Buck Baker

Birth Name:

Elzie Wylie Baker Sr.

Birth Date:

March 4, 1919

Birth Place:

Richburg, South Carolina

Death Date:

April 14, 2002

Place of Death:

Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, North Carolina

Age:

Cause of Death:

Natural causes

Cemetery Name:

Magnolia Memorial Gardens

Claim to Fame:

Sports

Buck Baker was an American stock car racer who began his NASCAR career in 1949 and won his first race three years later at Columbia Speedway. During his NASCAR Cup Series career, Baker won two championships, 46 races and 45 pole positions, as well as recorded 372 top-tens. In 1957, he became the first driver to win two consecutive championships in the series. Between 1957 and 1959 Baker competed in the NASCAR Convertible Division. From 1972 to 1973, he competed in the Grand National East Series, where he recorded five top-tens in twelve races. Mr. Baker was a member of Six Racing Hall of Fames and voted one of the 50 greatest drivers in NASCAR history. After his retirement from active racing, Buck Baker opened and operated the "Buck Baker Racing School", where Jeff Gordon and Randy Newman among others, drove their first stock cars. He was inducted into the Motorsports Press Association's Hall of Fame in 1982 and in the International Motorsport's Hall of Fame in 1990. In February 2013 he was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

Fun Facts

His son Buddy Baker followed in his father’s footsteps in stock car racing, becoming an accomplished and popular driver in his own right, racing in NASCAR’s premier series for 35 years. Both Buddy and Buck Baker are listed on NASCAR’s Fifty Greatest Drivers. Buck’s other son, Randy Baker, also competed in the NASCAR Winston Cup, although to a lesser degree.

Cemetery Information:

Final Resting Place:

Magnolia Memorial Gardens

5801 Pineville-Matthews Road

Charlotte, North Carolina, 28226

USA

North America

Map:

Map of Magnolia Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Charlotte, North Carolina

Grave Location:

Baker Family Plot

Grave Location Description

As you enter the modest 6 acre cemetery go straight to the third left turn and take the road 100 feet and park. Look to your left along the tree line and you will find the granite upright Baker memorial to the famous racing family.