Cale Yarborough – NASCAR champion three times in a row in the 1970s and also winner of the Daytona 500 four times – died on New Year’s Eve
The US motorsport scene is in mourning once again as 2023 draws to a close. Just two days after the completely unexpected death of IndyCar star Gil de Ferran, NASCAR legend Cale Yarborough passed away on New Year’s Eve at the age of 84 in his home in the US state of South Carolina
“Cale Yarborough was one of the most tenacious fighters NASCAR has ever seen. His combination of talent, fighting spirit and determination set Cale apart from his peers, both on the track and in the record books,” read a statement from NASCAR boss Jim France on Sunday.
According to France, Yarborough “was respected and admired by competitors and fans alike and was as comfortable behind the wheel of a tractor as he was behind the wheel of a stock car. On behalf of the France family and NASCAR, I extend my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Cale Yarborough. “
The NASCAR family mourns the loss of NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Cale Yarborough, who passed away at the age of 84.
– NASCAR (@NASCAR) December 31, 2023
Yarborough became NASCAR champion three times in a row in 1976, 1977 and 1978. He also triumphed four times (1968, 1977, 1983, 1984) in the most famous of all NASCAR races, the Daytona 500. With three consecutive titles, Yarborough is one of only two drivers in NASCAR’s top division, which has existed for 75 years, to have achieved exactly that.
The other one who has done it? Seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson, who even won the title five times in a row from 2006 to 2010. And Johnson and Yarborough have something else in common: in the all-time list of NASCAR race winners, they are tied in sixth/seventh place with 83 victories. Johnson always referred to Yarborough as “my childhood hero” and did the same in his condolences on social media on Sunday.
Cale Yarborough was my childhood hero. What an honor to be tied with the legend for 83 Cup series wins. He was “the man” and the legacy of Cale Yarborough will forever live on. My deepest condolences to Cale’s family. pic.twitter.com/xcikjl2pu6
– Jimmie Johnson (@JimmieJohnson) December 31, 2023
