Cale Yarborough won three consecutive Winston Cup championships (1976-1978), the first driver to do so, and 83 Cup races, including four Daytona 500s. Driving for Junior Johnson, he was famous for his toughness – he once wrestled an alligator and played football with a broken leg – and for his unforgettable 1979 Daytona 500 fistfight with the Allison brothers.
After retiring from driving, Yarborough ran his own team and a successful business career in South Carolina. He died on New Year's Eve 2023 at 84, following a battle with a rare genetic disorder, leaving a legacy as one of the fiercest competitors the sport has ever seen.
At a Glance
- Born: March 27, 1939, Timmonsville, South Carolina
- Died: December 31, 2023, Florence, South Carolina
- Age: 84
- Cause of death: Complications of a rare genetic disorder
From the Book
This profile is adapted from Legends at Rest: NASCAR Legends by Howard Wear.
Portrait: from Howard Wear’s collection.