Cale Yarborough, remembered as one of NASCAR’s greatest drivers, has passed away at the age of 84. Yarborough started his career in motorsports making his NASCAR debut at the Darlington Raceway in 1957 – a fitting choice as this track was not far from his home and would later become the stage for five of his Southern 500 wins. His initial race saw him finishing near the back, but Yarborough quickly rose to prominence with his aggressive driving and strategic mindset.

Yarborough’s NASCAR career boasts an impressive 83 Cup Series wins, tying him with Jimmie Johnson for the sixth position on the all-time wins list. However, the crowning jewel of his career would certainly be his record of three consecutive championships from 1976. Moreover, he marked victory four times at the Daytona 500.

Despite having an illustrious career, what truly catapulted Yarborough and NASCAR into nationwide prominence was an incident involving a fistfight with Bobby Allison at a televised race. This event, as dramatic as it was, served to “put NASCAR on the nationwide map”. Yarborough’s legacy in the sport is undisputed, regarded widely as one of NASCAR’s finest champions, leaving behind a racing record few can equal.