Buddy Baker, one of NASCAR’s top drivers who was at his lead-footed best on the sport’s biggest and fastest tracks, died Monday at age 74, the family confirmed.
Baker, who grew up in Charlotte and retired from racing in 1992 after a 33-year career, won 19 races in 699 starts on NASCAR’s top circuit. He is among the nominees for the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
Baker is probably best known for how he performed on NASCAR’s glamour tracks, including Charlotte Motor Speedway, Talladega (Ala.) International Superspeedway and Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.
A physically imposing 6-foot-6, Baker was the first NASCAR driver to shatter what once seemed like an unbreakable barrier.
In 1970, Baker drove a lap of 200.096 mph during a test at Talladega — the first time a stock-car driver had officially driven faster than 200 mph on a closed course. In a Dodge Charger with more than 700 horsepower, Baker exceeded that at 200.447 mph later in the test.
Baker was dominant at Talladega, once winning three consecutive races on NASCAR’s fastest track. Baker also holds another notable record: He won the 1980 Daytona 500 with an average speed of 177.602, a mark that still stands.
Born Elzie Wylie Baker Jr., in Florence, S.C., on March 25, 1941, Baker was the son of Margaret and Buck Baker, another legendary driver who would go on to be voted into NASCAR’s Hall of Fame (father and son are both on NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers list).
Although Baker benefited from driving some of the fastest cars of his era, he also had a deft touch behind the wheel. During the 1980 Winston 500 at Talladega, Baker made up 19 seconds on race leader Dale Earnhardt by using an aerodynamic “draft” of every car ahead of him. Baker passed Earnhardt with two laps remaining and won.
Baker is survived by his wife, Patricia Shane Prendergast Baker and two sons, Bryan of Mooresville and Brandon of Jacksonville, Fla.; granddaughters Noel and Brianna; a sister, Susie Sanders, and a brother, Randy; a niece Sarah Sanders; and mother-in-law, Sue Baker. Buddy was preceded in death by a sister, Tina.
Funeral services will be held at Avondale Presbyterian Church in Charlotte on Aug. 18.
HORSE RACING
Preakness renews TV contract
• The Preakness will be broadcast on NBC for another seven years after the network announced a contract extension with the Maryland Jockey Club on Monday. NBC had already reached contract extensions to broadcast the other two races in the Triple Crown — a 10-year deal for the Kentucky Derby and a seven-year deal for the Belmont Stakes. “This long-term agreement will allow us to build the Preakness, Black-Eyed Susan, Pimlico Special and Preakness week activities through multiple channels to reach a wider audience,” said Alon Ossip, CEO of the Stronach Group, the Jockey Club’s parent company, in a statement.
• Bob Baffert, trainer of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah is checking out Saratoga Race Course in case his horse runs in Travers Stakes on Aug. 29. Baffert arrived at the track Monday and stopped by trainer John Terranova’s barn, where his horses stay when they run at the Spa. Baffert is in town for the two-day Fasig-Tipton’s Selected Yearlings Sale, which end tonight. American Pharoah galloped Monday at Del Mar in California. A timed workout is scheduled for Sunday. American Pharoah won the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on Aug. 2. His next start has not been determined, but the Travers may now be the favorite. Baffert said, “We’re trying to make it, but he’s going to have to really convince me.”
FOOTBALL
Arena Football folds 2 teams
The Arena Football League has folded franchises in Las Vegas and New Orleans. A league announcement Sunday says the Las Vegas Outlaws and New Orleans VooDoo organizations had ceased operations immediately. The decision leaves the league with 10 teams.
HOCKEY
Rangers sign Stoll
• The New York Rangers have signed recently arrested Los Angeles Kings center Jarret Stoll. The Rangers announced the signing Monday without mentioning Stoll’s legal matter. Stoll, 33, gives the Rangers a top faceoff man and penalty killer. He has played in 792 NHL games over parts of 12 seasons with Edmonton and Los Angeles, with 140 goals and 239 assists. Contract terms were not immediately available. He pleaded guilty in June to two reduced misdemeanor charges to resolve a felony cocaine case stemming from his April arrest at a Las Vegas Strip swimming pool. A felony charge of cocaine possession was dismissed. Stoll was sentenced to 32 hours of community service.
• A lawyer has been hired to represent Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kane, who is under police investigation over something that may have happened at his home last weekend. Lawyer Paul Cambria didn’t provide any further information in a text message to The Associated Press on Saturday. In the meantime, Blackhawks spokesman Brandon Faber says Kane will spend Saturday with the Stanley Cup privately with his family in Buffalo.
SOCCER
NBC renews deal
NBC renewed its deal with the English Premier League for six years Monday. The network won the American rights for the top European soccer league in 2012 from Fox and ESPN with a three-year agreement. This time, the Premier League went with a longer contract that goes through the 2021-2022 season. Viewership has been soaring for international soccer in the U.S., making the Premier League a hot property with most major sports rights locked up long term. “Outstanding production, expert analysis and wide audience reach have all been beyond expectations,” Premier League executive chairman Richard Scudamore said in a statement.
TENNIS
Venus loses in first round
After waiting out a lengthy rain delay, Germany’s Sabine Lisicki defeated Venus Williams 6-0, 6-3 Monday night in their first-round match at the Rogers Cup in Toronto. Rain washed out most of the matches scheduled in the women’s half of the draw, and Williams and Lisicki didn’t take the court until after 9 p.m. Central. When they did, the 14th-seeded Williams wasn’t sharp, giving away more than a half-dozen points on double faults. Lisicki, the 24th-ranked player in the world, was strong in her service game and rarely made the kind of mistakes that cost Williams. Only one other singles match was completed Monday, as Italy’s Flavia Pennetta defeated Ottawa’s Gabriel Dabrowski 6-4, 6-1 on center court. The weather forced a crowded schedule today, which will feature Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard against Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic on centre court to start the night session. World No. 1 Serena Williams faces Pennetta in a second-round match today. American Madison Brengle will face Canada’s Carol Zhao in the afternoon after that match was rained out Monday.