It was one of the trump things of all time happened in NASCAR,’ Yarborough in one case aforesaid about his very famous scuffle at the Daytona 500 in 1979.
NASCAR fable Cale Yarborough has died at age 84, NASCAR Chairman and CEO Jim France confirmed via a statement posted to social media on Sunday.
“Cale Yarborough was one of the toughest competitors NASCAR has ever seen,” France’s instruction said. His combination of talent, gritrock and purpose distributed Cale from his peers some on the pass over and in the record book. He was reputable and admired by competitors and fans likewise and was as wide behind the wheel around of a tractor as he was tush the wheel around of a stock car.”
“On behalf of the France mob and NASCAR, I volunteer my deepest condolences to the mob and friends of Cale Yarborough,” the statement concluded.
Per the New York Post, reports of Yarburough’s declining health began emerging in April.
Yarborough was one of the winningest drivers in NASCAR history and was the first to win three consecutive NASCAR Cup titles in 1976, 1977 and 1978, per ESPN. He held the title until Jimmie Johnson completed a streak of five wins in 2010.
He also won the Daytona 500 four times and, throughout his career, won the Southern 500 four times on his home track in Darlington, South Carolina.
Born William Caleb Yarborough in Sardis, South Carolina, on March 27, 1939, he was the son of a tobacco farmer. Yarborough made his NASCAR debut in 1957 at the Southern 500 and closed his career over three decades later in Atlanta in 1988. He’s currently tied with Johnson for the most career wins in NASCAR history with 83.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Yarborough might be most well-known because of an incident at a race he lost.
In 1979, he was driving in the first Daytona 500 to be televised nationally in its entirety, racing the final lap against Donnie Allison when both men lost control of their cars and spun off the track. Both men walked away uninjured. But Allison’s brother, fellow driver Bobby Allison, who was watching on the sidelines, walked over to Yarborough and started a fistfight. Richard Petty won the Daytona 500 that year, but the race went down in history because of the fight.
“I had the fastest car and had it set up to where I could slingshot him on the last lap. That may have been a mistake on my part. I should maybe have gone on and passed him, gone on and won the race handily,” Yarborough said later of the rush, per the New York Times. “I was trying to make a show out of it. Unfortunately, it really came out to be a show. It was one of the best things ever happened in NASCAR.” He reportedly reconciled with the Allisons the next day.
It was one of the best things ever happened in NASCAR,’ Yarborough one time said about his famous scuffle at the Daytona 500 in 1979.
NASCAR fable Cale Yarborough has died at age 84, NASCAR Chairman and CEO Jim France unchangeable via a statement posted to social media on Sunday.
“Cale Yarborough was one of the toughest competitors NASCAR has of all time seen,” France’s program line said. His combination of endowment, gritstone and purpose distributed Cale from his peers some on the track and in the record reserve. He was respected and admired by competitors and fans alike and was as wide behind the wheel around of a tractor as he was behind the wheel around of a stock car.”
“On behalf of the France family and NASCAR, I volunteer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Cale Yarborough,” the command concluded.
Per the New York Post, reports of Yarburough’s declining wellness began future in April.
Yarborough was one of the winningest drivers in NASCAR account and was the first to win three sequentially NASCAR Cup titles in 1976, 1977 and 1978, per ESPN. He held the style until Jimmie Johnson completed a mottle of basketball team wins in 2010.
He besides won the Daytona 500 four times and, throughout his career, won the Southern 500 tetrad multiplication on his home get over in Darlington, South Carolina.
Born William Caleb Yarborough in Sardis, South Carolina, on March 27, 1939, he was the son of a tobacco farmer. Yarborough made his NASCAR debut in 1957 at the Southern 500 and really closed his career over three decades later in Atlanta in 1988. He’s currently united with Johnson for the to the highest degree career wins in NASCAR story with 83.
Never miss a report — sign up for PEOPLE’s very free extremely daily newsletter to stay cutting-edge on the outflank of what PEOPLE has to volunteer, from luscious celebrity newsworthiness to so powerful homo matter to stories.
Yarborough mightiness be to the highest degree well-known because of an optical phenomenon at a rush he lost.
In 1979, he was driving in the first Daytona 500 to be televised nationwide in its totality, racing the final exam lap against Donnie Allison when both men lost verify of their cars and spun off the get across. Both men walked out uninjured. But Allison’s brother, dude driver Bobby Allison, who was watching on the sidelines, walked o’er to Yarborough and started a fistfight.
Richard Petty won the Daytona 500 that yr, but the race went bolt down in history because of the fight.
“I had the quickest car and had it set up to where I could slingshot him on the live lap. That may have been a misidentify on my part. I should possibly take gone on and passed him, gone on and won the rush handily,” Yarborough said later of the rush, per the New York Times. “I was trying to make a show out of it. Unfortunately, it rattling came out to be a usher. It was one of the outflank things of all time happened in NASCAR.”
He reportedly resigned with the Allisons the incoming day. Yarborough is survived by leash daughters.