- Born
- Died
- Birth nameWilliam Caleb Yarborough
- Considered on of the best drivers in the history of NASCAR, Cale Yarborough retired from driving after the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup season. During his career, Cale posted 83 NASCAR Winston Cup victories, currently 5th on the all time list. He won his first Daytona 500 in 1968 with the Wood Brothers, but came into his own when he began driving for legendary car owner Junior Johnson. With Johnson, Cale won three straight Winston Cup championships ('76-'78) and his second Daytona 500 ('77). He left the Johnson team in 1981 and drove a limited schedule for the rest of his career. He managed two straight Daytona 500 wins in '83 and '84 (with Harry Ranier) giving him a total of four Daytona 500's, second only to Richard Petty's seven Daytona 500 victori es. In 1987, Cale moved from Ranier Racing to form his own team, which he still owns today.
- IMDb mini biography by: Pat Campbell <pscampbe@hiwaay.net>
- SpouseBetty Jo Thigpen(April 8, 1961 - December 31, 2023) (his death, 3 children)
- In the 1979 Daytona 500 (the first ever professional stock car race televised in its entirety), he and Donnie Allison were battling for the win in the final laps before colliding on the backstretch on the last lap after Cale attempted to pass. Both wrecked cars ended up on the infield and Cale and Donnie proceeded to climb from their cars and exchange punches, with Bobby Allison joining in. A national TV audience was treated to this, and to this day the broadcast of the 1979 Daytona 500 is credited with creating the first spark of nationwide interest in stock-car racing.
- Won 14 pole positions in 1980, still a NASCAR Winston/Nextel Cup series record.
- He won the 1976, 1977, and 1978 championships. As of April 2008 he is the only driver to win three consecutive championships.
- Was inducted into the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame in 1994.
- Oldest of three boys.
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