Cale Yarborough

1976, 1977, 1978 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Champion

Born: March 27, 1939 Hometown: Timmonsville, SC The File: Yarborough is the only driver to win 3 consecutive NASCAR Winston Cup championships (1976, 1977, 1978). Ranks fifth with 83 career wins, third with 70 poles, and is tied for fourth with 47 superspeedway wins. Ranks No. 2 in laps led (31,776) and fifth in races led (340 out of 559 starts). Won 15 percent of all starts. Four-time winner of the Daytona 500 (including back-to-back victories in 1983-84) and five-time winner of Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. Four Daytona 500 wins are second to only Richard Petty. First driver to qualify at over 200mph (201.848) for Daytona 500 in 1984. Won 14 poles in 1980 and 5 straight races in 1976.

When Cale Yarborough was eleven years old, he sneaked under the fence at Darlington Raceway to see the first Southern 500. Seven years later, he sneaked in again. To drive. Under age. Anything you told Yarborough he couldn't do - he'd give it a try. He believed he could do it all.

Before he had reached maturity, Yarborough was struck by a rattlesnake and lightning, and had wrestled an alligator. He took up skydiving and went from being a high school football star directly to playing for a semi-pro team. Becoming a race car driver was a gimme.

And as a driver, he became one of the hardest chargers the sport has ever seen. Richard Petty was smooth. David Pearson was smart. Bobby Allison was determined. Cale Yarborough was tough. If you beat him, you had a better car. You didn't outdrive him or outlast him.

"I don't know if there's ever been an athlete who had that outlook on the last ten laps that Cale Yarborough had," said Buddy Baker. "He didn't give up until the last inch of the race was over."

"Cale jumped in the car and pushed the throttle to the floor before he switched it on," Bobby Allison once noted. "When the green fell, he locked the throttle on 'kill,' gritted his teeth, and held on."

It is said that car owner Junior Johnson once instructed Yarborough: "Just bring me back the steering wheel." Yarborough brought Johnson three straight titles.