The world of motorsports recently mourned the loss of a legend, Cale Yarborough, who passed away at the age of 84. Yarborough, a three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, was renowned for his fierce competitiveness and exceptional driving skills.
Cale Yarborough Early Life
Cale was born on March 27, 1939, in Sardis, South Carolina. His parents were Julian Caleb Yarborough and Annie Mae Kelley Yarborough. He grew up in the Sardis Community with his younger brothers Jerry and J.C., who survived him.
Cale Yarborough Racing Career
Cale was a great football player at Timmonsville High School and got a scholarship offer for football at Clemson University. However, he loved racing cars even more than football, so he chose to follow a career in stock car racing instead.
Cale’s dad, Julian, taught him to love flying and fast cars. They went to Darlington to see a raceway being built. Cale had his first race in a soapbox derby at Darlington’s town square. He won 83 races, tying with Jimmie Johnson for the sixth-most wins all-time in NASCAR.
His notable victories include four wins at the Daytona 500 and three consecutive Cup Series championships from 1976 to 1978. His first and last wins were remarkably spread over two decades, from 1965 to 1985.
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Cale Yarborough Hall of Fame and Legacy
Yarborough got into several halls of fame, like the NASCAR Hall of Fame and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame. He didn’t just leave his mark on the race track; his bold way of driving and never-give-up attitude changed NASCAR. He even set up the Cale Yarborough Foundation to help kids in need with charities and education chances.
Cale Yarborough Family
People who were close to him will remember him as a loving son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He is survived by his wife, Betty Jo Thigpen Yarborough, whom he was married to for almost 63 years.
His daughters are Julianne Hucks of Murrells Inlet, Kelley Woody (Anthony) of Columbia, and Betty Jo McSweeney of the home. Cale had six grandchildren: Byerly Spann (Jimbo), Julian Wilhelm, Caleb Woody, Katherine Woody, Annie Gray McSweeney, and Will McSweeney. They were also happy to be great-grandparents to James Spann and Cale Spann.
Tributes and Farewell
After he passed away, fans, other racers, and motorsport groups shared tributes. Jim France, NASCAR Chairman, and CEO called Yarborough a “toughest competitor NASCAR has ever seen.”
Jimmie Johnson also shares a tribute,
“Cale Yarborough was my childhood hero. What an honor to be tied with the legend for 83 Cup series wins. He was “the man” and the legacy of Cale Yarborough will forever live on. My deepest condolences to Cale’s family.”
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