By: Spencer Neff
December 31, 2023

On Sunday morning, the motorsports world lost one of its most iconic names. Champion racer Cale Yarborough passed away at 84.

Yarborough, a native of Timmonsville, South Carolina, made his name in NASCAR, posting 83 wins (tied for sixth most), including four Daytona 500 wins (1969, 1977,1983-1984; second only to Richard Petty) and championships from 1976-1978, the first driver to win three consecutive titles.

Like many racers of his generation, Yarborough would compete across multiple disciplines.

In 1966, he would make his open-wheel racing debut, qualifying for the 50th Indianapolis 500. After starting 24th, he would be involved in the opening lap melee, ultimately finishing 28th in his Jim Robbins-owned Vollstedt-Ford.

A year later, Yarborough started 20th and finished 17th for Vollstedt. Following three years away from IMS, he returned to the 500 in 1971. Driving for Gene White, he started a career-best 14th and finished 16th. Later that year, he earned a fifth at Michigan International Speedway, the best of his INDYCAR career.

A year later, he made his fourth and final start at the Indianapolis 500. Yarborough would finish 10th, his best “500” result, after qualifying 32nd in Gene White’s Atlanta-Ford.

Though Yarborough would not make another start in open-wheel racing, he did compete against some of its biggest stars.

From 1975 to 1986, he made eight appearances in the International Race of Champions (IROC). He won five races, beating out INDYCAR legends Gordon Johncock, Johnny Rutherford and AL Unser among other contemporaries.

In July 1997, John Andretti won the Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway, Yarborough’s lone win as a car owner.

Following more than a decade in car ownership, Yarbrough stepped away from NASCAR in 2000.

IndyCar1909 offers condolences to Cale Yarborough’s friends and family on his passing. We also thank him for his contributions to auto racing,

Header Image By INDYCAR/IMS Photo Archive