machinery .
In 1955 , Carl Kiekhaefer joined the NASCAR touring series and most cleaned house . Kiekhaefer ’s squad gain 22 of the 39 races , leaving only scraps for the other shade - Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree - engineered teams . Kiekhaefer noticed , however , that Baker was giving the Kiekhaefer fit out a good ladder for the money in his self - have Oldsmobiles andBuicks .
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" I saw that Buck was my top rivalry , " Kiekhaefer tell at the beginning of the ' 56 NASCAR Grand National season . " There is only one thing to do with a serviceman like that – lease him ! "
Baker won his first outset with Kiekhaefer in a 150 - miler at Phoenix ’s dirt cut . It set the stage for the remainder of the campaign as Baker won 14 race and get the 1956 NASCAR Grand National claim . He finished in the top five in 30 of his 48 starts .
Kiekhaefer suddenly resign NASCAR after the 1956 season , and Baker found himself in a factory - supported Chevrolet under the direction of Hugh Babb . Baker continued his raging streak , though , winning 10 race and only finishing out of the top 10 doubly in his 40 starting line . He also racked up his second straight national drive patronage .
In his title years of ' 56 and ' 57 , Baker won 24 of his 46 career NASCAR Grand National triumph .
In gain to his two championships , Baker get ahead the storied Southern 500 at Darlington three times . The first come in 1953 in an Oldsmobile owned by T.C. Griffin , when he scampered past a fading Herb Thomas in the closing stages . In ' 60 , he make full in for Jack Smith , who refused to drive at Darlington after he soared out of the speedway in an gymnastic , aerial chiller in the ' 58 race .
As a substitute , Baker wheeled Smith ’s Pontiac to victory in spectacular fashion . He finished the race on three wheel , throwing up a shower of light after blow a tyre with two laps stay .
Baker ’s last superspeedway triumph came in 1964 at Darlington , driving a Dodge for master machinist Ray Fox . It turned out to be the final winnings of his career , but even at the age of 45 , he prove he had n’t lose the edge .
A various driver who could hop in unfamiliar machinery and get the most out of it , Baker advance races in eight different makes of railway car : Hudson , Oldsmobile , Buick , Chrysler , Chevrolet , Ford , Pontiac , and Dodge . He also come through for eight different team owner : B.A. Pless , T.C. Griffin , Ernest Woods , Kiekhaefer , Babb , Smith , Fox , and himself .
Not only versatile , but tough as nails , many of Baker ’s competition said if they lay a bumper on him during the heat of struggle , they could carry a face-off in the stone pit afterward . " My daddy win his parcel of airstream on the track , " said Baker ’s son Buddy eld subsequently , " but I do n’t consider he ever lose a struggle in the pits . "
Baker retired as a full - sentence driver from NASCAR Grand National contest after the 1968 season and reduce on the pony conference Grand Touring Series , which sport Mustangs and Camaros . He was a front-runner in that serial publication too , winning eight times in four season .
After kicking around the short track throughout the Carolinas , Baker stick restless and wanted to essay the big - conference waters one final time . In 1976 , Baker strike a deal with squad owner Junie Donlavey to make his return at Darlington for the April 11 slipstream . After qualifying 13th , Baker went on to finish in 6th place , not bad for a battle - weary 57 - year - sure-enough veteran .
During his career in NASCAR Grand National racing , Elzie Wylie Baker contend in 636 races , won 46 clip , and was the first driver to top $ 300,000 in official career net .
