American businessman William Caleb “Cale” Yarborough also worked as a farmer, rancher, and driver in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. He died on December 31, 2023, having been born on March 27, 1939.
He is one of just two drivers in NASCAR history to win three consecutive titles, having done so in 1976, 1977, and 1978. He was a top stock car driver in the 1960s and 1980s in addition to competing in IndyCar races. He became so well-known that a special model of the Mercury Cyclone Spoiler II was named after him.
Cale Yarborough Cause of Death
On Sunday, December 31, 2023, the auto racing organization announced that the 84-year-old, grit-loving three-time NASCAR Cup winner and Hall of Famer Cale Yarborough had gone away. It was unclear why the person died.
Cale Yarborough was among the most formidable rivals NASCAR has ever faced, according to Jim France, Chairman and CEO of the race, in an interview on X, formerly Twitter:
“His combination of talent, grit, and determination separated Cale from his peers, both on the track and in the record book.”
A statement from NASCAR Chairman and CEO Jim France on the passing of Cale Yarborough. pic.twitter.com/8Wiel4tbmV
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) December 31, 2023
Yarborough was the most dominant driver in NASCAR during the mid-1970s, and he was the first driver in the top division to win three consecutive titles. He placed second in the points chase three more times in his career.
He won 28 of his 83 career victories during his championship years of 1976–1978. Jimmie Johnson is a seven-time NASCAR Cup winner, and he presently shares sixth place in the all-time victory rankings.
Seven-time champion Richard Petty offered his condolences to X and reminisced on their racing days together:
Richard Petty and The Petty Family extend their deepest condolences to the family of Cale Yarborough. pic.twitter.com/9sU2pJlNNQ
— Richard Petty (@therichardpetty) December 31, 2023
A further aspect of Yarborough’s legacy is an incident from the 1979 Daytona 500, the first 500-mile NASCAR race to be televised live throughout the country.
For the CBS audience, it was an exciting experience to watch Yarborough and Donnie Allison battle it out for the lead in the last lap, which saw both drivers crash and then swing at each other on the infield grass. After that, Petty won the race.
The fight heated up when Bobbie, Allison’s brother, pulled over his race car and intervened. Yarborough has won four times in the main NASCAR event and five times in the Southern 500 in Darlington, South Carolina. Yarborough joined the third class of inductees into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2012.
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He drove for several car owners during his racing career, including Hall of Famer Junior Johnson, for whom he had some of his best seasons. It was his chance to express gratitude to his family.
Then, in an attempt to run a lighter schedule under new owners and spend more time with his family, Yarborough joked about the career totals he might have reached had he continued with the team following the 1981 season. In his eleven years as a race team owner, Yarborough frequently made fun of his one-win record.
“If that’s what they say, I’ll have to agree with it, I guess,” he said to the Speed Network when asked if he agreed with the moniker of “NASCAR’s toughest driver” following his speech. Dale Earnhardt Jr. honored X by saying:
Sad news about the passing of Cale today. A legend behind the wheel for sure, but he had a personality, grit, and swagger that attracted fans around the world to him and to Nascar. He truly made the sport far better for being a part of it. My heart goes out to his family. pic.twitter.com/D8lFkCF8HL
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) December 31, 2023
Earnhardt, who is currently a race team owner and announcer, added:
“A legend behind the wheel for sure, but he had a personality, grit, and swagger that attracted fans around the world to him and NASCAR. He truly made the sport far better by being a part of it. My heart goes out to his family,”
For a few years after Ford’s brief departure from NASCAR in 1970, Yarborough also participated in Indy car racing. He placed tenth in the 1972 Indianapolis 500. Follow us on our website nogmagazine.com for more information related to other persons’ deaths, causes of death, autopsy reports, obituaries, and more updates.