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Famed NASCAR Driver Buddy Baker Has Died At 74

Famed NASCAR driver Buddy Baker has died after a battle with lung cancer. He was 74. Baker competed in 700 races in a career that lasted more than three decades. Among his wins was the 1980 Daytona 500. He still holds the record for fastest average speed in a Daytona 500 win. Baker was known for achieving high speeds and was the first driver to break 200 miles per hour on a closed course. At 6-foot-6, Baker was known as the “Gentle Giant” and was the son of Hall of Fame Driver Buck Baker. Buddy Baker was a nominee this year for the NASCAR Hall of Fame.  After retiring, he switched to doing racing commentary for TV and radio. Baker was diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer last month.  He died at his Lake Norman home this morning.

Marshall came to WFAE after graduating from Appalachian State University, where he worked at the campus radio station and earned a degree in communication. Outside of radio, he loves listening to music and going to see bands - preferably in small, dingy clubs.